Kevin Spacey‘s effort to reestablish his career has encountered a significant controversy involving his upcoming project, The Portal of Force. The film, marking Spacey’s first time directing since 2004’s Beyond the Sea, has drawn scrutiny due to the involvement of Vladimir Lado Okhotnikov, a man accused of orchestrating a major cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme. This association threatens to overshadow Spacey’s much-anticipated comeback.
The controversy centers on Okhotnikov, who co-wrote, produced, and stars in The Portal of Force through his Lado Film company. Okhotnikov is a co-founder of Forsage, a crypto investment platform that the U.S. Department of Justice has labeled a
$340 million Ponzi and pyramid investment scheme
defrauding investors worldwide. Both Okhotnikov and his co-founders face criminal indictments, potentially leading to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Details on the Alleged Cryptocurrency Scheme and Legal Proceedings
The legal battle against Okhotnikov began with a 2022 SEC civil suit, followed by criminal charges in 2023. Despite the allegations, Okhotnikov has publicly denied wrongdoing, asserting in a 2022 YouTube statement that there were no victims and emphasizing that
real scams can never win people’s hearts.
He also told Variety via email that the accusations were unfounded and criticized media coverage for treating him as if guilt were already proven. As of now, no trial date has been scheduled.
Spacey’s Film and Its Connection to His Career Revival
The Portal of Force is described as a supernatural action thriller and the first installment in the planned Holiguards Saga trilogy. The story takes place in a divided future where
ancient Holiguards and Statiguards fight secretly for humanity.
Alongside Spacey, the cast includes Dolph Lundgren, Tyrese Gibson, and Eric Roberts. The project represents a bold move by Spacey to regain prominence as both director and actor.
Before the controversy, Spacey was a leading figure in Hollywood until 2017, when sexual misconduct allegations brought his career to a standstill. Although he denied the claims, he was removed from Ridley Scott’s film All the Money in the World just weeks before its release, replaced by Christopher Plummer who reshot all Spacey’s scenes. Netflix also cut ties with Spacey, removing his character Frank Underwood from House of Cards’s final season.
Legal Outcomes and Spacey’s Attempted Comeback
Spacey was acquitted in two separate trials, a 2022 lawsuit in the U.S. and a 2023 case in the U.K. Since then, he has sought to rebuild his career through independent films. Speaking at the Italian Global Series Festival in June, he expressed gratitude toward those who
stood by me, those individuals who were willing to wait for an outcome in the courts before they decided how they felt about me.
He also shared his intention to return to work in a meaningful capacity.
The Portal of Force’s new trailer is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, a notable platform for promoting Spacey’s return to cinema. However, the connection to Okhotnikov and the surrounding legal controversies introduce additional tension. This collaboration adds a new layer of complexity to Spacey’s comeback, potentially intensifying public and industry skepticism regarding his rehabilitation and the film‘s reception.
