Sir Michael Caine says ‘I won’t be here’ in heartbreaking admission about family’s future

Michael Caine discusses meeting his wife Shakira

Sir Michael Caine made an emotional confession that "he won't be here" to see the next generation create a "new and exciting world". Speaking about his new book, Deadly Game, the 91-year-old actor spoke to Matthew d’Ancona on the media platform Fane.

At one point during the virtual event, he touches on how optimistic he is about the younger generation. "I have two grandsons - one is 14 and one is 15. If you talk to them, you'd think they're 20 and 21," Michael said.

"They're so advanced it's fabulous. I think the younger generation are much smarter than my lot." When asked if he was excited for the younger generation to create a "new and exciting world", Michael couldn't agree more.

He said: "Oh my god, yeah. I won't be here to see it, but I'll watch it from upstairs." The British legend called time on his career last year after he admitted he "can't walk properly" due to his age.

His final film, The Great Escaper, sees him play a real-life World War II veteran Bernie Jordan. Jordan shocked the nation when he escaped from his care home in 2014 and went to France to mark D-Day.

Michael Caine has a career spanning seven decades (Image: Getty)

Michael stars opposite Glenda Jackson, who died shortly after the film was completed. Speaking to the BBC, Sir Michael quipped that his age was another factor why he decided to retire.

He said: "The only parts I'm liable to get now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85. They're not going to be the lead. You don't have leading men at 90, you're going to have young handsome boys and girls. So I thought, I might as well leave with all this."

The Oscar-winning actor published his debut book last year, Deadly Game. The novel is a thriller about a Metropolitan Police detective who uncovers a high-level criminal enterprise.

Michael Caine finished his final film this year before retirement (Image: Getty)

Michael has said that he's always wanted to write crime novels. He told The Times: "It’s been my ambition for years to write a thriller.

"It’s the genre I most love to read, and I’ve really got a buzz out of working on Deadly Game and teaming up with Hodder once again to publish it. I hope readers enjoy getting to know Harry Taylor as much as I did."

The actor has written three memoirs across several decades. He told The Guardian in 2021: "I only read thrillers. I’m an adventure man, I’m not a literature person, so I’m not trying to replace Shakespeare here."