Brief
Stanley Tucci says he’s “inching toward semiretirement” while promoting new heist film
Tucci, 65, talks about balancing acting, family, art and AI as he promotes the Prime Video comedy Masterplan.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Stanley Tucci, the 65‑year‑old actor, author and TV host, told Vanity Fair in a Zoom interview that after 46 years in the business he is "inching toward semiretirement." The conversation, conducted on 16 October 2026, coincided with the promotion of his new Prime Video comedy Masterplan, which streams from Friday.
What happened
In Masterplan, Tucci plays Roger, a career thief who tracks down his long‑lost children – played by Victor Belmondo and Simona Tabasco – to steal the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. The film, a heist comedy set for release on Amazon Prime Video, marks Tucci’s latest collaboration with the streaming platform. While discussing the role, Tucci said the script reminded him of classic 1960s‑70s heist movies such as The Italian Job and The Hot Rock, which he finds "slightly shameless and charming."
What the reports add
Tucci highlighted his desire to spend more time painting, sculpting, directing a play and being present for his five children, who are still young. He also reflected on the difficulty of distinguishing authentic images from AI‑generated ones on social media, calling it "a nightmare" and noting that AI‑created visuals are already "too good" and will improve further.
What was said
"I don’t think I’ll ever really retire, but I am inching toward semiretirement," Tucci told Vanity Fair.
"I’ve been doing it for 46 years and I’m a little tired. There are just other things I want to do. I want to paint more and sculpt. I want to direct another play. My younger kids are still young and I want to be with them," he added.
On AI, he said, "I can’t tell half the time what’s real and what isn’t on Instagram. Someone has to go, ‘Stanley, that’s AI.’ It’s a nightmare. It’s just going to get better. I think it’s weird."
He also noted that AI can be useful in medical research and visual effects, praising the Russo brothers for appropriate use in Marvel movies, while warning that fully AI‑generated actors could be "disturbing."
How it came about
Tucci’s interview follows the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, a sequel that reunited him with Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and his sister‑in‑law Emily Blunt, and grossed nearly $700 million worldwide. The actor’s shift between theatrical releases and streaming projects reflects his comment that he still enjoys cinema but acknowledges changing audience habits. He expressed a desire for people to continue going to movies, even as streaming becomes dominant.
Key facts
- Stanley Tucci says he is moving toward semiretirement after 46 years in entertainment. (vanityfair.com)
- Tucci stars as a thief in the Prime Video comedy Masterplan, streaming from Friday. (vanityfair.com)
- He describes AI‑generated images as a "nightmare" and worries about fully AI‑generated actors. (vanityfair.com)
- Tucci wants to spend more time painting, sculpting, directing a play and with his five children. (vanityfair.com)
Sources
- [1] vanityfair.com — originally reported as “Stanley Tucci on Fatherhood, AI, and Why He’s “Inching Toward Semiretirement””
