Ethan Hawke wants a great film in every genre

Ethan Hawke has a morbid career goal that he hopes to achieve before ending his career.

The actor says he would like his obituary to state that he starred in at least one major film in every possible genre. Hawke is known as much for the caliber of films he is often involved in as for the volume he produces.

During a recent late-night appearance, the “Training Day” star opened up about that relentless work ethic.

Ethan Hawke reveals he describes himself as ‘gender independent’

Hawke’s love of acting began at a young age, leading him to land his first acting role at just 14 years old.

The “Dead Poets Society” star recently appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he discussed how this passion ultimately shaped him into the dispassionate movie buff he is today.

“I grew up loving movies so much that I called myself genre independent,” Hawke said.

It was from this appreciation of a wide range of genres that he says his morbid dream was born.

“I was thinking about what I wanted my obituary to say,” Hawke continued. “I want it to say, ‘This guy has a good movie in every genre.'”

Hawke says he wants to star in a Will Ferrell comedy

Fallon and Hawke joked that the actor was getting closer to his goal of claiming a big film in every genre.

“It’s getting scary,” Hawke admitted. “It makes me feel old that I actually…I checked a few off.”

When asked what genre he’d like to try but hasn’t had the chance, Hawke revealed that the only glaring gap on his resume was a Will Ferrell-style satirical film.

“When I see movies like ‘Talladega Nights,’ I want to be there so bad,” he said. “You’re friends with Will Ferrell, connect to a brother! »

Ethan Hawke opens up about his career insecurities

Hawke may not have much left to prove as an actor, but that wasn’t always the case.

During his late-night appearance on “The Tonight Show,” he spoke candidly about some of the insecurities he faced, particularly early in his career.

In one story, Hawke recalls asking for his portrait to be placed on the wall of the iconic Sardi’s restaurant on Broadway, even though he had only performed seven shows at the time.

“I remember I made a big deal about being on Broadway, and I was only [in] seven performances,” Hawke said. “I begged Sardi, and they were kind enough to do a portrait of me.”

Actor Details Dramatic Physical Transformation for Role in ‘Blue Moon’

Hawke had a typically busy 2025, with one of his standout performances in the film “Blue Moon.”

Sardi’s is actually where the events of the film take place, with Hawke playing the role of legendary Broadway composer Lorenz Hart. For the role, he went through a meticulous process to nail down the character’s specific bald appearance. The routine required Hawke to shave part of his head and leave another section for a comb.

The actor also revealed that the film was shot using clever techniques to make his character appear smaller on screen.

“Sometimes we would block out the whole film and we would build a trench about a foot shorter so I could walk through it,” Hawke explained. “He was the shortest person in every room, and he was the tallest person in every room.”

Ethan Hawke says he can’t stop working

Besides “Blue Moon,” another major project in Hawke’s 2025 collection was “Black Phone 2.” He also stars in “The Weight,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026.

A day after the festival debuted, Hawke spoke to Variety about a wide range of topics, including why he never seems to slow down in his work.

“Why can’t I just sit still? Why do I work so much?” Hawke posed. “[Because] I love him.”

He explained that the key for him was to see the impact his films had on viewers.

“Once you [have] I felt this feeling of creating something bigger than yourself and you watch it connect with the audience, I’m chasing it,” Hawke said. “I’m just chasing it.”