The film will follow the 1973 kidnapping of oil heir John Paul Getty III and his mother Abigail Getty/Gail Harris’ desperate attempt to get the boy’s grandfather, oilman John Paul Getty Sr (at the time the richest man in the world), to pay the ransom.
Angelina Jolie and Natalie Portman passed on the Harris role before Williams took it on, while Jack Nicholson was turned down the chance to play Getty Sr before Spacey took up the challenge.
Getty III later became the father of actor Balthazar Getty (Lost Highway, Twin Peaks, When We Rise).
Ultimately, the ransom was paid, Getty was found in southern Italy, and the kidnappers got away with the fortune.