John Malkovich has rejected rumors that he is planning to distance himself from Hollywood, saying he does not plan to retire and wants to continue doing the work he loves. The 72-year-old actor said he believes the industry will retire him when the time comes.
In Martin McDonagh’s The Nine Wild Horses, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Malkovich and Sam Rockwell play CIA agents sent to Easter Island. Rockwell won an Oscar for his role in Three Billboards. Malkovich explained that he had previously liked some of McDonagh’s scripts but had been unable to consider them because of other commitments; this time, he accepted the project because there was nothing standing in his way and he thought the screenplay was excellent.
Brushing aside speculation about the film’s Oscar prospects, Malkovich said he did not feel he was competing with other artists and that he cared about the film attracting attention, as well as its cast, screenplay and direction.
The actor revealed last year that he had rejected offers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe not for artistic reasons, but because he did not like the deals that were offered. Saying he wanted appropriate compensation for demanding shoots, Malkovich accepted a small role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but his scenes were cut from the final edit.
Why it matters
Malkovich’s remarks show that the 72-year-old actor evaluates the end of his career less through a personal timetable than through the roles and working conditions offered by the industry. His decision to accept Vahşi At Dokuz because of its screenplay, director and suitable schedule reveals that existing commitments are as decisive in project selection as the quality of the production itself. His approach to Marvel offers, meanwhile, indicates that participation in such productions is shaped not only by artistic preferences but also by compensation and the demands of filming. His distance from Oscar speculation shifts his focus from individual competition to the film’s reception among audiences. The open question is how long the industry will continue to offer Malkovich roles on the terms he wants and to the extent that they interest him.