DirectorMichael Zaiko Hallhas spoken out in defense of disgraced Oscar winning actorKevin Spaceyand his casting in Hall’s upcoming thriller,Peter Five Eight. In the wake of the movie now becoming available on various streaming platforms, the filmmaker has called Spacey a “rare talent” anddoes not think that “Kevin is a Harvey Weinstein.”Discussing the controversial casting choice withTHR, Hall revealed that he had another actor in mind before approaching Spacey. However, after much discussion, the entire crew “agreed” that no one could play the role of Peter, a mysterious “man in black” who stalks the main character.
“With a comic malevolence and this lyrical quality to him, we decided to approach Kevin’s management with the script, and to offer him the role. Of course, this is a controversial choice, if you will. We were very cognizant about what we were embarking on by bringing this to Kevin, but we knew it would be in the interest of the film. The film would be far more compelling with Kevin as Peter.”
Peter Five Eightwill be Spacey’s first lead role following the fallout from the various legal issues the actor has faced regarding sexual misconduct allegations. The actor was acquitted of nine charges in the United Kingdom last year, however a documentary,Spacey Unmasked,claimed to reveal further victimsnot associated with the trial.
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Continuing his defense of Spacey, Hall called the actor’s situation one “unfortunateside effects of cancel culture,” and believes that the allegations have been “blown out of proportion.”
“Kevin Spacey is a rare talent. Of eight billion people on earth, how many people can do what Kevin does? I would say, generously, 100. He brings something powerful to the screen and I think this is one of the unfortunate side effects of cancel culture.”
Peter Five Eight Director Doesn’t Think Kevin Spacey Is a Harvey Weinstein or a Bill Cosby
The praise from Hall continued, with the director calling Spacey “extremely sweet” and even “grandfatherly.” While the filmmaker said he does support the #MeToo movement, he does not think that Spacey should be counted or compared tothe likes of Harvey Weinsteinor Bill Cosby. Which is perhaps not the best measure of innocence…
“I don’t think Kevin is a Harvey Weinstein. I don’t think Kevin is a Bill Cosby. I would go so far as to say I don’t even think Kevin is an Armie Hammer. I read Armie Hammer’s texts, and as a amateur student of psychology, I think the man is a psychopath. I think there’s a sadism there and there’s a cruelty. With Kevin, there’s none of that. There’s absolutely none of that. There’s no cruelty. There’s no sadism. He’s a sweet man. He’s really a sweet man. This was my character assessment of him.”
Written and directed by Michael Zaiko Hall,Peter Five Eightstars Kevin Spacey, Jet Jandreau as Sam, Rebecca De Mornay, and Jake Weber. You can check out the official synopsis for the thriller below.
“In Peter Five Eight, an alcoholic but seemingly glamorous real-estate agent (played by Jet Jandreau) becomes increasingly paranoid when a charismatic man in black (Spacey) begins following her. He moves into the house across from hers and works, at the behest of a shadowy boss, to unearth a long-kept secret of hers.”
Spacey has gradually been making his way back into the spotlight and, alongsidePeter Five Eight, the actor is alsodue to star as The Devilin the upcoming thriller,The Contract, from Italian filmmaker Massimiliano Caroletti.
Peter Five Eight
