Netflix is still holding tight to “Gore,” the long-buried biopic starring Kevin Spacey as Gore Vidal, with zero interest in selling it off.
Directed by Michael Hoffman (“The Last Station”), the film was in post-production in 2017 when Netflix pulled the plug, right after the first wave of sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey broke. The streamer quickly distanced itself, shelving the project entirely. The film, reportedly a $40 million investment, was quietly swept under the rug.
Last year, a report citing numerous cast and crew members who worked on “Gore” painted a dire picture. The film’s producer, Andy Paterson, confirmed that he had been hassling Netflix for years to “either show the film or give me the opportunity to find a new life for it.” Their response? “They do not intend to ever release the picture or sell it to a third party.”
Now, in a new interview on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, Spacey expresses his deep personal investment in the project, noting that he spent months preparing for the role by living in Vidal’s home in Ravello, Italy. He views the film as a significant artistic achievement, remarking, “It’s one of the best films I’ve ever done.”
He further describes the decision to shelve the film as a “bitter pill to swallow,” particularly because of its impact on his collaborators. Spacey laments that “The director, the screenwriter, Michael Stuhlbarg, who plays the Gore lover of 40-some years—I think would win an Academy Award for his performance. The other actors, the crew, they’re also being punished and they shouldn’t be.”
Spacey emphasizes that he hopes the platform will reconsider its stance, stating, “I hope Netflix grows up about it because it’s an incredible movie.”
Just before the allegations against Spacey emerged, Netflix had planned to release the film in theaters, as a theatrical run was then necessary for eligibility in major awards competitions. Furthermore, in the final weeks of filming, the streaming giant requested that the production create a trailer specifically for use in the film’s awards campaign.
At this point, you’ve got to feel for the cast and crew who poured their time into this film. Hoffman hasn’t directed much since, and everyone involved remains stuck in limbo over a project that’s essentially ready to be seen.
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