VENICE — “Wild Horse Nine” received its world premiere on Thursday at the Venice Film Festival. The film, written and directed by Martin McDonagh, is in competition for the Golden Lion.

The screening took place during the 83rd edition of the annual event held in Venice, Italy. George Clooney was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the opening night of the festival.

McDonagh is British-Irish and wrote the screenplay for the project. His previous films “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” also premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Those two earlier works received multiple Oscar nominations, including best picture. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” won two Academy Awards for Sam Rockwell and Frances McDormand.

“Wild Horse Nine” stars Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich as CIA agents dispatched to Easter Island shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup. Rockwell's character is named Lee, while Malkovich plays a character named Chris.

Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, Mariana di Girolamo, Ailín Salas, and Tom Waits are in the cast. Posey plays Rockwell's wife in the film.

The production transported cameras and period-specific cars to Easter Island for filming. Posey flew to the location to record off-camera phone scenes for the movie.

“What a mystical place,” Posey said in an interview. She described the remote island setting where the crew established their production base.

McDonagh had written earlier versions of the script about a father and son, and another about two actors, before focusing on the CIA and the 1973 Chilean coup. He stated that the narrative shifted during development.

“I realized then that the story could be about one of the guys experiencing guilt and regret over all these things he’s done,” McDonagh said. He noted that this realization altered the tone of the project.

“It took it away from being a simple comedy to something much deeper and sadder,” McDonagh said. The filmmaker indicated that the historical context drove this change in direction.

McDonagh expressed interest in questioning CIA activities and authority through the storyline. He discussed his approach to political themes in his work.

“We know what the KGB are like but we probably don’t question the CIA as much as we ought to,” McDonagh said. He suggested that the agency operates with less public oversight than its Cold War counterpart.

“I’m always questioning, even in the less political films, I like to question authority or what we’re told,” he said. He described this skepticism as a consistent element of his creative process.

“They don’t seem to be making it covert anymore,” he said regarding contemporary geopolitical actions. He observed changes in how such operations are conducted in the modern era.

“It just feels like things are getting stupider, and stupider and stupider,” he said. He commented on the current state of global affairs and public discourse.

“Watching it now it does seem to have sort of commentary on present day geopolitics,” he said. He acknowledged that the historical setting resonates with current events.

“It’s going to be fascinating to see how an audience takes it,” he said. He anticipated varied reactions to the film's thematic content.

Malkovich is 72 years old and has been nominated for two Academy Awards. He reflected on his extensive experience in the industry during the festival.

“I’ve had a long career, and I’ve had really spectacular collaborators and collaborations,” he said. He emphasized the value of his professional relationships over time.

“So I never feel in competition with any of them because generally I love what they do,” he said. He expressed appreciation for the work of his peers in the competition.

“It’s a film that, with great humor, addresses two very traumatic occurrences — the death of John F. Kennedy and Chilean coup — with grace and intelligence and a kind of fairness,” he said. He characterized the film's treatment of sensitive historical subjects.

“the nicest thing is that the film gets attention,” he said. He identified public engagement as a primary benefit of the festival premiere.

“Wild Horse Nine” is a co-production of the United Kingdom, United States, and Chile. The film will have a theatrical release later in 2026.

Why It Matters

The premiere marks the latest entry in a pattern of critical success for McDonagh at the Venice Film Festival. His previous entries there garnered significant Academy Award recognition, establishing a track record for awards contention.

The film places CIA activities during the 1973 Chilean coup under oversight, a topic McDonagh stated is not talked about enough. The production involved logistical efforts to film on Easter Island, transporting equipment and personnel to the remote location. The movie joins a slate of international co-productions involving the United Kingdom, United States, and Chile.