Kevin Spacey unrecognizable in All the Money in the World

He’s an Oscar-winning actor, with a wide variety of roles under his belt.

But Kevin Spacey was almost unrecognizable as he took on the role of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in the first trailer for Ridley Scott’s new movie, All The Money In The World.

The screen legend, 58, transformed with the aid of prosthetics in clips from the forthcoming kidnap drama, set mostly in Rome, Italy, in 1973.

 

The oil tycoon poses with a glass of wine in 1960

Kevin Spacey (right) showed he had no fear jumping fully into character as J. Paul Getty (left, in 1960) in the release of the trailer for his latest and first film with director Ridley Scott, All the Money in the World

The movie details the story of Getty refusing to pay the ransom when his grandson was kidnapped at the age of 16, despite being the richest man in the world at the time. 

Getty’s action then forces his grandson’s mother to team with an ex-CIA negotiator to try and save her son.  

Michelle Williams plays the part of Gail Harris, the mother of John Paul Getty III, while Mark Wahlberg plays ex-CIA agent Fletcher Chase.

Gail’s a devoted and strong-willed mother, who routinely chooses her children over Getty’s fortune.  

The 58-year-old Academy Award-winning actor was barely recognizable in clips from the new film as he portrayed oil tycoon and, at the time, richest man in the world J. Paul Getty.

The 58-year-old Academy Award-winning actor was barely recognizable in clips from the new film as he portrayed oil tycoon and, at the time, richest man in the world J. Paul Getty.

Charlie Plummer portrays idnapped grandson John Paul Getty III in All the Money in the World

Charlie Plummer portrays idnapped grandson John Paul Getty III in All the Money in the World

The drama chronicles the twists and turns surrounding the ransom for his grandson's return, with Michelle Williams portraying the boys mother Gail and Mark Wahlberg as an ex-CIA agent that she teams up with to find her son

The drama chronicles the twists and turns surrounding the ransom for his grandson’s return, with Michelle Williams portraying the boys mother Gail and Mark Wahlberg as an ex-CIA agent that she teams up with to find her son

Mark Wahlberg's ex-CIA agent character teams up with Michelle Williams to help her find her kidnapped son

Mark Wahlberg’s ex-CIA agent character teams up with Michelle Williams to help her find her kidnapped son

As Getty grows increasingly concerned with Gail’s actions, he enlists the help of Fletcher to protect his interests. 

Unbeknownst to Getty, Fletcher and Gail become allies in the fight to retrieve her son alive. 

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Spacey recalled a blunt conversation he had with the director which ultimately lead to being cast in the film.

He explained: ‘I’ve known Ridley a very long time, and I’ve seen him on a number of occasions at a number of places, but we’ve never worked together, and it was maybe four, five years ago when I ran into him again.’

Spacey said he dove deep into research of Getty's life and realized the man wasn't exactly who the public perceived him to be; Getty seen here with fifth and last wife Teddy in 1939 in Rome 

Spacey said he dove deep into research of Getty’s life and realized the man wasn’t exactly who the public perceived him to be; Getty seen here with fifth and last wife Teddy in 1939 in Rome 

Prior to filming, Spacey recalled a blunt conversation he had with the director which ultimately lead to being cast in the film; seen at the Tony Awards in June 2017

Prior to filming, Spacey recalled a blunt conversation he had with the director which ultimately lead to being cast in the film; seen at the Tony Awards in June 2017

‘I said to him, ‘Ridley, in the future, I don’t care where you are, I don’t care if we’re on an airplane or at some VIP premiere party, if you see me, I do not want you to come up to me.

‘I do not want you to come say hello, because we’ve been saying hello together for nearly 20 years, and the next time you say hello to me has to be on a film set.’

The incredible true story details the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III by masked men in Italy.   

The incredible true story details the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III; seen here in 1979 at the opening party for Hair

The incredible true story details the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III; seen here in 1979 at the opening party for Hair

Spacey said he dove deep into research of Getty’s life and realized the man wasn’t exactly who the public perceived him to be. 

‘The circumstances of this particular event were very fraught with a lot of misinformation, and a lot of assumptions,’ Spacey said. 

‘He was reluctant to pay the ransom on one level because he had 14 grandchildren, and he felt that if he started paying ransom, he was going to put his other grandchildren in jeopardy.’

A common theme throughout the story and film is Getty’s inability to reason between love and money.  

Michelle Williams portrays John Paul Getty III's mother Gail in Ridley Scott's All The Money In The World

Michelle Williams portrays John Paul Getty III’s mother Gail in Ridley Scott’s All The Money In The World

All the Money in the World debuts in theaters via TriStar Pictures and Imperative Entertainment on Dec. 8. 

All the Money in the World debuts in theaters via TriStar Pictures and Imperative Entertainment on Dec. 8. 

Michelle Williams portrays Gail, a devoted and strong-willed mother who routinely chooses her children over Getty's fortune 

Michelle Williams portrays Gail, a devoted and strong-willed mother who routinely chooses her children over Getty’s fortune 

‘Yes, there are certain things he did to minimize the tax implications of paying ransom, and people can certainly question, “Was that a good thing? Was that a bad thing?” You know, he was all business,’ Spacey said. 

‘That’s the thing I really learned about him, that he was all business.’

Spacey’s had a history of portraying less-than-liked characters on stage and screen, so jumping into a new persona wasn’t too difficult – especially with more than five hours in the makeup chair to transform into the billionaire.

‘One of the things I always enjoy trying to do in roles is allowing a character to behave, to do things, to say things in which an audience’s allegiances keep shifting, where even sometimes against your better nature you might like a character, you might root for a character,’ the House of Cards actor explained. 

‘Ridley would come up to me and go, ‘Wow, that was really so different than I thought I would feel about this scene… I actually kind of like the guy. 

‘To me, that’s part of the challenge and part of the joy in being able to play a character as complicated as this man was.’

All the Money in the World debuts in theaters via TriStar Pictures and Imperative Entertainment on December 8. 

Spacey's had a history of portraying less-than-liked characters on stage and screen, so jumping into a new persona wasn't too difficult - especially with more than five hours in the makeup chair to transform into the billionaire

Spacey’s had a history of portraying less-than-liked characters on stage and screen, so jumping into a new persona wasn’t too difficult – especially with more than five hours in the makeup chair to transform into the billionaire

All the Money in the World debuts in theaters via TriStar Pictures and Imperative Entertainment on Dec. 8

All the Money in the World debuts in theaters via TriStar Pictures and Imperative Entertainment on Dec. 8

 

 

 

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