Searchlight Pictures released the first clip from Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine this week, according to Deadline, ahead of its world premiere in the Venezia 83 competition on September 3. The film, McDonagh's first since The Banshees of Inisherin, is one of the more heavily anticipated titles in this year's Venice lineup.
Wild Horse Nine stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA agents Chris and Lee, dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief MJ, played by Steve Buscemi, in the days before the 1973 Chilean coup. The ensemble also includes Tom Waits, Parker Posey, Mariana di Girolamo, and Ailín Salas. Ben Davis shot the film; Carter Burwell composed the score. Production ran from March to April 2025, on location across Easter Island and Santiago.
The film runs 118 minutes and is distributed by Searchlight Pictures, which has set a November 6 release in the US and UK. That date places it firmly in the awards corridor, and early tracking reflects the positioning. According to AwardsWatch, Wild Horse Nine ranked third in Best Picture predictions as of August 18, with McDonagh placing fourth for Best Director.
McDonagh's previous film, The Banshees of Inisherin, received nine Oscar nominations at the 2023 ceremony, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. None converted. Wild Horse Nine arrives with similar architecture: a precise ensemble, a specific period setting, a tone that sits between black comedy and something more unsettled. Whether it lands at Venice depends on the jury. Maggie Gyllenhaal presides. The Golden Lion will be awarded September 12.