Kevin Spacey lands lead role in film despite sexual assault charges

Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey has been cast in the new British indie film Control, just days after it was revealed that he will face further sexual assault charges.

The UK Crown Prosecution Service said earlier this month that Spacey is set to be charged with a further seven offences in the UK, in addition to the five charges he was already facing.

Despite the impending charges, Variety reports that Spacey will take on a main role in the upcoming British indie thriller.

Control follows a government minister Stella Simmons, played by Lauren Metcalfe, as she is kidnapped by her self-driving car when it’s discovered that she is having an affair with the prime minister, played by Mark Hampton.

Spacey will appear as the film’s main villain who takes control of Simmons’ car, though he will appear only as a voiceover.

The actor has been dropped from several major projects since allegations of sexual misconduct first began to surface in 2017. Last year, Spacey was ordered to pay $31 million to independent production company Media Rights Capital, the makers behind Spacey’s hit series House of Cards, to make up for revenue lost when the show was cancelled following the allegations.

However, the writer and director behind Control, Gene Fallaize, has told Variety that he wasn’t worried about Spacey’s casting.

Speaking to Variety, Fallaize said that the film’s script was written with Kevin Spacey in mind, saying that the controversies surrounding the actor were “a consideration” but he “wouldn’t say it was a concern”.

Fallaize said he grew up watching Spacey on screen, and that “he’s one of the greatest actors of our generation”.

“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,” the director added.

The charges against Spacey announced earlier this month include three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, all of which allegedly took place against one man between 2001 and 2004.

In May, the American Beauty actor was charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men, and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

Last month, Spacey was cleared of sexual assault charges against actor Anthony Rapp, the first person to openly accuse Spacey of sexual misconduct. Rapp had alleged that Spacey made sexual advances against him in 1986, when he was just 14 and Spacey was 26.

However, a New York jury concluded in October that Rapp had not proven the allegation was Spacey was “not liable” for any damages regarding the charge.

Spacey has denied wrongdoing.