Kevin Spacey will be returning to the silver screen with the psychological thriller The Contract, in which he is set to portray a character named “The Devil.” Per Variety, the project has just finished principal photography in Rome.
Eric Roberts (King of the Gypsies) and Vincent Spano (Over the Edge) will also join Spacey in still-undisclosed roles. Directed by Massimo Paolucci (All in One Day), Spacey’s character is described as a combination of Al Pacino’s John Milton in 1997’s The Devil’s Advocate and Robert De Niro’s Louis Cyphre in 1987’s Angel Heart. The film is also somewhat similar to the two mentioned classics, as a TM Entertainment statement revealed.
According to the Variety, it took producers Massimiliano Caroletti and Sandro Lazzarini eight months to convince Spacey to take on the role. Other details about the project remain close to the vest.
What happened to Kevin Spacey?
The House of Cards actor was once considered one of Hollywood’s most prominent stars, having appeared in several acclaimed projects like American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, Looking for Richard, L.A. Confidential, The Negotiator, Pay It Forward, A Time to Kill, Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, and Se7en, among others.
However, in 2017, the actor’s career collapsed following the legal battles and sexual misconduct allegations hurled against him. In The Cut’s 2023 report, Spacey faced seven counts of sexual assault, three counts of indecent assault, and another two counts of nonconsensual sexual activity.
The actor denied the charges and was found not guilty of nine sexual assault charges.
Of course, the casting announcement marks the actor’s return to the spotlight following the controversies. In addition to The Contract, the actor is also set to star in the upcoming indie thriller Peter Five Eight, opposite Rebecca de Mornay. The film is scheduled for a limited US release on March 22.
