Kevin Spacey has re-emerged on the film scene with “The Portal of Force,” a sci-fi thriller marking his first directorial effort since 2004’s “Beyond the Sea”.
The film, part of a planned trilogy called the Holiguards Saga, premiered its trailer at a lavish Venice Film Festival gala, featuring Spacey alongside Dolph Lundgren, Tyrese Gibson, and Eric Roberts.
The story follows two ancient warrior factions, the Holiguards and Statiguards, secretly battling for control of humanity in a near-future world shaped by hidden supernatural forces.
The attention around Spacey’s return is heightened by his collaboration with Vladimir “Lado” Okhotnikov, a Russian entrepreneur facing U.S. criminal charges for his role in the Forsage cryptocurrency platform.
Vladimir “Lado” Okhotnikov
In 2023, the Department of Justice indicted Okhotnikov for operating what it called a "$340 million Ponzi and pyramid investment scheme" that defrauded investors globally.
He and his co-founders face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Okhotnikov has consistently denied wrongdoing, claiming in an August 2022 YouTube video that Forsage was not a scam because “real scams can never win people’s hearts.”
Okhotnikov co-wrote the script, stars in the film, and is credited as a producer through his company Lado Film, primarily for providing studio and post-production facilities in Dubai.
Variety reports that Okhotnikov’s involvement marks his screenwriting debut.
Source: IMDb
Despite his legal troubles, he told the Jerusalem Post that the film reflects his libertarian views and explores the tension between freedom and conformity.
He is also developing Holiverse, a metaverse wellness startup aiming to simulate human bodies and potentially extend lifespans through integrated biohacking and genetics.
Prior to the DOJ charges, the SEC filed a civil case against Okhotnikov and his Forsage co-founders in 2022.
Okhotnikov moved to dismiss the case, stating Forsage had no U.S. offices or bank accounts and was “not an entity created under the laws of any state of the United States.”
In an email to Variety, he described the accusations as “unfounded” and criticised media coverage for treating him as guilty before any court ruling.
No court date has been set, and he remains outside U.S. jurisdiction, residing in Dubai.
Spacey not only directs but also stars in “The Portal of Force”, his first film after years of absence following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
He was acquitted in a 2023 London trial and a previous U.S. lawsuit, and has since been rebuilding his career through independent projects.
At the Venice gala, the event featured an opera performance and a troupe of Georgian dancers, emphasising the film’s ambitious visual and cultural scope.
Observers note that the film’s supernatural conflict shares thematic similarities with short videos Okhotnikov had previously uploaded on Forsage’s YouTube channel.
Forsage’s YouTube channel
While those clips were recently removed, they suggest a creative continuity from Okhotnikov’s previous work to his cinematic debut.
Ellegdy Media Group, the film’s lead producer, confirmed that Okhotnikov made no financial investment in the project.
The film, budgeted at around $10 million, sets the stage for two more chapters in the Holiguards Saga.
With Spacey at the helm and Okhotnikov’s involvement stirring debate, the project combines a high-profile Hollywood return with a controversial backdrop tied to cryptocurrency and alleged financial fraud.
The trailer is set for a wider presentation during the Venice Film Festival, offering a first look at a story where supernatural battles intersect with very real-world controversy.
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