Kevin Spacey Making a Comeback After 5 Years With a Historical Drama

Kevin Spacey has been cast in the historical drama 1242 – Gateway to the West, which will go on sale at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

Following allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted approaches leveled against him in 2017, this is Spacey's most ambitious film to date.

The film stars Eric Roberts, Christopher Lambert, Terence Stamp, and newcomers Jeremy Neumark-Jones and Genevieve Florence. Principal photography on the film is scheduled to begin in Hungary and Mongolia in October of 2022. Aron Horvath and Joan Lane wrote the story, and Bill Chamberlain and Kornel Sipos are producing. It will be directed by veteran Hungarian director Peter Soos.

Batu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan and new commander-in-chief of the Mongol Empire's western provinces, is the subject of the film. After winning battles in China and Iran, Khan was assigned responsibility for the conquest of Europe, but in 1242, he is confronted by a deeply spiritual Hungarian man and a castle in Hungary that halts the assault and ultimately causes Khan's downfall.

Istvan Bodzsar, Carlos Alperin, Norman Merry, Tim Smith, Paul Brett, and Csaba Iski serve as executive producers on the project. Mongolian producers Bayar Banzragch and Battushig Batbold are also involved in the film's production.

Galloping Entertainment is handling international sales and post-production in Australia, while LipSync, Pinewood Studios, and Abbey Road Studios are in the UK.