MOVIE NEWS – Before Kevin Spacey’s scandal rocked Hollywood and the global media landscape, the Oscar-winning actor had several projects ready for release. Among the most infamous is Gore, a Netflix production shelved indefinitely after allegations against Spacey surfaced. The film, which reportedly cost Netflix $40 million, sees Spacey portraying the iconic American writer Gore Vidal, who passed away in 2012. The story centers on a memorable summer in Italy, where Vidal takes a young man under his wing to teach him about life, love, and more.
Douglas Booth, who plays the young man, has kept busy with numerous projects since Gore. Speaking to MovieWeb during a promotional event for his latest film, Young Werther, where he stars as the titular character in a modern adaptation of Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther, Booth shared his thoughts on his experience filming Gore. Directed by Michael Hoffman (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), the film remains unreleased. Booth described the experience:
“We filmed it in Italy. They restored Gore Vidal’s iconic home, called the Swallow’s Nest, to match exactly how it was when Gore lived there. Shooting on the Amalfi Coast was incredible. Michael Hoffman, the director, worked tirelessly on this project for years, and it’s devastating that it hasn’t been released. Hundreds of people poured their talent into this film, and I hope that one day their efforts will be recognized, especially Michael’s.”
Booth expressed deep sympathy for the creators, saying: “What breaks my heart the most is for Michael. I can move on and make other films—and I’ve made many—but […] Jay Parini, the writer, and Michael put years of effort into this. Spending seven years on a project only to have it locked away is heartbreaking. I hope, someday, that everyone’s art can finally be appreciated.”
Booth Brings Young Werther to Life
In the meantime, Booth takes center stage in Young Werther, a romantic comedy that reimagines Goethe’s classic 18th-century novel. Booth explained how he approached the role of the troubled lover, a wealthy young man who becomes infatuated with a woman already engaged (played by Alison Pill):
“It starts with understanding who [Werther] is and why he’s the way he is. What’s his relationship with his parents? He’s probably never been hugged properly by his mother. He comes from privilege, but often, people with that freedom and privilege aren’t the happiest.”
Booth added that he infused the character with innocence and naivety to bring out a playful, childlike quality: “Werther is full of youthful energy and hope, but he’s also reckless in his pursuits, which makes him a complex and relatable character.”
From Lionsgate, Young Werther is now available in theaters, on-demand, and digital platforms.
Source: MovieWeb
