Kevin Spacey Returns to TV in Italian Comedy 'Minimarket'
After acquittals in sexual abuse cases, the Oscar winner stars as an imaginary mentor in a surreal RAI series debuting December 26 on RaiPlay.
Key Points
- Spacey's first series since 2017 House of Cards exit amid allegations; acquitted in UK trial and US lawsuit.
- Plays imaginary Hollywood mentor to oblivious Roman grocery clerk in surreal comedy.
- First 5 episodes premiere Dec 26 on RaiPlay; rest Jan 9; international availability unclear.
- Recent films: 1780, canceled Gore, upcoming The Awakening.
Kevin Spacey is set to return to television on December 26 with *Minimarket*, an Italian comedy series debuting on RAI's RaiPlay streaming service. The 10-episode show marks the actor's first series role since his 2017 departure from *House of Cards* amid multiple sexual abuse allegations.
Now 66, Spacey—a two-time Oscar winner for *American Beauty* (1999) and *The Usual Suspects* (1995)—once ranked among Hollywood's most acclaimed performers. His career stalled following the initial accusation, though he was later acquitted on nine sexual offense charges in the UK and prevailed in a US civil lawsuit over an unwanted advance in 1986.
In *Minimarket*, Spacey portrays a version of himself as an unconventional mentor to Manlio Viganò (Filippo Laganà), a young Roman grocery store clerk aspiring to TV stardom. Appearing as the protagonist's imaginary friend and artistic guide, Spacey dispenses Hollywood wisdom with comic flair, while Manlio remains oblivious to his advisor's real-world accolades. The series blends humor and surreal elements.
The first five episodes launch on RaiPlay on December 26, with the remainder following on January 9. It remains unclear whether the show will appear on international platforms.
Spacey has recently completed three films: *1780*, the canceled *Gore*, and *The Awakening*, slated for release in coming months.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: