Michael Caine has offered an update on his possible retirement from acting at the Red Sea international film festival in Saudi Arabia, appearing to call time on his career for the fourth time.

Taking to the stage to accept a lifetime achievement award, the actor said: “I kept going until I was 90, which was two years ago, and I thought to myself I’m not going to do anything else because I’ve had all the luck you can get.”

The actor was introduced to the audience and wheeled on stage by Vin Diesel, with whom he worked on undead horror The Last Witch Hunter in 2015. In September it was announced the pair would be teaming up again for a belated sequel to that film, in which Caine plays a priest who assists Diesel’s immortal warrior to stop a plague ravaging the planet.

Caine, 92, first retired in 2009, after gang crime drama Harry Brown and then again, 24 films later, in 2021, after starring as novelist in Best Sellers. He returned for little-seen Czech historical drama Medieval in 2022 and, the following year, starred in The Great Escaper as a D-day veteran who travels to Normandy solo from his care home for the 70th anniversary.

Caine gave mixed messages about his retirement while promoting that film, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I’ve figured, I’ve had a picture where I’ve played the lead and had incredible reviews. The only parts I’m likely to get now are old men, 90-year-old men, maybe 85. And I thought, ‘Well, I might as well leave with all this – I’ve got wonderful reviews. What have I got to do to beat this?’”

Michael Caine and John Standing photographed in 2023. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Speaking to the Guardian to promote that film, however, Caine indicated some appetite to continue working, saying that the following year, he would be shooting a new movie in which he played Charles Darwin. “And that’ll be it. I won’t do another one after.”

When questioned whether he was certain, Caine said: “No! But the point is, can you do it? Can you remember all the lines? I’ve got used to not working and staying in bed till 11am and staying out late at night. I love it.”

Anthony Hopkins has since been announced as the star of the Darwin film, which will begin shooting next year.

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Caine was joined on stage by his three grandchildren, Taylor, Miles and Allegra, while his wife, Shakira, and two daughters, Dominique and Natasha, watched from the stalls.

“My name is Michael Caine,” the actor said, to considerable applause as he was handed the microphone. “It’s not my real name but it’s a realistic name. It’s the one that made all the money. I was born a cockney in London, which is very poor working class, and I grew up to be what I am which is, well, I am not multiple rich, but I’ve got enough money for an evening out, even an evening in.”

Caine, who has been nominated for six Academy Awards, and won two, for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999) added: “I’m here to get an award, which doesn’t surprise me. I won two Oscars.”

He continued: “I’ve been married for 52 years. I have loads of photographs but none are of any of the movies I am in, it’s just family, because that’s my life.”

“I have a fabulous family that I adore beyond belief. I’ve had a fairly fabulous movie family, some who’ve let me down, and I love them beyond belief, including the failures.”

“But one of the biggest lucky things is tonight to turn up here. I’ll tell you why, because I had never been here. I’ve seen it on the television, but I thought I’d never win with anything there. And I have won something, so I’m happy, and you’ve surprised me.

“I want to thank you for the surprise, because in show business, you never get many surprises, but you get a couple of shocks. So thank you.”

Caine published his first novel, a thriller called Deadly Game, in 2023, and is believed to be working on a follow-up. His latest memoir, Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life, was published in 2024.