Michael Caine, the 92‑year‑old British actor who announced his retirement in 2023, is reportedly set to return to the screen to reprise his role as the priest Dolan in The Last Witch Hunter 2.
Variety reported that Lionsgate and Vin Diesel’s production banner, One Race Films, are fast‑tracking development of the sequel and that Diesel is confirmed to return as the lead character, Kaulder. Caine originally played Dolan in the 2015 film, assisting Diesel’s warrior as he battled a witch queen whose actions unleashed a plague.
The reported return would mark a reversal of Caine’s 2023 announcement that he was retiring after a seven‑decade career. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme at the time, Caine said, “I keep saying I'm going to retire. Well I am now,” adding that he had accepted that “you don't have leading men at 90.” He has appeared in more than 180 films and won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999).
Representatives for Caine have not confirmed the role reprisal; media outlets reported that the casting had not been finalised. The Daily Mail said it had contacted Caine's representatives for comment. Reports note that Caine and Diesel were photographed having lunch in London in July, a meeting that was filmed and that sources described as part of an upcoming documentary about Caine. A camera was visible on a tripod during that outing, and Diesel posted about the project on Instagram on June 30, describing their friendship as “healing and loving.”
Caine first acted on stage in 1953 and began appearing in films in 1956, gaining wider recognition with roles in the 1960s, including Zulu (1964), The Ipcress File (1965), Alfie (1966) and The Italian Job (1969). His role as Dolan in The Last Witch Hunter placed him in a supporting part within a supernatural action franchise that blended fantasy elements with modern urban settings.
At this stage the studio timeline, production schedule and whether Caine’s return would be a single appearance or a larger role have not been publicly disclosed. Lionsgate and One Race Films have been named in reporting on the project; the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Any confirmation of casting, production dates or release plans is likely to come through formal studio announcements or statements from the actor's representatives.
If completed, the film would be among a small number of projects to feature a major actor who had previously announced retirement returning for a role in his 90s. The reported development follows continuing public interest in Caine’s health and public appearances since his retirement announcement, and in Diesel’s expanding role as a producer of franchise cinema.
Further details, including official casting confirmations and production timelines, were not available at the time of publication.