Chloé Zhao to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Zhao fans. Speculation had been rife that the American director best known for the movie Nomadland, will announce her retirement from all public activities, at age 44, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 10/04/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a director isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a director-screenwriter-producer just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouChloé

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouChloé was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouChloé.”
— @DesireePlum, 9 Apr 2026

“I thought Chloé Zhao retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 9 Apr 2026

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