Kevin Spacey has declared his Hollywood exile is ending, telling podcast host Bill Maher that he feels “much more welcomed” by the industry nine years after dozens of sexual misconduct allegations derailed his career . The 66-year-old actor, who was fired from House of Cards and replaced in Ridley Scott's All the Money in the World at the height of the #MeToo movement, argued on Monday's episode of Maher's Club Random podcast that his legal victories have paved the way for a professional comeback .

"I feel much more welcomed, and I think that things are moving in the direction that we hoped they were moving in," Spacey stated . Citing his courtroom record, the two-time Oscar winner acknowledged past misconduct while minimizing its severity. "I never said there was no fire. It just wasn't a raging forest fire. It was a small kitchen fire that could have been put out with an extinguisher," Spacey said, also admitting that "I hit on a lot of guys" .

However, Maher, 70, pushed back against the actor's framing, noting the sheer volume of accusations against him. "There's too much smoke to be no fire," Maher said, adding that Spacey "should have gotten some punishment" even while acknowledging the actor had "paid a lot" . Spacey countered by comparing his situation to a sports suspension. "If I had been a sports figure, I would have been benched for seven games," he said. "If you're hitting home runs, they want you on the field" .

The allegations against Spacey first emerged in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp claimed the then-27-year-old Spacey made an unwanted sexual advance toward him at a party in 1986, when Rapp was 14 . A federal jury found Spacey not liable in Rapp's $40 million civil lawsuit in October 2022, and a London jury acquitted him of nine sexual offense charges in 2023 . In March of this year, Spacey settled out of court with three men who alleged assault between 2000 and 2013 .

Despite his continued denials and courtroom wins, some industry figures have publicly supported his return. Actors Sharon Stone, Liam Neeson, and Stephen Fry have criticized his blacklisting, and Brian Cox told The Hollywood Reporter that Spacey "has been punished enough" . Spacey told Maher he feels less "in show business jail," believing that when people hear "the facts" of his legal victories, they conclude that "maybe nine years has been enough" .

Whether major studios are prepared to embrace the actor remains unclear as he continues to face resistance from some corners of the industry . Spacey, however, appears convinced that the tide is turning in his favor.