John Malkovich has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. The 72-year-old actor is still keeping retirement off the table as his performance in Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine earns early Oscar buzz at the 2026 Venice Film Festival.
John Malkovich says he plans to keep acting until the industry decides otherwise
Speaking at the September 3 afternoon press conference for Wild Horse Nine, the actor said, as quoted by People, “As far as what I want to do — carry on. I mean, I’m pretty much doing, and I’ve been doing what I love my whole life, and I plan to carry on doing that,” he said. “I don’t plan to retire because I think they will retire me when it’s time. That seems to be the natural course of things.”
Throughout his decades-long career, Malkovich has earned two Oscar nominations. He received them for Places in the Heart in 1985 and In the Line of Fire in 1994. When asked if he had started planning an acceptance speech for a possible Oscar nomination, Malkovich responded, as per Variety, “That is incredibly kind. I’ve had a long career, and I’ve had spectacular collaborations with writers, directors and actors. I never feel in competition with any of them. For me, it’s a very nice thing. But the nicest thing is the film getting attention. And the film has several terrific performers, and it’s beautifully written and directed. That’s what matters to me.”
Malkovich stars as Chris, a CIA agent sent to Easter Island alongside fellow agent Lee, played by Sam Rockwell, in Wild Horse Nine. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, the film is a dark comedy. It also features Steve Buscemi, Mariana Di Girolamo, Ailín Salas, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey. The film is competing for the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival and is set to hit theaters on November 6, 2026.
