Director Mike Leigh likely to retire after his next film due to illness

Film-maker Mike Leigh has said his next film is likely to be his last.According to Indiewire, the Oscar-nominated writer-director was speaking at a recent Golden Globes-hosted roundtable in London about his next film Tender Loving Care, a drama set to premiere during this fall festival season.The 83-year-old, whose films include Secrets & Lies, Mr Turner and Another Year, said another film would be “very difficult” and is “not going to be possible” as a result of his health.Leigh has previously spoken about being diagnosed with myositis, a disease that affects the immune system and causes chronic muscle inflammation.When asked if Tender Loving Care will be his last film, he responded: “Absolutely. I think very likely, yes. I mean, I know the girls don’t like to hear me say that, but I think that is the case.”The film is a comedy drama starring Leigh’s longtime collaborator and partner Marion Bailey and recent Widow’s Bay breakout Kate O’Flynn. Specific plot details are unknown, but it’s been described as “an insightful exploration of the contemporary world”.The film will have its Canadian premiere at the Toronto film festival with a world premiere at the Telluride film festival predicted just before it.“I was lucky in making this last film – people were very helpful,” he said. “You’ll see when I get up, that my two friends all helped me to stand up. So I probably can’t do much more. And doing a play is even more physically demanding, strangely enough, than making a film, because on a film you can be moved around.”Leigh’s last film Hard Truths, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, was a critical hit two years ago. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw called it “a deeply sober, sombre, compassionate drama” in a four-star review.Hard Truths marked the final time Leigh worked with his longtime cinematographer Dick Pope, who died in October 2024.