When veteran actor Michael Caine – known for appearances in classic films such as The Italian Job and The Dark Knight trilogy – referred to his role in the recent comedy-drama Best Sellers as “his last part”, rumours began circulating that the star is retiring from his craft.
He told Simon Mayo that it’s “because I haven’t worked for two years” and he has a “spine problem” which affects his legs and his walking.
“I also wrote a couple of books which were published and were successful, so I’m now not an actor, I’m a writer,” he said.
Some wonder whether Caine was joking, or only referring to main character roles, as he went on to add: “There’s not exactly scripts pouring out with a leading man who’s 88.”
However, representatives of the film star have since told The Wrap that he is not retiring – not least because many people believe he will star in Oppenheimer, a new film from long-term collaborator and director Christopher Nolan about the American theoretical physicist considered by many as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’.
His Inception and Batman co-star Cillian Murphy will star in the title role, with filming set to start next year.
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Speaking of Nolan, although the rumours have since - reportedly - been debunked, Twitter users all made the same comment following the claims, as Caine frequently appears in his films.
I hope Nolan can get him for a 5 minute cameo again
— Matt (@mattbo_0) October 15, 2021
Nolan bout to pass out
— Nate the Snake hate account #TedLasso (@fonsythesnowman) October 15, 2021
Who will Chris Nolan cast in his movies to play an older father figure now?
— Jack McBryan (@McBDirect) October 15, 2021
Nolan: pic.twitter.com/okjGAoXyRd
— The Shadow Jedi (@Captain63857795) October 15, 2021
christopher nolan working on his current movie when of all sudden michael caine announces his retirement pic.twitter.com/Zeqd1uxR1a
— 𝕲𝖔𝖙𝖍 𝕾𝖕𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖗-𝕸𝖆𝖓 🕸 ☂︎ (@tinyspiderlegs) October 15, 2021
Christopher Nolan when he finds out Michael Caine has retired from acting pic.twitter.com/f5HgIqiPnt
— BLURAYANGEL (@blurayangel) October 15, 2021
Dang. I guess Christopher Nolan will announce his retirement from directing tomorrow.
— 🎃 Tyler Years Tyler Fears 🎃 (@ParksLoves) October 15, 2021
When Chris Nolan goes to this cafe on the banks of the Arno in Florence to try to find Michael Caine to get him to join Oppenheimer. https://t.co/CfMqrWXo7T pic.twitter.com/6KblY1sQ8t
— ☕Stephen M. Colbert (@smcolbert) October 15, 2021
Nolan when he realise that Michael Caine is retiring from acting pic.twitter.com/82Vc0CBqQ8
— 🧘🏻♂️ | 🌈 (@night_wiing) October 16, 2021
christopher nolan at michael caine's front door https://t.co/uLCPK26lTU pic.twitter.com/ayRSRQrnnJ
— jeremy. (@jeremylovesyall) October 15, 2021
Christopher Nolan after hearing Michael Caine is retiring from acting pic.twitter.com/XFQmUyqVYd
— Selina (@ECNALHANID) October 15, 2021
On Saturday, the south London actor returned to his fairly inactive Twitter account to put the rumours to bed for good, writing: “I haven’t retired and not a lot of people know that.”
I haven’t retired and not a lot of people know that
— Michael Caine (@themichaelcaine) October 16, 2021
So thankfully, it looks like it won’t be the last we’ll see of Caine on the big screen, so Christopher Nolan can rest easy.
