Kevin Spacey’s career was going downhill by the late 2010s, but he was afforded a reprieve in the form of his soon-to-be released Gore Vidal biopic, cast as the eponymous enigmatic writer. But if getting re-cast in “All the Money in the World” wasn’t a big enough blow, then having the entire “Gore” project scrapped after completion was a knockout. Filming had wrapped on the biopic in 2017, but Netflix decided to abandon it entirely. Per BuzzFeed News, just three weeks after the movie was completed, Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexual assault, followed by several other men.
And there was also the matter of art imitating life. Having obtained the script for “Gore,” BuzzFeed noted that the titular character appeared obsessed with sex with boys. Indeed, much of the film is centered on Vidal’s attempts to seduce Jamie, a fan decades younger than the author. Accordingly, the script features scenes that appear eerily analogous to the accusations Spacey faces. Namely, Vidal is shown abusing his position of power.
Netflix lost $39 million by cutting ties with Spacey. Thereafter, Michael Stuhlbarg, his “Gore” co-star, expressed his disappointment that the project was scrapped, though he acknowledged why it was necessary to do so. “When you work hard on something, you want people to see it,” he lamented to The Hollywood Reporter. As BuzzFeed argued, by this point, “The damage to his career seems complete, if not irreversible.” Indeed, the Kevin Spacey downward spiral showed no signs of slowing.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
