Casting Director Sarah Finn Details Bringing Together the Star-Studded Cast of Martin McDonagh's 'Wild Horse Nine'

Searchlight Pictures' new film "Wild Horse Nine," directed by Martin McDonagh and currently in theaters, reunites casting director Sarah Finn with writer and director McDonagh following their work together on "Seven Psychopaths."

Cast and Roles

The film stars John Malkovich as Chris and Sam Rockwell as Lee, two CIA agents sent from Santiago to Easter Island by their bureau chief MJ, played by Steve Buscemi. On the remote island, the longtime partners confront dark pasts and present conspiracies while Chris forms a bond with a pair of rebellious students that threatens everyone's trust.

Crafting the Performances

Finn praised Malkovich's effortless style and ability to show a full range of humanity, noting that audiences have not seen this kind of performance from him before. According to ABC News, Malkovich plays a dying CIA man eager to spill the beans after a lifetime of toppling governments and carrying out assassinations, a role that makes him favored to win an Academy Award at age 72. Meanwhile, Finn described Rockwell as a master of dark humor who carries deep emotion through subtle silences. The cast also features Mariana, whom Finn cast after seeing her in Pablo Larraín's 2019 film "Ema" and navigating a challenging search for a Chilean actress who could master the demanding language. Parker also took part in the production, flying to Easter Island simply to read lines off camera for a phone call with Rockwell.

Marvel and Chadwick Boseman

Beyond this project, Finn reflected on her extensive Marvel Cinematic Universe casting work since 2008's "Iron Man," acknowledging the high fan expectations and pressure involved. She also shared an emotionally loaded memory of Chadwick Boseman auditioning for the role of Drax in "Guardians of the Galaxy" in 2005, where he played the character like a king and missed the humor, which ultimately helped inspire his later casting as Black Panther. Finn emphasized that casting requires hours of painstaking work and experimentation rather than happening easily.

Context

Casting directors work closely with filmmakers to balance creative vision, actor chemistry, and specific regional talents for complex roles. Major film productions often involve exhaustive talent searches across international pools to find performers who can handle demanding linguistic and emotional requirements.