Wild Horse Nine Trailer: John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell & Tom Waits Star in New Film

The first trailer has arrived for Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine, and it’s a welcome surprise for music fans: a glimpse of Tom Waits amidst the darkly comedic intrigue. The film, starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA agents navigating a tense pre-coup Chile, is set to release November 6th, according to Searchlight Pictures.

The trailer opens with Malkovich’s character, Chris, boasting about his extensive (and ethically questionable) career as an assassin to Rockwell’s Lee, while aboard an airplane. “I’ve killed people in countries you can’t even spell,” Chris declares, setting the tone for a film steeped in McDonagh’s signature blend of sharp dialogue and unsettling humor. Waits makes his appearance around the two-minute mark, revealed to be Chris’s brother.

A Return to Dark Comedy for McDonagh

Wild Horse Nine marks McDonagh’s first feature since the critically acclaimed The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), a film that garnered nine Academy Award nominations. Like Banshees, Wild Horse Nine promises a character-driven narrative with a distinctly dark edge. McDonagh’s skill for crafting compelling, often unsettling, scenarios is already evident in the trailer, and his reunion with Waits – following their collaboration on 2012’s Seven Psychopaths – adds another layer of anticipation. “As soon as Tom pops up on screen, there’s something iconic and mesmerizing about him,” McDonagh told Vanity Fair.

The film’s setting – Easter Island, shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup d’état – adds a unique and politically charged backdrop. The trailer hints at a story involving CIA operatives grappling with their pasts and present conspiracies, complicated by Chris’s connection to a pair of rebellious students. Steve Buscemi plays MJ, a CIA higher-up stationed in Chile, adding another familiar face to McDonagh’s ensemble cast. Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas are credited as the students who become entangled in the agents’ mission, while Parker Posey plays Lee’s wife, Marge.

Waits’ Continued Presence on Screen

While best known for his groundbreaking music career, Tom Waits has become an increasingly visible presence in film over the last decade. He recently appeared in Jim Jarmusch’s 2025 film, Father Mother Sister Brother, a project he’s frequently collaborated with Jarmusch on. He also had a role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2021 film, Licorice Pizza, showcasing his ability to inhabit memorable, often eccentric, characters. Father Mother Sister Brother was a notable addition to his filmography.

Despite releasing his last studio album, Bad as Me, in 2011, Waits remains a compelling figure in the music world. He hasn’t undertaken a full concert tour since October 2013, at the Bridge School Benefit, but he has continued to engage with his discography, celebrating anniversaries with unreleased recordings. Anniversaries have been marked with previously unheard material. He even made a brief appearance at a 2022 tribute concert for his longtime producer, Hal Willner, and contributed a performance of his 1976 song “Tom Traubert’s Blues” to the Italian docuseries Il Fattore Umano (The Human Factor) last year. “Tom Traubert’s Blues” remains a fan favorite.

Production Details and Searchlight’s Strategy

Wild Horse Nine is a production of Blueprint Pictures and Film4, with Searchlight Pictures handling distribution. The project was first reported in February 2025, with Taylor Friedman and Peter Spencer overseeing the project for Searchlight. The film’s choice of Easter Island as a location is particularly striking, offering a visually arresting and symbolically resonant setting for the unfolding drama. The island’s iconic statues provide a stark contrast to the political turmoil brewing in Chile, hinting at the film’s themes of power, isolation, and the weight of history.

The November 6th release date positions Wild Horse Nine as a potential awards contender, capitalizing on the momentum of McDonagh’s previous success with The Banshees of Inisherin. Searchlight Pictures will be hoping that the film’s intriguing premise, stellar cast, and McDonagh’s distinctive directorial style will resonate with both critics and audiences.

What’s Next for the Wild Horse Nine Team?

Following the release of Wild Horse Nine, attention will likely turn to the individual projects of the cast and crew. McDonagh has not yet announced his next directorial venture, but given his track record, it’s safe to assume another darkly comedic and thought-provoking story is in development. Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich are both in high demand, with numerous projects on their respective slates. As for Tom Waits, while a new album or tour isn’t currently on the horizon, his continued presence in film suggests he’ll remain a captivating figure on the big screen.