John Malkovich & Sam Rockwell Play CIA Agents in First Look at ‘Wild Horse Nine’

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If you enjoyed the dark humor and stunning scenery of the 2022 film The Banshees of Inisherin, you’ll likely love Martin McDonagh’s new movie, Wild Horse Nine. Starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, the film follows two CIA agents – a mentor and his protégé – tasked with attempting to overthrow the government of Chile. The story unfolds on the remote and visually striking Easter Island, famous for its iconic moai statues and breathtaking landscapes, over 2,000 miles off the Chilean coast.

I’ve been following the buzz around Wild Horse Nine, and the first photos released in Vanity Fair are really intriguing. It’s set in the early 70s, and everyone – Malkovich, Rockwell, the whole cast – is rocking some fantastic vintage looks. One shot, in particular, caught my eye: Malkovich, gun drawn, standing in front of these massive moai statues at night. It definitely hints at some serious, high-stakes action where his character, an older CIA agent, is in real danger. But apparently, it’s not all grim stuff. Malkovich actually described the script as very funny, though with a dark edge. He put it really well, actually – he said life is full of regret and sadness, and even if you can laugh about it, things don’t necessarily get better, and ultimately, life usually ends badly. Sounds like a compelling mix of humor and melancholy!

I’m really anticipating a bittersweet feel to this film. Apparently, John Malkovich’s character is grappling with his health and decides to write his life story while working on this mission, which already hints at a somber mood. But knowing Martin McDonagh – the director – it won’t be all doom and gloom. He’s brilliant at weaving dark humor into his stories, like he did with Banshees of Inisherin and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (which, by the way, earned Sam Rockwell an Oscar!). They’ve worked together a ton over the years, and McDonagh actually wrote this role specifically for Rockwell, saying he’s one of the few actors who can really go toe-to-toe with Malkovich on screen. That’s a pretty high compliment!

John Malkovich is a well-known actor with a strong background in theater and has received an Oscar nomination for his roles in films like Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire. He’s also famous for starring in the quirky 1999 film Being John Malkovich, directed by Spike Jonze. This marks the first time he’s worked with director Martin McDonagh, though they’ve been hoping to collaborate for years.

The film also stars Parker Posey as Rockwell’s wife, alongside Tom Waits and Steve Buscemi, who replaced Mark Ruffalo. Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas round out the cast. Posey has recently seen a career resurgence, boosted by her acclaimed role in HBO’s The White Lotus, but she’s been consistently working in film and television since 1991. Director McDonagh praised Posey’s exceptional comedic timing and overall acting talent.

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The movie Wild Horse Nine finished filming in April 2025 and will be released in theaters on November 6th. It was produced by Blueprint Pictures and Film4 Productions – the same team behind all of director Martin McDonagh’s previous films – and will be distributed by Searchlight Pictures.



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2026-03-19 02:47