Kevin Spacey drops out from Hungarian movie following sexual assault case

Shocking news arose regarding a Hungarian production. Kevin Spacey will no longer be leading the Genghis Khan movie following his sexual assault case in the U.K. Continue reading below for more details on the case.

Kevin Spacey will no longer be leading the Genghis Khan movie following his sexual assault case in the U.K., Variety reports. The actor was going to star in “1242: Gateway to the West,” a historical drama. The film was shopped at the Cannes film market. The movie is about a holy man in a Hungarian castle who attempts to stop one of Genghis Khan’s armies from invading Europe. Kevin Spacey was going to play the leading role.

Regarding the historical drama

Directed by Péter Soós, the English-language “Gateway to the West” has a budget of around USD 10,000,000 to USD 25,000,000. The shooting of the production starts this autumn. The National Film Institute Hungary, Foresight Media and LipSync are backing the project. It also stars Eric Roberts and Christopher Lambert.

The movie’s official description tells us the following: “When the Kingdom of Hungary’s army was annihilated by the Mongols at the Battle of Mohi, only the castle of Esztergom stood in their way to invade Europe. Batu, the grandson of Genghis Khan, reaches the walls of Esztergom with his invincible army. The castle’s defenders led by Eusebius, the canon of Esztergom, and a Spanish mercenary, captain Simon, are preparing for the final battle. The arrival of the papal legate, Cardinal Cesareani, the Mongol Lunar New Year’s celebration and the mystical approach of Eusebius, offer the defenders a small glimmer of hope.”

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Lead replacement

The movie’s producer, Bill Chamberlain, tells the above source that they had replaced Spacey as its lead. This is after the former “House of Cards” actor was charged in the U.K. with four counts of sexual assault and one count of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.” Negotiations are currently underway with the new lead. The public will soon learn who will replace Spacey.

Multiple men have accused Spacey of sexual harassment and abuse, writes Collider. This includes the case of three anonymous men who accused the actor of sexual assault in the UK between 2005 and 2013. On Thursday, he appeared at the Old Bailey criminal court and pleaded not guilty to all five counts of sexual assault he is currently facing. He will stand trial in the U.K. on 6 June 2023. The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.

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Source: collider.com, variety.com