Robert Redford didn’t think he’d cause such a stir when he announced his retirement from acting. The 82-year-old star—a decades-long leading man, an Oscar-winning director, and a vital figure in film-festival history—announced his retreat in early August, claiming that his upcoming movie, The Old Man & the Gun, would be his last. But in a recent interview with Variety, Redford walked back those claims, admitting he probably shouldn’t have said that.
“That was a mistake. I should never have said that,” he said. “If I’m gonna retire, I should just slip quietly away from acting. But I shouldn’t be talking about it because I think it draws too much attention in the wrong way.”
So, hmm: it sounds like Redford is still interested in making The Old Man & the Gun his swan song. But he wishes he hadn’t told everyone, causing the news to spread like wildfire across the industry and transforming the tenor of his current (final?) press circuit. The film is the true story of Forrest Tucker (Redford), a repeat bank robber who escaped prison over a dozen times. Thanks to its fascinating source material and great buzz, it’s guaranteed to be a contender this awards season, perhaps helping Redford to capture his first competitive acting Oscar. (He’s got one statuette for directing and one honorary award, but has, rather famously, only ever received one acting nomination.) The retirement narrative might be a boon to his campaign, convincing Academy members they only have one last chance to put that trophy in his hands.
Not that that’s why he initially announced his retirement or anything! Redford has never really read as a publicity stunt-loving star; instead, he has long avoided the hoopla of the industry in favor of protecting his mystique. His desire to walk back those retirement claims now, before his Oscar campaign can really get started, is a testament to that. When asked point-blank if this was his final film, Redford playfully responded, “I’m not answering that.” So, he’d prefer us to stop asking—but don’t be surprised if Redford recedes from the spotlight after this film’s run comes to an end.
