‘I’ve had all the luck you can get’: Michael Caine retires for the fourth time | film

Michael Caine gave an update on his possible retirement from acting at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, appearing to be ending his career for the fourth time.

As he took to the stage to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, the actor said: “I kept working until I was 90, two years ago, and I told myself I would never do anything else because I had all the luck you can get.”

The actor was introduced to the audience and introduced on stage by Vin Diesel, who worked with him on the zombie horror film The Last Witch Hunter in 2015. In September, it was announced that the duo would team up again for a belated sequel to that film, with Caine playing a priest who helps Diesel’s immortal warrior stop a plague sweeping the planet.

Caine, 92, retired first in 2009, after the gangster crime drama Harry Brown and then again, after 24 films, in 2021, after playing a best-selling novelist. He returned to the little-seen Czech medieval historical drama in 2022, and the following year, starred in The Great Escaper as a D-day veteran who travels to Normandy solo from his nursing home to celebrate the 70th anniversary.

Caine gave mixed messages about his retirement while promoting the film, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I envisioned myself having a picture where I played the lead and it got amazing reviews. The only parts I’m likely to get now are old men, 90-year-old men, maybe 85-year-olds. And I thought, well, I might as well walk away with all this – I’ve got great reviews. What do I have to do to get over this?”

Speaking to The Guardian to promote the film, Caine indicated some desire to continue working, saying that the following year, he would film a new film in which he would play Charles Darwin. “And that will be all. I won’t do anything else after that.”

When asked if he was sure, Keane said: “No! But the point is, He can Do you do that? Can you remember all the lines? I’ve gotten used to not working, staying in bed until 11am and staying up late at night. “I love him.”

Anthony Hopkins has since been announced as the star of Darwin, which will begin filming next year.

In Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ken was joined by his three grandchildren, Taylor, Miles and Allegra, while his wife Shakira and daughters Dominique and Natasha watched from the booths.

“My name is Michael Caine,” the actor said, to great applause when he was handed the microphone. “It’s not my real name but it’s a real name. It’s the name that made all the money. I was born in London, very poor working class, and I grew up to be what I am. Well, I’m not rich, but I have enough money for an evening out, or even a night out.”

Caine, who has been nominated for six Oscars, winning two for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and Cider House Rules (1999), added: “I’m here to get an award, and that doesn’t surprise me. I’ve won two Oscars.”

He continued: “I have been married for 52 years. I have a lot of pictures but nothing from any of the films I was involved in. It’s just family, because this is my life.”

“I have a wonderful family that I adore incredibly. I had a fairly wonderful film family, some of whom let me down, and I love them incredibly well, including the losers.”

“But one of the biggest lucky things was to be here tonight. I’ll tell you why, because I’ve never been here before. I saw it on TV, but I thought I’d never win anything there. I won something, so I’m happy, and you surprised me.”

“I want to thank you for the surprise, because in show business, you never get too many surprises, but you do get a few shocks. So thank you.”

Cain published his first novel, a thriller titled Deadly Game, in 2023, and is thought to be working on a follow-up. His most recent memoir, Don’t Look Back, You’ll Stumble: My Guide to Life, was published in 2024.