Kevin Spacey comeback film rooted in crypto saga
Forsage founder Vladimir Okhotnikov, accused in $300 million Ponzi case, wrote and produced Holiguards Saga – The Portal of Force
Kevin Spacey has stepped back behind the camera for the first time in two decades, unveiling a new sci-fi epic at the Venice Film Festival that comes with its own swirl of controversy. The film, Holiguards Saga – The Portal of Force, was written by Russian entrepreneur Vladimir “Lado” Okhotnikov, who faces U.S. fraud charges over what prosecutors call a $300 million decentralized finance Ponzi scheme.
Okhotnikov, a co-founder of the Ethereum DeFi app Forsage, has been accused by both the SEC and the Department of Justice of orchestrating one of the largest crypto Ponzi schemes in history. Federal prosecutors allege the project relied on smart contracts across Ethereum, Tron, and BNB Chain that funneled new investors’ money to earlier participants. More than 80% of investors reportedly lost money.
Okhotnikov has denied wrongdoing, claiming Forsage was misunderstood and insisting “real scams can never win people’s hearts.” He remains in Dubai, outside of U.S. jurisdiction, with no trial date yet set.
We’ve kicked off the marketing campaign for the pilot film of the Holiguards saga — The Portal of Force, now in its final stages of production.
— Holiverse_Meta Whale (@Holiverse_i) August 11, 2025
The trailer has already premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 🎬
🎥 Lado Film pic.twitter.com/dqIzY6Dwzw
Despite his legal troubles, Okhotnikov has turned to storytelling. His script for The Portal of Force draws on libertarian ideals, framing a cosmic conflict between two supernatural races, the Holiguards and the Statiguards, who battle for control of a portal to an ancient force called the Prime.
Spacey directs and also appears on screen, joined by Dolph Lundgren, Tyrese Gibson, and Eric Roberts. Set to be released in December, the project is planned as the first in a trilogy.
The Venice launch doubled as a spectacle. According to reports, the gala unveiling featured a speech from Spacey, an opera performance, and two dozen Georgian dancers in elaborate costume. The elaborate staging underscored the unusual nature of the project, blending Hollywood, crypto controversy, and political philosophy into one high-profile premiere.
Here’s the trailer shown in Venice for Kevin Spacey’s Holiguards Saga - The Portal of Force starring him with Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts and Tyrese, all seen in this 2-minute clip. pic.twitter.com/5pXXkjMyWe
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) August 31, 2025
For Spacey, the film marks his first time directing since 2004, and another step in his gradual return to filmmaking. The Oscar-winning actor retreated from public life in 2017 after facing sexual misconduct allegations but was acquitted of sexual assault charges by a London jury in 2023.
While the story on screen has nothing to do with crypto, its scriptwriter’s legal troubles ensure the project will be judged on more than artistic merit.
