Kevin Spacey recorded first movie since acquittal for sex crimes separately from rest of the cast, director tells TalkTV

THE director of Kevin Spacey’s first movie since being acquitted of sex crimes opened up to TalkTV’s Jeremy Kyle and Nicola Thorp.

Gene Fallazie, whose film Control premieres in London tonight, was asked how he ensures inappropriate behaviour doesn’t happen on set.

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He explained that Kevin, who was cast for the film before the outcome of his UK court case was known, appears as a voice in the movie and recorded separately from the other cast.

The House Of Cards actor, 64, was cleared of all charges in his sexual assault trial in London earlier this year.

Gene said there is a “huge wave of positivity” for the actor ahead of his return to the big screen.

Speaking to hosts Jeremy and Nicola on Talk Today about how Spacey’s court case impacted the making of the film, he explained: “It’s been a whole rollercoaster of a process really.

“Very different to the way a regular film would normally be made because we’ve had to take into account all of these different situations and opinions to a point as well so it’s been challenging, but at the end of the day we’ve just tried to treat it as we would, it’s a film that we’ve got to get made and ready for release.”

Gene then spoke about his decision to cast Kevin before they knew the outcome of the court cases.

He said: “He had already been acquitted in the US at this point.

“His UK trial was still outstanding, but ultimately he hadn’t been proven guilty of anything ever at that point, so for me it was a case of taking the facts as we saw them at the time – he had been acquitted in the US and everything his team were giving us and their expectations of how the trial was going to go and trying to make an assessed decision.”

Last month Kevin made an emotional comeback to the stage – almost seven years after he last appeared in a theatre. 

Discussing his movie comeback, Gene told viewers: “For the most part, we are seeing a huge wave of positivity both from his fan base and from film fans  in general.

“There are those quarters who will have always made their mind up no matter what the outcome was going to be and nothing would ever change their mind on that and that’s entirely their right to do that.”

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The hosts then quizzed the director on how he plans to ensure that inappropriate behaviour does not happen on set.

He responded: “Trying to be as aware as possible, I think in the past there was an element of turning a blind eye and things like that.

“Now I think with everyone being a bit more open and knowing you can talk about it and be taken seriously I think that’s a big element of it.

“I think in this instance, Kevin’s role was recorded separately so we kept that side of things completely separate from the rest of main unit filming.”

It comes after Spacey sobbed in the dock after being cleared of sexually assaulting four men.

Jurors returned not guilty verdicts for nine offences relating to when he was artistic director of the Old Vic in London. 

The Oscar-winning star had been branded a “sexual bully” for allegedly attacking the men in charges dating back 22 years.

He had previously broken down at Southwark Crown Court and said: “I lost everything”.

Jurors took 12 hours and 26 minutes to return the not guilty verdict and Spacey mouthed “thank you” to them before they left the courtroom in July. 

He had always denied all charges and speaking outside court he said he had been “humbled”. 

Kevin told reporters: “I imagine that many of you can understand that there is a lot for me to process after what has just happened today.

“But I would like to say that I am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision and I am humbled by the outcome today.

“I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security and all those who took care of us every single day, my legal team Evan and Lucy for being here every day, and that’s all I have to say for the moment. Thank you very much.”

Watch Talk Today, Monday to Friday from 6am – 9:30am, on Freeview 237, Sky 522 and Virgin Media 606.

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