Legendary screenwriter and director Paul Schrader recently doubled down on his defense of Kevin Spacey, noting that he would work with the actor in the future if he had the chance.
Speaking to The Independent (via World of Reel), Schrader sounded off on his disdain for “cancel culture,” and brought up Spacey. Schrader has defended the actor in the past, and noted that — as Spacey had been found not guilty of crimes — that he wouldn’t mind working with him again.
“People responded as if I had said I would kick a homeless man,” said Schrader on his initial support of Spacey. “I mean, Kevin Spacey is a great actor. He won two Oscars. He was found not guilty. Why would I not work with him?”
Earlier this year, Schrader also mentioned that he wanted to cast Spacey in his 2022 film Master Gardner, but that a producer on the film said no.
Spacey has gone through various legal battles
Once heralded as a legendary actor, Spacey’s career came to a halt in 2017 when he was accused of making sexual advances on then-14-year-old Anthony Rapp (who appeared in a Broadway show with Spacey) in 1986. More allegations came forward following that, leading to Netflix cutting ties with Spacey on their planned film Gore, as well as removing him from the final season of the series House of Cards.
Earlier this year, a U.K. jury found Kevin Spacey not guilty of nine charges of sexual assault, indecent assault, and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity.
Last year, a New York jury also found that Spacey did not sexually assault actor Antony Rapp, who first came forward against Spacey in 2017. Spacey says the results in London should be similar to those in New York.
