Mike Leigh Says Upcoming Film Will Be His Last Due to Illness

British director Mike Leigh, 83, announced that his next feature, Tender Loving Care, is likely to be his final film. Leigh suffers from myositis, an autoimmune disease that attacks his muscles, and said making another movie would be “very difficult” and “not going to be possible.” He explained that the physical demands of directing and even staging a play exceed what his condition allows.

Leigh noted the support of friends and colleagues on set, and producer Georgina Lowe described financing the improvisational project as a major challenge, reflecting broader difficulties faced by independent British cinema. The film is slated for a Canadian premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival after its U.S. release by Bleecker Street.