Morgan Freeman Reveals Whether Retirement Is In The Near Future

After six decades, more than 100 films, and an Oscar win under his belt, Morgan Freeman isn’t even thinking about retirement. The 88-year-old screen legend is gearing up for his next big role, reprising his fan-favorite character, illusion debunker Thaddeus Bradley, in "Now You See Me: Now You Don’t," the highly anticipated third installment of the blockbuster heist franchise, set to hit theaters November 14. Now, in a new interview, Freeman opened up about what keeps him motivated to continue working in Hollywood after all these years, revealing that his secret to longevity is as simple as it is powerful.

Ahead of his latest movie release, Freeman sat down with  AARP’s Movies for Grownups to talk about everything from longevity and legacy to the life lessons that have shaped his six-decade career. In the candid conversation, the Oscar-winning actor opened up about what motivates him to keep working, telling the outlet, “There is a saying about old age. ‘Keep moving,' and what Clint Eastwood says, ‘Don’t let the old man in.’"

He continued, "The way to do that is to keep getting up in the morning, keep working out in the gym, keep taking your vitamins, keep taking your prescribed meds, and keep moving. Keep moving. That is the secret to it all.”

Freeman’s mantra isn’t just a philosophy, but he said it’s a way of life. At nearly 90, he’s busier than ever, balancing film projects, charitable work, and quiet moments of reflection. “You’ve got to keep going,” he said. “That’s the only way to keep living.”

Despite decades of acclaim and an Oscar win for "Million Dollar Baby," Freeman insists the award didn’t change him. “It didn’t change me one whit,” he added. “I kind of knew early on that I would eventually get one. The only change you can expect after you’ve gotten an Oscar is maybe your price goes up a tiny bit and your job prospects go up a bit. Other than that, don’t let your ego get the best of you.”

When asked which Hollywood icons he’d love to share the screen with next, Freeman’s answer came without hesitation. The one and only, Meryl Streep. “She’s the best,” he said.

The actor also reflected on his own inspirations, citing Sidney Poitier as a mentor and Gary Cooper as his favorite character actor. “Heavens, yes,” Freeman said. “I had a mentor, Sidney Poitier. And a favorite character actor, Gary Cooper.”

After nearly 60 years in Hollywood, Freeman’s personal philosophy is simple. Don’t invite trouble, and never stop learning. “The best advice I ever got was ‘Never look for trouble,’” he shared, recalling wisdom passed down from a train conductor early in his life.

And though he avoids doling out professional advice to co-stars (“That’s not my lane, really,” he laughed), he does offer a few pearls of wisdom to his many grandchildren. “Just keep learning,” he told them. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking you are something you’re not. Stay in your lane. Learn what that is. Make the best of it.”

At 88, Morgan Freeman isn’t chasing bucket lists, because he’s living them. “No, no,” he said when asked if there are things still left to do. “I’m really quite comfortable right here now. All I am is an itinerant actor. Nobody’s judge, nobody’s instructor.”

When it comes to turning 90, Freeman’s focus is refreshingly simple. “Will I still be playing golf? That’s the question,” he quipped. Golf, it turns out, is his secret to staying active and sane. “Remember we were talking earlier about keep moving? You get the most movement out of golf at my age,” he said. “It’s walking, stooping, bending, swinging, cussing. It’s a great sport for older adults. It’s better than bocce ball.”

Freeman plays most often with his wife on the course where they live. “We just go play together,” he shared, adding with a laugh that age has its perks. “I’ve been given dispensation to take the cart into places where normally they would stop the cart. Age makes a difference.”

Freeman’s secret to longevity seems to come down to humility and movement, both physical and creative. With "Now You See Me: Now You Don’t" hitting theaters this weekend and no signs of slowing down, Freeman proves that age is just another act in life’s grand illusion.

Or, as he puts it: Keep moving.