Following information that Kevin Spacey has been charged with 4 counts of sexual assault in the U.Ok., the producers of one in every of his new movies being shopped at Cannes have issued a press release in assist of the disgraced actor.
“Whereas it’s unlucky that elevated unfavourable press is timed with Kevin returning to work, it’s additionally to be anticipated,” the producers of “Peter Five Eight” mentioned in a press release to Selection. “There are those that want for him not to act, however they’re outnumbered by followers worldwide who await an artist they’ve loved for many years returning to the display screen. The manufacturing has no information or touch upon the numerous swirling allegations, and consider it’s a matter for the courts to decide validity if it exists. ‘Peter Five Eight’ is a movie for followers who care extra for the artwork than the scandal.”
“Peter Five Eight” is being shopped in Cannes by VMI Worldwide. The movie stars Spacey as Peter, a charismatic but mysterious man who arrives to a mountainside city with a mission. Spacey additionally has one other movie on the market at Cannes, “1242: Gateway to the West,” a historic drama a few holy man who makes an attempt to cease Genghis Khan’s military from invading Europe.
Spacey’s prices had been introduced Thursday by the U.Ok.’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which has spent over a 12 months reviewing a file handed to them by the Metropolitan Police.
“The CPS has approved prison prices towards Kevin Spacey, 62, for 4 counts of sexual assault towards three males,” mentioned Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Particular Crime Division. “He has additionally been charged with inflicting an individual to have interaction in penetrative sexual exercise with out consent. The fees observe a evaluate of the proof gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all involved that prison proceedings towards Mr Spacey are energetic and that he has the proper to a good trial.”
At the least a few of the prices are believed to stem from Spacey’s time at the Previous Vic theater in London, the place he served as inventive director from 2004-2015. Following a cascade of sexual assault allegations towards the actor in the U.S., the theater undertook an inner investigation which, in accordance to the BBC, resulted in 20 victims coming ahead who claimed he had behaved inappropriately towards them.
Allegations of sexual assault and misconduct towards Spacey had been first uncovered in 2017, when actor Anthony Rapp claimed that Spacey had made a non-consensual sexual advance towards him when he was 14. Rapp later filed a sexual abuse swimsuit in New York, which stays ongoing. One other swimsuit was filed in Massachusetts in 2018, however was dropped after the sufferer refused to testify. A civil swimsuit filed in 2019 was additionally dismissed after the plaintiff died. Spacey has denied all claims of sexual assault or misconduct.
The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report the information.
Ok.J. Yossman contributed to this report.