Kevin Spacey Signs On For “Superman” Sequel

Kevin Spacey will return as Lex Luthor in “Superman: man of Steel”... [He] hopes to shoot his Luthor role in a six-week block, as he did on “Superman Returns,” after he completes his run in David Mamet’s “Speed the Plow” in April.

Spacey, who has eight years remaining on his 10-year contract as artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theater, corrected recent Internet stories announcing his retirement from film acting in favor of the stage.


“My priorities have changed,” he admitted on the phone from London. “Theater is the No. 1 thing in my life. But I love movies and will continue to make movies when I can.”

If there were ever any questions about Kevin Spacey’s rumored retirement, his recent flurry of activity should put an end to them. Not only will the accomplished actor be reprising his role as baddie Lex Luthor in Bryan Singer’s Man of Steel, but he’s also appearing in Telstar, Nick Moran’s film version of Moran and James Hicks‘ 2005 West End play about flamboyant ’60s record mogul Joe Meek.
Oh, and did I mention Spacey’s also got two new films coming out soon? The first is Vince Vaughn laffer Fred Claus (more on that tomorrow), and then Robert Luketic’s 21, in which he plays an MIT professor who teaches his students to count cards. Not too shabby.

The only question that remains is whether or not Luthor will be the main bad guy in the new Superman, and I certainly hope he is. My biggest problem with Singer’s first stab at reviving the franchise was that there just wasn’t enough of Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor. Half the charm of the movies was always Superman’s never-ending struggle with his maniacal foil. Yet Spacey’s part felt meager somehow, truncated.

While shooting his role in 6 weeks might allow Spacey to keep up with the mammoth task of balancing a successful film career with running one of London’s most prestigious theaters, it hurts a movie like Superman because it takes away a lot of the possibility for reshoots or spontaneity, since you’re up against a strict deadline. As a result, it can (and did) end up seeming like Spacey’s role is somewhat ill-fitting with the rest of the film. Let’s hope that’s not the case this go around. Otherwise, he might as well be retired.
Pic is aiming for a 2009 release, after Singer finishes shooting Valkyrie.

Las Vegas: Playground To The Stars

HEADLINE stars Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth, who are about to start an eight-week shoot of their new '21' movie all around Vegas, did "research" at the Playboy Club at the Palms.

Kevin took a quick walk through, but Kate stayed most of the night playing blackjack and enjoying Dom Perignon champagne and Grey Goose vodka at a reserved booth in the middle of the gaming lounge.

'21' is the true story of the Boston college students who created an infallible mathematical solution to beat Vegas casinos. Ironically, the Vegas gambling haunts that booted the real troublemakers from town are now hosting the movie maker stars! The cast is shooting at the Aladdin, Hard Rock and Red Rock using some of our city's real-life dealers.

Meanwhile across town...

Happy Birthday congratulations to Lisa-Marie Presley, who celebrated her 39th birthday bash over the weekend with mom Priscilla in tow and Roseanne Barr in the party group.

They dined at TAO and then hit the upstairs TAO nightclub watching all the dancing revelers from an upper-deck VIP skybox rather than in the VIP dance floor section. Next night, Priscilla and Lisa-Marie sat up until 2:30AM, sipping cocktails at Caramel ultra lounge in the Bellagio.

Elsewhere, to celebrate four sold out shows at the Luxor this weekend, comedian Artie Lange partied at the Hard Rock's Body English nightclub with co-producer Jeff Beacher and a flock of audience members they'd invited over from his last late show.

Partying with them was Wesley Snipes, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Laura Prepon, Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson to name just a few.