Decker

Michael Caine Announces He’s Retired From Acting After New Movie

88-year-old actor Michael Caine has announced that his new film Best Sellers, in which he co-stars with Aubrey Plaza, will be his last.


Sir Michael Caine has announced that his new film Best Sellers will be his last. The film, which was released on September 17, stars Caine as Harris Shaw, a crabby retired author who embarks on one final book tour in support of a young publisher. Caine stars opposite Aubrey Plaza, Scott Speedman, Ellen Wong, and Cary Elwes.

The 88-year-old actor has appeared in numerous iconic roles, most recently in the works of Christopher Nolan. In addition to playing Alfred Pennyworth in the Dark Knight trilogy, Caine has appeared in Inception and Tenet, among others. He has been working since 1946, though his career first starting picking up steam in the late 50's. Before working with Nolan, some of his biggest roles include starring in the original The Italian Job in 1969, playing Doctor Robert Elliott in Brian De Palma's 1980 psycho-thriller Dressed to Kill, and famously appearing as "Hoagie" in the notorious sequel Jaws: The Revenge, the filming of which prevented him from accepting his Oscar for Hannah and Her Sisters. He also won an Oscar in 1999 for Cider House Rules.
Speaking with on the BBC Radio program, Caine explained his decision to move away from acting. He cited several reasons, including a "spine problem which affects [his] legs," the pandemic preventing many projects from being made, and the fact that most of the projects that are being made don't have "a leading man that’s 88." He has also become a successful author with books including the 2018 Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: And Other Lessons in Life. He prefers writing because "as an actor, you have to get up at half-past six in the morning and go to the studio. As a writer, you start writing without leaving the bed!" Read the full quote below:

I think it would be [my last picture], yeah. There haven’t been any offers honestly for two years, because nobody’s been making any movies I wanna do. Also, you know I’m 88. There’s not exactly scripts pouring out with a leading man that’s 88, you know?
Unfortunately, this news will come as a shock to Vin Diesel, who wanted Michael Caine to play Helen Mirren’s husband in a future Fast & Furious movie. This announcement is also likely yet another nail in the coffin of the long-suffering Now You See Me 3, which was announced in 2016 but never seemed to come to fruition. However, Caine fans will get one more chance to see him again. Although it completed filming before Best Sellers, the Czech historical drama Medieval does feature him in a role, and that film won't be released until 2022.
Michael Caine's effortless gravitas and iconic accent will continue on in the endless impressions they have spawned, but they will certainly be missed in the movie world to come. There are a great many films both big and small that couldn't possibly have been the same without his presence. However, those who have seen and loved Caine in his over 150 credits know full well that the man has earned his retirement.

Decker

How will Christopher Nolan dump pages of exposition in his future projects?

RichC2

He'll probably stop explaining things, dude is at war against dialog.

Alan Smithee

Never understood this song, but:

E Unit

“My cocaine”? Say it isn’t so…

TheMovieman

Good for him. I may actually check out that book, Blood the Bloody Doors Off. Anyone read that one?

JeffTheAlpaca

That sucks

He was still doing quality work and probably more good projects for him in the future if he wanted to continue acting.

Eric F

Shark finally caught up with him.

Count Dooku

A great actor who worked his ass off and made some great movies over the course of 55 years. I hope he enjoys his final years in whatever way he chooses to spend them.

GoldenJCJ

There goes my hopes for Jaws 5: Hoagie’s Revenge.

Josh-da-man

Didn't realize he was that old.

Koby

I had completely forgotten he was officially knighted in 2000. =O

Been a long career.

dex14

Apparently, this is not exactly true:
https://www.thewrap.com/michael-caine-not-retiring/

Throwing Copper

I will always remember him for the comedy “Blame It On Rio” from my youth and for stealing the Oscar from Tom Cruise in 1999 for Cider House.

Decker

You misspelled Jude Law's name

Jaymole

I guess he finally has enough money to build the house he really wanted.

dom56

The British band The Godfathers use a line about Michael Cain. I think it one of Harry Palmer film but don't know which one.

rexinnih

If it's true, well deserved. Seemed like for a while he was on par with Samuel L. Jackson and was seemingly in every movie being put out.

DJariya

He is 88 years old. He’s had a long and illustrious career. I mean unless he still loves acting, I would retire.

dex14

https://variety.com/2021/film/news/m...rs-1235090863/

Jay G.

I think it was a misunderstanding based on what Caine said in the interview. By "last part" I think he meant "last part in the pipeline," i.e. he doesn't currently have any roles in films waiting to come out or has accepted any roles in films yet to be made. So more a lull in his acting career, partly due to the pandemic, party due to getting old and slowing down a bit, and partly due to writing a few books the past couple of years.

I found a Youtube clip of the relevant part of the radio interview that sparked this rumor:

A transcript of the clip:
So Caine is saying, and thinking the interviewer is asking, that this is his last film he had in the works, whereas others, and maybe the interviewer, thought he meant it was his last film ever, i.e. he was retiring.

DJariya

Now it’s official. Great career. Hope he enjoys his retirement in comfort and good health

GoldenJCJ

Well, he’s 90. I suppose it’s ok for him to retire.

Spiderbite

I bid him a heartfelt adieu. He is one of the Greats.

Goldberg74

He has a long and storied career. I wish him well.

I will never forget this fun fact I learned through the meme: