John Wells to announce shock retirement?

Wells created a stir on Friday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

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Sad news for Wells fans. Speculation had been rife that the American director best known for Burnt or August: Osage County, is about to announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 69, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 16/05/2026 : 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,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouJohn

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouJohn 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 him make the decision.

“John Wells was unlike any other director we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouJohn”
— @universalObserver, 15 May 2026

“Wells wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 15 May 2026

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