Venice-bound 'Wild Horse Nine' reveals first footage with Malkovich and Rockwell as CIA agents
Martin McDonagh's upcoming crime-dramedy has released its first clip ahead of its Venice Film Festival premiere. The film, set in 1973 Chile, follows two CIA agents dispatched to Easter Island, with Steve Buscemi as their bureau chief. Searchlight has scheduled a November 6, 2026 theatrical release.
The clip marks the first public glimpse of McDonagh’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated *The Banshees of Inisherin*, reuniting him with Sam Rockwell after their collaboration on *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*. That earlier film earned Rockwell a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The new project shifts from Ireland to 1970s Chile, with a cast including Tom Waits and Parker Posey, and is produced by McDonagh alongside Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, and Anita Overland. Its Venice premiere precedes a theatrical rollout planned for late 2026.
This film’s festival launch and star-driven pedigree could reignite interest in mid-budget adult dramas, a segment often squeezed by franchise dominance. Its political backdrop—CIA operatives in pre-coup Chile—may prompt audiences to revisit historical narratives through a darkly comedic lens, potentially sparking conversations about espionage and moral ambiguity. However, its impact likely remains confined to cinephiles and awards-season followers, with broader societal reach depending on critical reception and word-of-mouth.