The sequel that Robert Redford was about to make (but couldn't)

The death of Robert Redford earlier this week has shocked the film community and his countless followers. Recognized as a Hollywood legend, Redford left an undeniable legacy, marked by timeless classics such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and All the President’s Men.

Farewell, Robert

Throughout his career, Redford has been reluctant to participate in sequels; however, for years he was interested in reviving his iconic character Bill McKay, the young aspiring California Senator from The Candidate. Directed by Michael Ritchie, this political satire earned an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for its writer, Jeremy Larner. Along with director Rod Lurie, with whom he worked on The Last Castle, Redford explored the possibility of continuing the story, although he never managed to finalize the project. “We spent countless hours discussing it, what I wanted to do and what I didn’t”, Lurie explained in an interview.

Despite his self-proclaimed title as “anti-sequels,” in a conversation with The New York Times in 2003, Redford justified his desire to reexamine McKay’s narrative in light of the current relevance of the themes addressed in the film. The phrase “The truth is terrible, but in its horrible way, it is entertaining” reflects his critique of the current state of politics.

In his final years as an actor, Redford made a notable exception by reprising his role as Alexander Pierce in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, participating in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Endgame. However, the consensus is that his greatness lies in his vast filmography, where titles like All the President’s Men remain essential references in American cinema.