French film star Gerard Depardieu has been ordered to appear in court over his attack on an Italian photographer two years ago. The actor head butted the photographer during a shopping trip in Florence, Italy with a female companion.

Dario Orlandi was taken to hospital after the attack and claims he could not work for four days - however, Depardieu maintains he warned the snapper to leave him alone.

Speaking just after the incident the fiery Frenchman said, " (I said) 'Now be nice, you've taken your pictures, leave us be.' 'This isn't a safari: there are risks and the risk is that you will get my head in your face.' Then he said: 'Gerard, I'll leave you alone.' I go out and this guy keeps snapping me to death... I put my hands in my pockets and I ask him why he hadn't listened to what I had told him.

"He tells me untruthfully, taking me for an idiot: 'Gerard, I'm not taking pictures.' So my head delivers a single butt, which means two teeth less, and to tell you the truth, I'm pretty satisfied."

He has been summoned to appear in a Florence court.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)