Caine’s exact words on Kermode & Mayo are quoted below. While we now know that he wasn’t announcing his retirement, he definitely worded himself poorly.
“I haven’t worked for two years, I have a spine problem which affects my legs, so I can’t walk very well … And I also wrote a book, a couple of books, which were published and were successful. So, I’m now not an actor, I’m a writer, which is lovely because as an actor, you have to get up at half past 6 in the morning and go to the studio. As a writer, you can start writing without leaving the bed … There haven’t been any offers, obviously, for two years, because nobody’s been making any movies that I’d want to do, but also, I’m 88. There’s not exactly scripts pouring out with a leading man who’s 88.”
It seems Caine was simply talking about his career slowing down, why that is, and how he’s passing the time. Even so, he spoke too soon about “Best Sellers” being his last role; he recently appeared in the Czech historical epic, “Medieval.”
While his health is another matter, age hasn’t diluted Caine’s talent. Take his near eponymous role in “Tenet” as Sir Michael Crosby. It’s an undemanding scene, a few minutes sitting in a restaurant, and on paper a mere exposition dump. But the dialogue is never dull because Caine is the one delivering it. It’s a shame that, unlike everyone else in Hollywood, Caine is not on the cast list for Christopher Nolan’s next film, “Oppenheimer.”
The only upcoming project on Caine’s docket is “The Great Escaper.” However, it sounds like if a script interests him, he’s willing to work. Hollywood would be remiss to not take all the advantage of Caine’s talent it can.
