Kevin Spacey was set to star in upcoming movie All The Money In The World, which hits cinemas next month.
However, following a string of sexual assault allegations over the past few weeks, producers have completely cut his scenes from the new big-screen picture and replaced him with veteran actor Christopher Plummer.
The film – which stars Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg – centres around the 1973 abduction of Getty Oil fortune heir Joh Paul Getty III, who was just 16 at the time.
Spacey had filmed all of his scenes as billionaire grandfather J. Paul Getty, but director Ridley Scott took the decision to reshoot all of his scenes with Plummer instead.
“There are over 800 other actors, writers, artists, craftspeople and crew who worked tirelessly and ethically on this film, some for years, including one of cinema’s master directors,” TriStar Pictures said in a statement.
“It would be a gross injustice to punish all of them for the wrongdoings of one supporting actor in the film.”
The reshoots happened just six weeks before the film hits cinemas on 22 December.
That being said, it’s been reported that Sony are considering delaying the release of the film in order to distance it from the current ongoing scandal.
It comes less than a week after Netflix confirmed that they will not be working with Spacey going forward.
It’s been reported that two episodes for the next season of House of Cards have been filmed so far, but production has been halted to allow writers to rework scripts to write Spacey’s character Frank Underwood out of the show.
The corrupt politician dies in the Michael Dobbs book that inspired the series, so it could easily work.
There has also been talk that Robin Wright’s character, Claire Underwood, could become the new focus of the show instead.
Kevin Spacey has been accused of sexual harassment and sexual abuse from numerous alleged victims over the past few weeks, since Anthony Rapp came forward with his alleged experience last month.
Rapp claimed in an interview that Spacey made a “sexual advance” on him back in 1986, when he was just 14 years old and Spacey was 26.
The House of Cards star swiftly issued a statement saying that he has “a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor,” and admitted that he is “horrified to hear this story.”
The actor did not deny the allegation, but said that he does not “remember the encounter”.
However, Spacey then decided to use the statement to say: “I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.”
Many were quick to criticise Spacey for choosing this moment to clarify his sexuality as it perpetuates the gross stereotype that bigots use to claim that gay men are predatory.
Rapp’s allegations have inspired many more alleged victims to come forward, including eight former and current crew members on House of Cards.
In one instance, a young man who worked on the series told CNN he was sexually assaulted.
The former production assistant alleges that when he was driving Spacey down to the set one day, the actor forced his hand down the young man’s trousers.
Spacey is currently seeking treatment at a top facility in California.
If you have been a victim of sexual assault and would like to seek support, you can call the Sexual Assault Casework & Support helpline on 0800 704 2040, or visit Galop UK”s official website for more information.