Kevin Spacey faces civil sexual assault claims from three men at London's High Court this month, with a provisional trial date of October 12, 2026. The men allege assaults between 2000 and 2013, including incidents linked to his time as Old Vic artistic director; Spacey denies all allegations after his 2023 criminal acquittal.
The provisional date was set at a hearing last November, where Judge Christina Lambert scheduled a three-week window beginning October 12. The three claims cover alleged incidents between 2000 and 2013 — a period overlapping Spacey's tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic. Spacey, 66, has formally denied two of the claims and had yet to file a defence on the third, according to BBC News. His lawyer, William McCormick KC, argued the cases should be heard separately, saying "the only common feature is Kevin Spacey"; the claimants' lawyers argued for a combined hearing to avoid witnesses testifying multiple times.
Two of the claimants were involved in Spacey's 2023 criminal case, in which he was acquitted of nine sexual offence charges at Southwark Crown Court in London. One, known as LNP, alleges Spacey "deliberately assaulted" him on about 12 occasions between 2000 and 2005. Another, known as GHI, says he met Spacey through a workshop at the Old Vic and claims he "suffered psychiatric damage and financial loss" as a result of an alleged assault in 2008; his claim was first filed in 2022 but was paused during the criminal proceedings. The third claimant, actor Ruari Cannon — who has waived his right to anonymity — alleges Spacey groped him at a party after a press night for the Tennessee Williams play 'Sweet Bird of Youth' in 2013; Cannon appeared in the 2024 Channel 4 documentary 'Spacey Unmasked' and is also suing the Old Vic theatre.
However, it is uncertain whether the October trial will happen at all: in March 2026, the BBC and other outlets reported that Spacey had reached an out-of-court settlement with the three men, with no details of the settlement disclosed, and the planned proceedings were frozen. If those reports hold, the London trial — the latest chapter in legal battles that began when actor Anthony Rapp first accused Spacey of misconduct in 2017 — may never reach a courtroom.
Spacey has consistently denied all claims of sexual misconduct, admitting in the past to being "too handsy" but maintaining he never groped anyone. He has worked only sporadically since the allegations surfaced, losing roles including his part in 'All the Money in the World'. Whether October brings a trial, a confirmed settlement, or silence will determine the next act of one of the industry's longest-running sagas.