Embattled actor Armie Hammer has made his return to Instagram with a mysterious clip from the surrealist drama film The Swimmer. The 37-year-old star shared the video on Wednesday, featuring a scene from Frank Perry’s 1968 movie, in which Burt Lancaster’s character, Ned Merrill, can be seen running shirtless alongside a horse. Hammer, who did not caption the post, appears to be aboard a train in the clip. His recent activity on Instagram suggests that the actor has scrubbed most of his previous posts.
Hammer’s representative has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding his unexpected return to social media.
The Swimmer is based on a 1964 New Yorker short story by John Cheever and revolves around the eccentric character Ned Merrill, played by Lancaster. The plot follows Ned as he visits a pool party hosted by old friends in an upscale Connecticut suburb. In a peculiar twist, Ned decides to swim his way back home, using a series of swimming pools located along his route. Throughout his journey, he encounters people from his past before ultimately arriving at his neglected and vacant house. The film also stars Janet Landgard, Tony Bickley, Janice Rule, and the late Joan Rivers in her acting debut.
Hammer has largely maintained a low profile since finalizing his divorce from ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers in June. Unfortunately, the actor encountered significant controversy this year when he faced allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. These accusations included claims of problematic messages related to BDSM and cannibalistic desires, which Hammer has vehemently denied. Consequently, he was dropped by his agency and lost various television and film projects. Additionally, a three-part docuseries called House of Hammer explored the allegations and delved into the actor’s family history.
In the wake of these allegations, the Los Angeles Police Department identified Hammer as a suspect in an investigation regarding an alleged 2017 rape. The case was subsequently presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which ultimately decided not to prosecute Hammer for sexual assault after thoroughly reviewing the evidence earlier this year.
Armie Hammer’s return to Instagram, though cryptic, has undoubtedly sparked curiosity among fans and followers. As the actor continues to navigate the aftermath of the allegations against him, all eyes remain on his future endeavors and how he plans to rebuild his career.
