Gene Fallaize says he has "nothing but respect and admiration" for Kevin Spacey after the actor was cleared of all sex offence charges against him in the UK, as well as in the US.
The two-time Oscar winner was told on Wednesday that the jury at Southwark Crown Court in London had returned not guilty verdicts in all matters.
Spacey had been accused of nine sexual offences, by four men between 2001 and 2013.
He'd also faced accusations in America - by a man who said he'd been abused in the 1980s - but Spacey was cleared in that case too.
Weeks after being acquitted of that charge in America, Spacey was offered a voice only role in the Gene Fallaize written, produced and director film 'Control'.
Pictured: Kevin Spacey at Southwark Crown Court on 24 July 2023 (Shutterstock).
Fallaize - who grew up in Guernsey - had faced criticism for his decision to cast Spacey, but has now welcomed the British court's decision to also clear the actor of all charges.
As the director behind the viral hit film Superman: Requiem, Fallaize's "indie thriller" has been described as a "hit" in the making.
Now, with one of the star's having cleared his name - Fallaize is looking forward to his latest work going on general release, hopefully later this year.
"When I made the decision to write a role specifically for Kevin Spacey with the hope of being able to cast him in ‘Control’ it was not a decision I came to lightly," said Fallaize who has urged people to remember the mantra 'innocent until proven guilty'.
"After discussions with my producers and our investors, in which I insisted that we cast him as he had never been found guilty of anything in his life, it was agreed to by all that we did not want to be part of those judging unfairly, and without the facts.
"Kevin and his team read the script and liked it, and we met with Kevin to discuss the project in November 2022. In the days following our meeting and offer for him to work on the film further accusations came to light, and we spoke with Kevin’s representatives who insisted that the claims were false, and Kevin would fight in court to clear his name. That was enough for us to continue, and Kevin has done exactly that."
Pictured: Gene Fallaize and Kevin Spacey.
As a disembodied voice, Spacey's role in the film will not see his familiar face return to the screen but his role will be central to the storyline.
Fallaize has previously told Variety magazine that “(Spacey is) one of the greatest actors of our generation,” and “his personal life aside — it’s something I can’t comment on and have no knowledge of — it’s an opportunity to work with one of the acting greats.”
In a statement released hours after Spacey was cleared of all charges in London, Fallaize said actor's faith in the justice system has paid off.
"As Kevin himself said, he was subject to 'trial by social media', and we certainly had our share of backlash as a result of casting him in our film, but it is a decision I am proud to have made, as it meant I was lucky enough to work with one of the greatest actors of our times, and an actor who fought to clear his name - and won.
"I will forever be grateful to Kevin for his participation and for his work on ‘Control’, and I have nothing but respect and admiration for the man who attended court in person every day to prove his innocence.
"I only hope that in the future ‘innocent until proven guilty’ is a term actually considered by the public, and - especially - the media."
Pictured: Variety reported the project involving Gene Fallaize and Kevin Spacey HERE.
The news of Spacey's signing with Fallaize for 'Control' was reported across industry media at the time with some positivity.
Variety was one which reported Fallaize as saying that despite his ongoing legal battles, the controversy around him was "a consideration, I wouldn't say it was a concern".
Since Spacey's acquittal there has been further fervent speculation about his future career options.
Fallaize has been invited to speak across numerous national and global media outlets as attention reverts to Spacey's action talent and career now both the American and British courts have cleared him of sexual offences.
A release date for 'Control' - which tells the story of a British government Minister who has an affair with the Prime Minister - is still under negotiation.
In 'Control', the Minister's car is taken over by remote control and hijacked by someone else, with the film following her perilous journey.
Lauren Metcalfe and Mark Hampton will star as the Minister and PM, while Spacey will be the disembodied voice in 'control'.
Pictured: Gene Fallaize's IMDB profile details his childhood and teenage years growing up in Guernsey.
Mr Fallaize lived in Guernsey from the age of four. He went to St Sampson's Secondary School and worked at most of the local media outlets as well as volunteering at Jubilee Hospital Radio.
While just 17 he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the station, which at the time was a record for the youngest person to be given such a senior role across the Hospital Broadcasting Association.
After leaving Guernsey when he had finished school, Mr Fallaize worked on multiple projects within the movie business - one of the most successful being his homage to the earlier Superman films.
His Superman: Requiem film has had more than 60million views since it was released just over a decade ago.
Mr Fallaize now works on projects through his own production firm, Cupsogue Pictures. He is credited as a director and producer, he also writes and makes cameo appearances in many of his own features.
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