The new movie All the Money in the World tells the harrowing story of the 1973 kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III, the grandson of billionaire oil tycoon J. Paul Getty.
There’s plenty of drama on the screen in Ridley Scott’s latest film, but what went on behind the scenes is unprecedented in filmmaking.
In late October, Scott, along with the rest of the world learned of sexual assault allegations against Kevin Spacey--who had played grandpa Getty in his movie. It is already Hollywood lore how Scott decided to cut Spacey from the movie and replace him with Christopher Plummer. And to keep his late December release date, he said he’d do it all in six weeks.
That meant calling back the other actors in the film and preparing to shoot in key locations, all on very short notice. Michelle Williams, who plays the kidnapped Paul Getty’s mother, returned, as did Mark Wahlberg, who plays Fletcher Chase, a former CIA officer serving as the Getty’s hostage negotiator.
Sir Ridley tells us of deciding to cut Spacey from the film within hours of learning of the accusations against him, and why he knew he could get Christopher Plummer on board. He also talks about the complicated logistics of returning to a British Lord’s estate to reshoot, and shares his thoughts about the possibility of one day releasing the Kevin Spacey version of All the Money in the World. Plus, a little bit of venting about how so many film executives have no idea how to actually make a movie.