Robert Redford says it “was a mistake” to announce retirement from acting

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Earlier this year Hollywood veteran Robert Redford announced his retirement from acting, saying his new film, THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN, would be his final film. The movie recently screened at TIFF, with people saying it was a fitting sendoff for the legend who has spent decades in the business. However, in a not very surprising move, the actor was recently speaking with Variety on the red carpet and admitted that he thought it was a mistake to make a such a public announcement.

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The actor said he would be retiring back in August, and when pressed to confirm if OLD MAN was really his last movie he confessed to making a mistake with that news, saying it distracts from the movie itself.

“That was a mistake. I should never have said that. If I’m going to 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. I want to be focused on this film and the cast.”

When he was pressed further about the retirement, he simply said, “I’m not answering that. Keep the mystery alive.”

So, he’s not retiring? Or he is, but he just regrets announcing it in such a public way? But, he said “keep the mystery alive,” so that means he may not be retiring. But, he still might be, so…

The new movie from David Lowery is getting a lot of good buzz, and Redford is being hailed for his performance. Who knows, maybe when he announced his retirement he was serious about it but when the festival circuit kicked in, and he started getting the wave of positivity, it made him realize he couldn’t give the magic up just yet. Retiring from acting after having done it for so long would probably be way too difficult, so its understandable for Redford to change his mind. Or did he? I don’t even know anymore.

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THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN is in theaters September 28.