Here’s the Cast and Character Guide for ‘Wild Horse Nine’ (with Pictures)

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, ‘Wild Horse Nine‘ is a 2026 dark comedy spy thriller set against the political upheaval of 1973 Chile. The film follows two American CIA operatives who are sent away on an excursion to Easter Island shortly before a military coup overthrows Salvador Allende’s government.

Amid the island’s iconic moai statues, their mission unravels into paranoia, existential reflections on past violence, and confrontations with local travelers. The production brings together an ensemble cast composed of frequent McDonagh collaborators alongside acclaimed South American actors.

John Malkovich

In ‘Wild Horse Nine’, John Malkovich stars as Chris Carlisle, a seasoned CIA operative who receives a terminal cancer diagnosis shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup. Dispatched to Easter Island with his partner, Carlisle decides to dictate his unvarnished memoirs into a tape recorder to document decades of covert foreign interventions. His sudden willingness to openly discuss classified government conspiracies disturbs his superiors and tests his partner’s loyalties. For his performance as the terminally ill intelligence officer, Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell plays Lee Chesterfield, a CIA officer and the longtime protégé of Chris Carlisle. Lee travels alongside his veteran mentor to Easter Island while attempting to navigate conflicting orders regarding Carlisle’s deteriorating mental and physical health. As his mentor threatens to compromise sensitive operations by recording his memoirs, Lee is forced to choose between agency protocol and his deep loyalty to Carlisle. This role marks Rockwell’s third feature film collaboration with writer-director Martin McDonagh, following ‘Seven Psychopaths’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’.

Steve Buscemi

Steve Buscemi portrays MJ, the pragmatic CIA bureau chief stationed in Santiago during the geopolitical unrest of 1973. MJ assigns Carlisle and Chesterfield to Easter Island to keep the volatile senior officer out of the capital as covert operations progress. When MJ discovers that Carlisle is recording agency secrets, he orders Chesterfield to eliminate his mentor to prevent an intelligence leak. Buscemi joined the production of ‘Wild Horse Nine’ to take over the role initially slated for Mark Ruffalo.

Tom Waits

Tom Waits portrays Jim, the estranged brother of John Malkovich’s character, Chris Carlisle. Jim provides personal and familial history for Carlisle as the veteran operative reflects upon his past choices and impending mortality. Their relationship offers a glimpse into Carlisle’s private life away from his decades of clandestine service for the American government. The project marks another creative partnership between Waits and director Martin McDonagh following the 2012 black comedy ‘Seven Psychopaths’.

Parker Posey

Parker Posey plays Marge, the wife of CIA officer Lee Chesterfield. Marge maintains contact with Lee over long-distance telephone calls while he is stationed in South America on assignment. Her interactions with her husband highlight the emotional detachment and strain that clandestine intelligence work places on domestic partnerships. Posey was cast in ‘Wild Horse Nine’ alongside an ensemble featuring several frequent collaborators of writer-director Martin McDonagh.

Mariana di Girolamo

Mariana di Girolamo portrays Monica, an outspoken Chilean university student traveling to Easter Island. Monica crosses paths with Carlisle and Chesterfield at the airport and confronts Carlisle over his cynical remarks regarding indigenous Rapa Nui culture. Her presence introduces a local political perspective that directly challenges the clandestine activities of the American operatives in Chile. Prior to starring in ‘Wild Horse Nine’, di Girolamo earned widespread international recognition for leading the cast of the Chilean drama ‘Ema’.

Ailín Salas

Ailín Salas appears as Alicia, a fellow student and travel companion accompanying Monica across Easter Island. Alicia interacts with the two undercover agents during their travels, observing their peculiar dynamics and escalating arguments. Her interactions with Carlisle and Chesterfield underscore the contrast between civilian tourists and covert foreign operatives navigating the island. Salas is an Argentine-born actress whose feature film credits include independent Latin American titles such as ‘Lulu’.

Paola Giannini

Paola Giannini portrays Rosa, a Chilean local who interacts with the intelligence operatives during their stay on Easter Island. Rosa’s interactions with the agents intersect with the brewing suspicion between Carlisle and Chesterfield as secret directives are revealed. Her casting reflects the production’s commitment to incorporating established Chilean talent alongside its international lead actors. Giannini is an award-winning Chilean actress who previously starred in the streaming television series ’42 Days of Darkness’ and ‘Dignity’.

Share your thoughts about the ensemble cast of ‘Wild Horse Nine’ in the comments.