
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.
Labels: Kevin Spacey, Movie News