Aurora Starchild
Just over a month after winning his $40 million sex abuse lawsuit, Kevin Spacey has landed a new role. He will be playing the voice of a vindictive man who takes control of a female British government official’s self-driving car after discovering an affair. The British indie thriller, Control, will be created by director Gene Fallaize, who wrote the script with Spacey in mind.
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Kevin Spacey’s New Role in Control Was Created With Him in Mind
Variety first reported on Control, which is set to start shooting next year in the UK. The film’s synopsis is described as:
“The story of a British government minister, Stella Simmons, who has embarked on a torrid affair with the Prime Minister. One night, as Simmons heads home in her self-driving car, she finds the vehicle remotely hijacked by someone who knows her secret and wants revenge. Soon, the car is taken on a rampage through the streets of London with Simmons trapped inside.”
Interviewing Fallaize, he professed to being a longtime fan of Spacey’s. He said he “grew up” watching Spacey’s films.
“He’s one of the greatest actors of our generation,” Fallaize said.
The director didn’t have anything to say about Kevin Spacey’s ongoing legal troubles and the numerous sexual assault allegations that have stacked up against him.
“His personal life aside — it’s something I can’t comment on and have no knowledge of — it’s an opportunity to work with one of the acting greats,” Fallaize told Variety.
Spacey Found “Not Liable” in $40 Million Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Brought by Anthony Rapp
Kevin Spacey was embroiled in a US-based lawsuit over the last year. Actor and singer Anthony Rapp, who is 12 years Spacey’s junior, accused him of sexual assault in 1986, when Rapp was just 14 years old. Spacey would have been 26 at the time.
Rapp alleged that Spacey invited him to his apartment after a party and then later assaulted him. He alleged that Spacey, inebriated, picked him up and put him on his bed, where he then got on top of him and made uninvited sexual advances. Rapp then said he got out from underneath Spacey, and the older actor asked him if he wanted to leave. During his testimony, Rapp called it “the most traumatic single event” in his life.
Spacey told the jury that the incident never occurred.
However, after a short jury deliberation, Spacey was found “not liable.” Spacey’s attorney, Jennifer Keller, expressed gratitude for the verdict in the midst of “false allegations.” She also accused Rapp of attention-seeking and said that he’d received “more attention from this trial than he has in his entire acting life.”
“We’re very grateful to the jury for seeing through these false allegations,” Keller said. “What’s next is Mr. Spacey is going to be proven that he’s innocent of anything he’s been accused of. That there was no truth to any of the allegations.”
He Faces Several Criminal Sexual Assault Charges in the UK
Keller was likely referring to the several other allegations that have been made against Spacey by other men.
Spacey pleaded not guilty a few months ago to accusations from three men who say he assaulted them between 2004 and 2015. The accusations date to when Spacey was the Old Vic Theatre’s artistic director in London. Those charges stemmed from an internal investigation at the Old Vic Theatre which led to several men going to the police.
Additionally, Spacey is now facing seven more charges in the UK, all from one person. They include three charges of sexual assault, three of indecent assault, and one charge of nonconsensual sexual activity. The incidents allegedly occurred between 2001 and 2004. Those charges are set to lead to trial in June of next year in the UK.
Spacey faced more criminal sexual assault charges in 2019 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. However, those were dropped because the complaining witness was “unavailable.” The man who was accusing Spacey was 18 years old at the time of the alleged incident. He alleged that Spacey bought him alcoholic beverages at the Club Car bar before groping him.
House of Cards Employees Alleged Misconduct, Spacey to Pay $31 Million
If that doesn’t seem like enough legal issues, Spacey also lost a lawsuit from Netflix over the summer. House of Cards production company MRC argued that they lost money after having to cut Spacey from the show in the midst of more sexual assault allegations. Because Spacey was one of the main stars, the show was forced to cut its final season short. They initially arbitrated but it went to the Los Angeles Court system.
Spacey was ordered to pay MRC almost $31 million in damages after violating Netflix’s sexual harassment policy. He was accused of creating a “toxic” work environment due to his “predatory” behavior. The accusations were from 8 people who worked on-set of House of Cards, all who remained anonymous.
Spacey appealed the decision but his appeal was overturned.
Despite all the negative publicity, Spacey is a bit of a post-MeToo anomaly after landing his new role in Control. Perhaps he’s not guilty of any of the allegations or perhaps he has really good lawyers. Either way, the fact that the part was written in hopes of snagging him for the role shows that fame truly does pay sometimes.
Control will be produced by Adam Southwick and Emily Hasseldine for Cupsogue Pictures and CineNorth Studios. Director Gene Fallaize will also be serving as executive producer.
Sam Amico and Silke Jasso contributed to this article.
