Entertainment
Vanessa Redgrave not starring in Italian film directed by husband Franco Nero which sees Kevin Spacey make acting return
Vanessa Redgrave won’t be appearing in the Italian film directed by her husband Franco Nero, which will star disgraced actor Kevin Spacey in his acting return almost four years after he was accused of sexual harassment and abuse.
It had been previously reported that acting icon Redgrave would have a role in indie movie L’uomo Che Disegnò Dio, however her rep has since denied this – although there had ‘discussions’ about the actress taking part.
Regrave’s rep told Variety: ‘While there have been discussions about the possibility of her joining the cast, she will not appear in the film.’
The film will reportedly begin filming in Turin, Italy, in the coming weeks.
Spacey was accused of sexual harassment and improper behaviour by multiple men in 2017, with one of the accusers, Anthony Rapp, claiming to have been 14 at the time of the incident.
The allegations have been refuted by Spacey, who was fired from the Netflix series House of Cards following the claims.
Spacey’s role in the project is believed to be small, playing a police detective.
Of casting the L.A. Confidential star, Nero was defiant as he previously said told ABC: ‘I’m very happy Kevin agreed to participate in my film. I consider him a great actor and I can’t wait to start the movie.’
In a different interview, Nero said he personally reached out to Spacey for the role: ‘Among the actors, I made contact with Kevin Spacey. I’d have been very happy to bring him back on to a film set.’
The actor compared his downfall to those who were struggling or had lost work during the coronavirus pandemic, and that his personal relationships and standing in the acting industry were ‘all gone in just a matter of hours’.
He told Bits & Pretzels: ‘I don’t often like to tell people that I can relate to their situation because I think it undermines the experience that they may be having, which is their own unique and very personal experience.
‘But in this instance, I feel as though I can relate to what it feels like to have your world suddenly stop.
‘And so while we may have found ourselves in similar situations, albeit for very different reasons and circumstances, I still believe that some of the emotional struggles are very much the same.’
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