Ridley Scott is a man on a mission. When it was announced on Nov. 9 that the legendary director was cutting Kevin Spacey from his new film “All The Money In The World” and replacing him with the filmmaker’s original choice, Christopher Plummer, the news was greeted by some with skepticism and amusement. How could Scott get his production team back together quickly enough to shoot the 10 days necessary and still make the film’s Dec. 22 release date? Moreover, how could the potential awards player screen early enough to make any mark in the Oscar race? A strategy that was part of the film’s theatrical release campaign.
Needless to say, we’ve all learned to never test Scott’s resolve.
Less than three weeks after the announcement Sony Pictures ran its first television spot featuring Plummer in the role of infamous industrialist John Paul Getty. The commercial isn’t available in an embeddable player yet, but you can watch it here. In fact, in the photo embedded below you can see a side by side comparison of Plummer on the same location Spacey had shot in months earlier.
That was fast: New Footage of Christopher Plummer in “All The Money In The World” After Replacing #KevinSpacey ? https://t.co/3rT2MRA7Ck via @Mediaite pic.twitter.com/dPu4juPz8K
— Josh Klenert (@JoshKlenert) November 29, 2017
“Money” chronicles the true story of Gail Harris (Michelle Williams) and her fight to get kidnappers to release her son, John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer), and for his grandfather (Plummer) to pay the ransom. Mark Wahlberg portrays a former CIA operative to help convince Getty to help free his grandson. There had been awards buzz surrounding Williams performance, but the film will likely not screen for the SAG Awards nominating committee by their deadline. Shockingly, possible the HFPA will be able to see it with more than enough time to spare.
Academy members likely won’t receive a screener of the film, but you can expect everyone in town will be heading to a screening to check out if Scott truly pulled it off.
“All The Money In The World” opens nationwide on Dec. 22.
This is undeniably better looking; Spacey’s performance may have been great, but aside from it being impossible to not think of the headlines when I see him, the it was distracting hearing his voice come out if that heavy makeup. Plummer looks like he nails it here, even in these short clips.
All the respect in the world for Ridley Scott.