Script For Kevin Spacey's 'Gore' Biopic Shows Why Netflix Abandoned The Just-Wrapped Film

When the news began to break about Kevin Spacey’s numerous sexual assault allegations, the project that many people were curious about was “House of Cards.” The Netflix drama series featured the actor in the lead role, leading many to believe that it could be canceled. Of course, we know how that turned out, with Robin Wright taking over as lead of the series for one final season. However, one of the projects that Netflix and Spacey were working on that seems to have been forgotten was “Gore.” The Gore Vidal biopic had just wrapped production when the allegations hit, and we haven’t heard anything about the film since. Now, a year later, we finally know just why Netflix cut ties with the project, and it’s not what you might be thinking.

In a new report from Buzzfeed News, we learn that the production of “Gore” was doomed the second Kevin Spacey was allegedly linked to sexual assault with young men. However, unlike “Billionaire Boys Club,” which was quietly released with disastrous box office results, or “All the Money in the World,” which featured actor Christopher Plummer taking over Spacey’s role, “Gore” not only featured a role that couldn’t be fixed by reshooting without Spacey and had content that just made the allegations against the actor all the more troubling.

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Quietly mentioned as part of the $39 million loss that Netflix took last year thanks to ditching Kevin Spacey, “Gore” is a biopic about Vidal that was supposed to be a prestige project that would have given the actor another awards contender. However, considering Spacey’s marred reputation combined with the fact that the film featured frank discussions of sex with younger men, sometimes against their will, it’s obvious why Netflix happily took the loss.

Buzzfeed obtained a copy of the shooting script for “Gore” and detailed some scenes that probably would have made the biopic the source of much debate if the film actually saw release. The film tells the story of what happened after Vidal’s failed 1982 Senate run, where he meets a young writer and subsequently begins to seduce the writer, sometimes against his will.

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There are quite a few scenes that show Spacey’s Gore Vidal taking the young writer, Jamie, on various trips, attempting to insert sexual conversations whenever he can. Vidal constantly tries to normalize ancient Roman behavior that showed men in power having sex with young, underage men. Buzzfeed has detailed dialogue that shows Vidal trying to coerce Jamie into believing this is perfectly acceptable and normal.

Perhaps the most controversial scene would have been when Vidal takes Jamie to meet two trans women, who are prostitutes. The way the scene is described, it’s yet another attempt by Vidal to make the young writer okay with having sex with men (previously it was shown that Jamie was happily involved with a female partner at the time). Not only is the scene another attempt at seduction by Spacey’s character, but the report says that it doesn’t paint trans people in the best light, either.

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“Gore” was directed by Michael Hoffman, best know for his work on “The Best of Me” and “Soapdish,” based on a script he co-wrote with Jay Parini. Joining Spacey in the film is Michael Stuhlbarg, as Vidal’s partner and manager, and Douglas Booth as Jamie.

Overall, it’s clear that Netflix did the right thing to ditch the project and it appears that the producers involved will have a very difficult time finding a home for the film. At this point, it feels like Spacey’s “Gore” will go down as one of those lost films that, perhaps rightfully, never sees the light of day.