Ethan Hawke has had a long and fruitful career. Dead Poet’s Society made him a star at only 18. Now, at the age of 51, Hawke has most recently starred in The Blackphone, and although he has directed in the past, he is once again behind the camera. His new HBO Max docuseries, The Last Movie Stars, focuses on the careers and romance of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

“The Last Movie Stars is a six-part documentary from CNN Films and HBO Max that chronicles Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s iconic careers and decades-long partnership. Director Ethan Hawke brings life and color to this definitive history of their dedication to their art, philanthropy, and each other. Academy Award-winning director, writer, and producer Martin Scorsese serves as executive producer.” (Source: HBOMax)

Despite the docuseries being focused on Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, it is also equal parts about Hawke himself. In an interview with IndieWire, Hawke expresses how his experience as an actor and his personal life were things that gave him an understanding to Newman’s life. Both actors experienced the pressures of fame, divorces, and the nuances of awards.

While discussing Hawke’s own career, he states he is in, “the beginning of my “old man” career, the beginning of my last act. But it’s the beginning of it, you know? I definitely find myself looking over a filmography and thinking about which ones I could’ve cut out because I only have so much time left. I know I only have so many movies left. You have an awareness of time. When I was younger, I was like, “I’ll do this, I’ll do that, that’ll be a good learning experience, and then I’ll try this,” thinking I had all the time in the world. Now, I’m like, “I didn’t learn anything from that one or that one, and that one would’ve been better spent in three months with my family.” (Source: IndieWire)

Despite feeling as if he is in his “last act”, Hawke definitely has a lot more in store for his career. Including himself, Hawke has been witnessing his own daughter, Maya Hawke, experience a blossoming career.

The Last Movie Stars is available for streaming July 21, 2022.