Posted in: Movies | Tagged: All The Money In The World, film

Ridley Scott Makes A Statement About Replacing Kevin Spacey

When the story about Kevin Spacey broke it hit a lot of projects in a bunch of different ways. Spacey's name had gone from a possible box office draw to something more like poison. Then there was the issue of the movie All The Money In The World. It was going to be an Oscar contender and director Ridley Scott made a last minute decision; he was going to replace all of Spacey's scenes with actor Christopher Plummer in a month. Scott spoke to Entertainment Weekly about his decision.

I was finished with the film and was in [U.K. recording studio] Abbey Road finalizing the music. Someone was like: Guess what? And that's where it began. I sat and thought about it and realized, we cannot. You can't tolerate any kind of behavior like that. And it will affect the film. We cannot let one person's action affect the good work of all these other people. It's that simple.

This is true. While not having Spacey in the movie is a good moral stance to take it's also one that could hurt lower members of the crew if the movie bombed. There were lots of people that could end up with their careers just as poisoned as Spacey's just by being in the movie. Scott knew he was going to recast the role and that Christopher Plummer was the man he wanted.

You have to know who you're going to go for [to recast the role] and if he's available. Chris [Plummer] was always on the list. So you find that out, but quietly, because you don't want it going around. I flew into New York and met with [Plummer] and he said yes. So then we had to figure out if everyone else would be available to fit in these new days of shooting. Miraculously, they were. Before you can make the decision you have to make these quick phone calls around — not to the actors directly, but to the agents — saying there's a possibility I may need some pickups [a.k.a. additional shooting days]. You don't say why because of the gossip, but of course it was really for something much more significant.

This kind of change so late in the game was not only surprising it was also costly. It was something that Scott didn't have second thoughts about doing but the studio didn't try to stop him either.

What was the studio's reaction to all this?
They were like, "You'll never do it. God be with you." [Laughs]

But they're holding the date of Dec. 22 for you anyway.
F—ing right.

Did you ever consider pushing the release date to 2018?
No.

It's a very tight window but Scott is sure he can make it.

Because I know I can deliver. [Laughs] I move like lightning. I'm already two scenes ahead. It's simple! If you know what you're doing, you don't need 19 takes. You do one for the actor, one for me. It's all planned out. When you storyboard, you've already pre-filmed the movie in your head — the wide shots, close shots, establishing shots. You've gotten some of your weird ideas when you're quietly sitting, storyboarding by yourself. After a while you learn to trust and listen to your intuition. And I listen to mine. I trust it.

If Scott manages to pull this off it's going to say a lot about other productions that aren't doing the same. Maybe a certain property concerning wizards.

The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.

All The Money In The World, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Mark Wahlberg, Christopher Plummer, Michelle Williams, Charlie Plummer, and Stacy Martin. It will be released on December 22nd.

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