When asked to mention iconic and legendary actors, there are very few lists that would not include the cinema giant that is Jack Nicholson. From his terrifying turn as Jack Torrence in The Shining, to the heartfelt charm of As Good As It Gets, the actor was a dominant presence in cinema for over 50 years before he “retired” from the industry in 2010 – but could we see Nicholson return to screens for one more movie? One of his long-term collaborators certainly isn’t ruling it out.
Having not starred in a movie since 2010’s How Do You Know, many people assumed that Nicholson had quietly called time on his career and was happy to enjoy life away from the cameras – with the exception of frequent courtside appearances at basketball matches, and rare appearances such as during the SNL50 Anniversary Special. As Nicholson’s son, Ray, is carving himself a strong career in movies, one man who believes the master may yet have another movie in him is James L. Brooks, who told The Hollywood Reporter that he doesn’t believe Nicholson is out of the game just yet.
“On As Good as It Gets, if I didn’t get Jack for that, I hope that I would’ve been smart enough not to make the movie. He was the only man alive who could get an audience to sit and watch it and be interested because of who that character was. Boy, sometimes you feel that way and you’re wrong. I’m sure I was right about that. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jack work again. I mean, it’s been a hunk of time, but I don’t know. Maybe it could be the right thing. He’s reading scripts all the time, I think.”
Few actors have captured the hearts and minds of moviegoers quite like Jack Nicholson. Whether he’s rattling nerves in The Shining or charming audiences in As Good as It Gets, Nicholson’s storied performances have left an indelible mark on Hollywood history. Although he hasn’t filmed a project in over a decade—prompting many to assume he’d quietly retired—a longtime collaborator recently floated an enticing possibility: the iconic actor may yet step in front of the camera for one final movie.
Jack Nicholson Has Not Officially Retired
Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets sitting in a car and smiling with sunglasses on his forehead.
Sony Pictures Releasing
Like many veteran actors, the kind of roles offered to the likes of Jack Nicholson, now he is a man in his 80s, are not the same roles he was offered 30 years ago. Actors such as Michael Caine have noted that because of a lack of big leading roles available, the likelihood of appearing in new movies diminishes once you reach a certain age. While Nicholson has never officially announced that he is retired from movies, could it be possible that we will ever see him bringing that iconic smile to the world once more?
Only if a very special movie comes around, is the short answer. As Brooks suggested, Nicholson has been said to frequently receive new scripts, but while some actors of a certain age are happy to take on any role rather than not work, Nicholson has been said to not be in so much of a rush to get in front of a camera again. Back in 2023, Marc Maron shared on his podcast that Nicholson had been turning down roles, and was much more interested in kicking back than acting again. He said at the time:
“A friend of mine wanted to put him in a movie, and he had a conversation with him. But Jack says, ‘I don’t want to do it. You know what I did today? I sat under a tree… and I read a book.’”
Naturally, there would be many fans of the actor who would love to see him make just one more appearance on screen, but for now, it seems that they will have to be content with his extensive back catalog of classics, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Departed, and Easy Rider.
Headshot Of Jack Nicholson In The 2007 MTV Movie Awards
Birthname
John Joseph Nicholson
Birthdate
April 22, 1937
Birthplace
Neptune, New Jersey, USA