In a stunning and, frankly, historical development, Ridley Scott has decided to drop Kevin Spacey completely from the final cut of his December release “All The Money In The World.” Instead, Oscar winner Christopher Plummer will film new scenes as the legendary Oil tycoon John Paul Getty excising Spacey from the film.
According to Deadline, Plummer will film the scenes with co-stars Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg. Spacey’s role was supposedly just eight to 10 days of shooting, but still integral to the story. ‘All The Money’ chronicles the real-life kidnapping of Getty’s grandson, John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer), and how his mother (Williams) and a former CIA operative (Wahlberg) convince the elder Getty to pay the ransom before it’s too late.
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The Hollywood Reporter says, Scott made the decision on his own and just notified the studio this afternoon. It turns out Plummer was Scott’s original choice to play the part but the studio wanted a bigger name.
Scott and Sony Pictures still intend for the film to make its Dec. 22nd release. Whether they can screen for the HFPA and SAG nominating committee, among other guilds, remains to be seen. Nevertheless, if in theaters by Christmas Academy members will be able to screen it for Oscar consideration. Williams performance had received significant buzz and by removing Spacey from the film Scott is clearly attempting to do everything possible for her to have a legitimate shot at Best Actress nomination, reward the rest of the cast and crew for their work and, perhaps most importantly, not let its box office prospect by dogged by Spacey’s association.
The current version of the film had not screened for critics or press, but was originally slated to close the AFI Fest 2017. After a series of sexual assault allegations were made against Spacey, Scott and Sony Pictures pulled the film from the festival.
