Wizard July '06

WIZARD Q&A - KEVIN SPACEY

PLAYING ONE OF OUR 100 GREATEST VILLAINS, LEX LUTHOR, THE OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR TALKS ABOUT REUNITING WITH BRYAN SINGER, A DARKER LUTHOR AND SOMETHING CALLED A 'SUPERBUSTER'

Kevin Spacey freely admits that playing a villain doesn't excite him anymore than playing heroic, melancholy or poignantly dramatic roles.

Sure he's made a career of playing the maniacal (John Doe in "Se7en"), the criminally cunning (Verbal Kint in "The Usual Suspects") and the deviant ( Mickey in "Hurlyburly"), but Spacey has a confession.

"It's not more fun to play the bad guy," says the 45-year-old actor, calling from London where he's running the prestigious Old Vic theatre. "That's a myth. I think people tend to say they like watching the villain characters, but it doesn't mean they're any more fun to play."

In fact, when Spacey received the phone call asking if he'd be interested in playing the iconic villain Lex Luthor - Superman's best-known foe for over 60 years - in this summer's highly anticipated "Superman Returns" (June 30). It wasn't the stature of the character, the chance to stretch beyond any barriers he'd encountered or even a massive payday that wooed the actor. No, it was simply four words: Bryan Singer is directing.

After Spacey won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his work in 1995's "The Usual Suspects" - Singer's breakout directing hit - the two remained friends and constantly tried to find new projects to work on together, but it wasn't until "Superman Returns" that the right role and timing finally worked out.

"There have been a number of times we've attempted to try to find films to do together because we had such a remarkable experience on 'Suspects,'" recalls Spacey. "For all intents and purposes, it launched both our careers. And I've always had an enormous affection for him.

"[When we reunited on 'Superman Returns,'] it was like a day hadn't gone by. Bryan is the same person that he was. I'm the same person that I was. I understand Bryan. I trust him so much that he can push me, shape me, and have me go in directions I might not go with a director I don't feel as confident in. We had an absolutely great time."

BY MIKE COTTON

WIZARD's Q&A on the next page.

 Driving Mr. Spacey!: The positively untrue life and times of Kevin Spacey,
with a few real facts thrown in for fun.

All collages and photo enhancements were done by me using Microsoft® Picture It!® 99

© 2000 - 2006 Driving Mr. Spacey!