Cary Elwes is gearing up for the release of his new movie, “Dead Man’s Wire,” which he filmed shortly after he tragically lost his home, which he shared with his wife, Lisa Marie Kubikoff, in the 2024 California wildfires. Now, the “Princess Bride” star is opening up about how getting into character helped him following the loss.
Elwes told PEOPLE in January 2026, “The minute I took the makeup off and the wardrobe, all I could think of is how traumatizing that whole event was. So it actually felt good to be somebody else.”
He reflected on the “horrible” situation, saying, “It definitely shaped me, but I won’t let it define me. I think I’m a better person for it. I do believe that I’m not just going to rebuild a house. I’m going to rebuild me. I got two for one.”
The “Dead Man’s Wire” star added, “Life is a roller coaster.”
Cary Elwes Recently Opened Disussed the Emotional Loss in Detail
GettyElwes spoke to The Associated Press on January 8, 2026, offering insight into the emotions he experienced in January 2025. He began, “I got my grandfather’s paintings out, which were the things I valued the most, and they actually are of the most value physically.”
He went on to say that they had “about a half hour” before having to evacuate. Elwes continued, “It’s very sad. The whole thing is sad. The landscape has changed in the Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu. It’s never going to be the same. It’s changed forever, and it’s a great tragedy because it’s the community.”
Toward the end of the interview, Elwes shared that he moved there roughly 38 years ago but that his wife “grew up there.” He then shared that his wife was “devastated when we woke up the next morning and drove around.”
In the end, Elwes expressed his gratitude to their neighbors and highlighted that Malibu is a community.
‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Has Strong Reviews
Elwes filmed “Dead Man’s Wire” during a traumatic time in his life. Now, roughly a year later, it’s set to hit movie theaters on January 9 in limited release. It will then expand on January 16. It also stars Dacre Montgomery, Bill Skarsgård, and Al Pacino. Gus Van Sant directed the film, and Deadline reports that Row K Entertainment acquired it for distribution.
Reviews are in for “Dead Man’s Wire,” and it currently holds an impressive 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is based on 75 reviews.
Randy Myers from the San Jose Mercury News said of the movie, “Van Sant’s feature re-creates the 1977 details to perfection while the screenplay by Austin Kolodney wields a rapier wit and an awareness that this tale, which tips its hat to Sidney Lumet’s great Dog Day Afternoon and other great ’70s American films.”
Jake Coyle said, “Staying closer to the truth might have produced a more dynamic movie. But “Dead Man’s Wire” still works.”
Finally, David Caballero from Collider wrote, “With a delightfully gonzo performance from Bill Skarsgård that should’ve received some attention this awards season, Dead Man’s Wire is a successful throwback to the classic crime stories that once dominated cinema.”
