WILD HORSE NINE Trailer Sends John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell on a Strange CIA Mission to Easter Island
Searchlight Pictures has dropped the first trailer for Wild Horse Nine, the latest film from Martin McDonagh, and it looks like another fun, sharp, offbeat ride from the filmmaker behind The Banshees of Inisherin.
If you’ve been waiting to see what he’d do next after that Oscar-nominated hit, this one already feels like it’s bringing the same dark humor with a fresh, unpredictable edge. I love the films that McDonagh makes, so I’m looking forward to watching this!
Set against the tense backdrop leading up to the 1973 Chilean coup, the story follows CIA agents Chris and Lee, played by John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell.
The two are longtime partners sent from Santiago to Easter Island on a mission ordered by their bureau chief MJ, played by Steve Buscemi. But this isn’t shaping up to be a straightforward assignment.
The trailer hints at something much messier. Chris starts forming a connection with two rebellious students, portrayed by Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas, and that relationship looks like it could derail everything.
At the same time, both agents are dealing with their own baggage, while larger conspiracies simmer in the background. It’s got that uneasy mix of tension and dark comedy that McDonagh handles so well.
The film also brings in a strong supporting cast that includes Tom Waits, Steve Buscemi, and Parker Posey, adding even more personality to an already intriguing lineup.
What makes this even more exciting is the reunion between McDonagh and Rockwell, who previously teamed up on Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. That film earned seven Oscar nominations and took home two wins, including Best Supporting Actor for Rockwell and Best Actress for Frances McDormand. Their collaboration clearly works, and Wild Horse Nine looks ready to tap into that same creative spark.
From what this first trailer shows, Wild Horse Nine is shaping up to be a weird, character-driven story packed with tension, humor, and a setting that doesn’t get used nearly enough in films.
Searchlight has set the film for a November 6, 2026 release.
