Clint Eastwood, 94, absent from the premiere of Juror #2, a legal thriller that could be the final film of his career. Heartfelt tribute, positive critical reception, yet Warner Bros limits its release, fueling speculation about the legendary director’s future.
Director Clint Eastwood, 94, did not attend the world premiere of his new film, Juror #2, where the cast paid a heartfelt tribute to this "master" of American cinema.
The feature film, which releases Wednesday in France, is a gripping legal thriller where a juror discovers he may be intimately connected to the murder trial he’s been chosen to arbitrate.
Juror #2 might be Clint Eastwood’s final film. The cast includes Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, and Eastwood’s daughter, Francesca Eastwood. "It was very special to work with an icon like Clint Eastwood," said Nicholas Hoult. "Obviously intimidating (...), but he has a humor and charm that are second to none."
The film has received positive reviews. The specialist site Deadline described it as "Eastwood’s best film since American Sniper " and praised it as "one of the most captivating human dramas of his career."
However, Clint Eastwood was notably absent from the film’s premiere at the annual AFI festival in Hollywood on Sunday evening.
A few days earlier, Variety revealed that Warner Bros planned to "bury" Juror #2, releasing it in only around fifty theaters, with no significant promotional campaign. Eastwood's previous film, Cry Macho, also produced by Warner Bros, was a commercial failure.
Fans of the director speculate about a possible rift between Warner Bros and Clint Eastwood. Representatives from the studio and Eastwood did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
"I know he’s very sad not to be here tonight," said Hoult, without elaborating.
The nonagenarian’s health has also been a topic of speculation, especially following the death of his longtime partner, Christina Sandera, last July.
Yet Clint Eastwood seems determined to continue expanding his already extensive filmography. He previously stated he’d keep directing as long as he found projects "worth exploring."
Born in 1930, the Oscar-winning actor and director has directed 11 films since turning 80.
In addition to the Oscars for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby, he received the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or for his lifetime achievement.
Actor Cedric Yarbrough told AFP that Clint Eastwood personally apologized to motorists delayed by a roadblock during the filming of Juror #2. "It’s classy, it’s old Hollywood. It’s what you want to see from your icons," the actor said. "He’s the boss."
With AFP
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