Kevin Spacey is set to make his first major television appearance in eight years, following his acquittal on sexual misconduct charges. The two-time Oscar winner will star in 'Minimarket', an Italian comedy series due to be released on state broadcaster RAI's streaming platform later this month, according to Variety.
The 10-episode series follows Manlio Viganò, played by Italian actor Filippo Laganà, a young man working in a small convenience store in Rome who dreams of becoming an entertainer. Spacey plays himself as Viganò's imaginary 'artistic conscience and unpredictable mentor', with their relationship defined by 'bickering, misunderstandings and mutual teasing'.
This role marks Spacey's first significant TV role since he was fired from the Netflix series 'House of Cards' in 2017 after multiple men accused him of sexual misconduct. He has since been acquitted on all counts by a UK court, and allegations against him were dismissed in the US.
Since his acquittal, Spacey has appeared in several smaller projects, including the Italian psychological thriller 'The Contract' and the indie film 'Peter Five Eight'. He was also honoured with the Maximo Award for Excellence at the Italian Global Series Festival earlier this year.
In a recent interview, Spacey clarified that he is not homeless, after comments about 'living in hotels' were misinterpreted. He stated he is 'basically living in hotels and Airbnbs and going where the work is', and expressed sympathy for those truly in difficult financial situations.
