Kevin Spacey Faces New Civil Claims, Trial Set for 2026
LONDON – Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey will face civil proceedings in the High Court of London beginning in October 2026, stemming from allegations of sexual assault by three men.This development arrives less than a year after Spacey was acquitted of criminal sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom brought by four men in 2023.
The new case consolidates claims from two previously known accusers alongside a third, identified as British actor Ruari Cannon, who has publicly waived his right too anonymity. the allegations center on incidents occurring between 2004 and 2015,during Spacey’s tenure as artistic director of the old Vic theater in London,where the alleged assaults of young men-including aspiring actors-took place. This civil suit seeks redress for harm caused, differing from the criminal trials where the standard of proof is higher.
Preliminary hearings this Wednesday set a provisional trial date for October 2026, with further hearings scheduled to determine if the three complaints will be heard jointly or separately. Cannon filed his claim in February and publicly accused Spacey in May 2024 of inappropriate touching during a 2013 encounter in London, when Cannon was 21 and Spacey was 53. He is also pursuing legal action against the Old Vic theatre itself.
Spacey, 66, has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the multiple accusations leveled against him since 2017, as the #MeToo movement brought renewed scrutiny to allegations of misconduct in the entertainment industry. His career has been significantly impacted by the claims. While acquitted in the UK criminal case, a New York court dismissed a $40 million civil suit against Spacey in 2022 related to allegations of sexual touching. The outcome of this upcoming civil trial could have considerable implications for Spacey’s future and further shape the landscape of accountability in cases of alleged sexual misconduct.
