Editing Warren Beatty (section)

==Career==
===1957–1969: Early roles and breakthrough ===
Beatty started his career making appearances on television shows such as ''[[Studio One (CBS series)|Studio One]]'' (1957), ''[[Kraft Television Theatre]]'' (1957), and ''[[Playhouse 90]]'' (1959). He was a semi-regular on ''[[The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis]]'' during its first season (1959–1960). His performance in [[William Inge]]'s ''A Loss of Roses'' on Broadway garnered him a 1960 [[Tony Award]] nomination for [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play|Best Featured Actor in a Play]] and a 1960 [[Theatre World Award]]. It was his sole appearance on Broadway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibdb.com/Person/View/31401 |title=Warren Bestty Broadway Credits|website=[[Internet Broadway Database]] |access-date=November 26, 2015}}</ref> Beatty enlisted in the [[California Air National Guard]] in February 1960 but was discharged the following year due to a [[physical disability]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} He remained on [[Individual Ready Reserve|inactive duty]] after that time.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Beatty made his film debut in [[Elia Kazan]]'s ''[[Splendor in the Grass]]'' (1961) opposite [[Natalie Wood]]. The film was a major critical and box office success; Beatty was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Golden Globe Award for Best Actor]] and received the award for [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor|New Star of the Year – Actor]].<ref name="Beatty Golden Globes">{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/Warren-beatty |title=Warren Beatty at the Golden Globes |website=goldenglobes.com |publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=June 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115020417/http://www.goldenglobes.com/Warren-beatty |archive-date=January 15, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was also nominated for two Oscars, winning one.

Author [[Peter Biskind]] points out that Kazan "was the first in a string of major directors Beatty sought out, mentors or father figures from whom he wanted to learn."<ref name="biskind"/> Years later during a [[Kennedy Center]] tribute to Kazan, Beatty told the audience that Kazan "had given him the most important break in his career."<ref name="biskind"/> Biskind adds that they "were wildly dissimilar—mentor vs. protegé, director vs. actor, immigrant outsider vs. native son. Kazan was armed with the confidence born of age and success, while Beatty was virtually aflame with the arrogance of youth."<ref name="biskind"/> Kazan recalls his impressions of Beatty:

{{blockquote|Warren—it was obvious the first time I saw him—wanted it all and wanted it his way. Why not? He had the energy, a very keen intelligence, and more ''chutzpah'' than any Jew I've ever known. Even more than me. Bright as they come, intrepid, and with that thing all women secretly respect: complete confidence in his sexual powers, confidence so great that he never had to advertise himself, even by hints.<ref name=Kazan>Kazan, Elia. ''Kazan on Directing'', Vintage Books (Jan. 2010) p. 603</ref>}}

{{quote box|align=right|width=25em|quote=Mr. Beatty's career has had all the hallmarks of the conventional Hollywood golden boy. Ingratiating good looks, disarming youthfulness, a delight in the social life and no apparently strong feelings about his craft. This image has now been strikingly shattered with his emergence as a vividly individual actor and as a highly imaginative producer in the gangster ballad, ''Bonnie and Clyde''&nbsp;... At 28 [''sic''], the image of Warren Beatty, fun-loving playboy, is dead. Warren Beatty, a man of the cinema, is born. |source=—Gerald Garrett, syndicated movie columnist<ref name=Garrett/>}}

Beatty followed his initial film with [[Tennessee Williams]]' ''[[The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone]]'' (1961), with [[Vivien Leigh]] and [[Lotte Lenya]], directed by [[Jose Quintero]]; ''[[All Fall Down (1962 film)|All Fall Down]]'' (1962), with [[Angela Lansbury]], [[Karl Malden]] and [[Eva Marie Saint]], directed by [[John Frankenheimer]]; ''[[Lilith (film)|Lilith]]'' (1963), with [[Jean Seberg]] and [[Peter Fonda]], directed by [[Robert Rossen]]; ''[[Promise Her Anything]]'' (1964), with [[Leslie Caron]], [[Bob Cummings]] and [[Keenan Wynn]], directed by [[Arthur Hiller]]; ''[[Mickey One]]'' (1965), with [[Alexandra Stewart]] and [[Hurd Hatfield]], directed by [[Arthur Penn]]; and ''[[Kaleidoscope (1966 film)|Kaleidoscope]]'' (1966), with [[Susannah York]] and [[Clive Revill]], directed by [[Jack Smight]]. In 1965, he formed a production company, Tatira, which he named for Kathlyn (whose nickname was "Tat") and Ira.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2010/07/08/beattys-tatira-productions-had-baltimore-roots/ |title=Beatty's 'Tatira Productions' had Baltimore roots |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |access-date=July 8, 2010 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211194917/https://www.baltimoresun.com/2010/07/08/beattys-tatira-productions-had-baltimore-roots/ |archive-date=December 11, 2024}}</ref>

=== 1967–1977: Stardom and acclaim ===
[[File:Warren Beatty Photoplay, 1961.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|Beatty in 1961]]
At age 29, Beatty produced and acted in ''[[Bonnie and Clyde (film)|Bonnie and Clyde]]'', released in 1967. He assembled a team that included the writers [[Robert Benton]] and [[David Newman (filmmaker)|David Newman]], and the director [[Arthur Penn]]. Beatty selected most of the cast, including [[Faye Dunaway]], [[Gene Hackman]], [[Estelle Parsons]], [[Gene Wilder]] and [[Michael J. Pollard]]. Beatty also oversaw the script and spearheaded the delivery of the film. Beatty chose Gene Hackman because he had acted with him in ''Lilith'' in 1964 and felt he was a "great" actor.<ref name=LAT>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinetropic.com/bonnieandclyde/times97.html|title=Blasts From the Past|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 24, 1967|url-status=live|archive-date=December 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223051748/https://www.cinetropic.com/bonnieandclyde/times97.html}}</ref> Upon completion of the film, he credited Hackman with giving the "most authentic performance in the movie, so textured and so moving", recalls Dunaway.<ref name=LAT/> Beatty had been so impressed by Gene Wilder after seeing him in a play, that he cast him without an audition for what became Wilder's screen debut. Beatty already knew Pollard: "Michael J. Pollard was one of my oldest friends", Beatty said. "I'd known him forever; I met him the day I got my first television show. We did a play together on Broadway."<ref name=LAT/>

''Bonnie and Clyde'' became a critical and commercial success, despite the early misgivings by studio head [[Jack L. Warner|Jack Warner]] who put up the production money. Before filming began, Warner said, "What does Warren Beatty think he's doing? How did he ever get us into this thing? This gangster stuff went out with [[James Cagney|Cagney]]."<ref name=LAT/> The film was nominated for ten [[Academy Awards]], including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]], and seven [[Golden Globe Award]]s, including Best Picture and Best Actor.<ref name="Beatty Golden Globes"/> Beatty was originally entitled to 40% of the film's profits but gave 10% to Penn, and his 30% share earned him more than US$6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=August 8, 1968 |page=1 |title=Warren Beatty 'Bonnie' Share May Hit $6,300,000; He Gave Arthur Penn 10%}}</ref> After ''Bonnie and Clyde'', Beatty acted with [[Elizabeth Taylor]] in ''[[The_Only_Game_in_Town_(1970_film)|The Only Game in Town]]'' (1970), directed by George Stevens; ''[[McCabe & Mrs. Miller]]'' (1971), directed by [[Robert Altman]]; and ''[[$ (film)|Dollars]]'' (1971), directed by Richard Brooks.

In 1972, Beatty produced a series of [[benefit concert]]s to help with publicity and fundraising in the [[George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign]]. Beatty first put together [[Four for McGovern]] at [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] in the Los Angeles area, convincing [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Carole King]] and [[James Taylor]] to perform. Streisand brought [[Quincy Jones]] and his Orchestra, and recorded the album ''[[Live Concert at the Forum]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/02/15/warren-beatty-sexes-up-george-mcgovern/ |last=Orth |first=Maureen |author-link=Maureen Orth |date=April 27, 1972 |title=Warren Beatty Sexes Up George McGovern |newspaper=The Village Voice |access-date=August 2, 2020}} Archival article introduced by Tony Ortega on February 15, 2011.</ref> Two weeks later, Beatty mounted another concert at the [[Cleveland Arena]], in which [[Joni Mitchell]] and [[Paul Simon]] joined James Taylor.<ref>{{cite news |title=Candidate's Day: McGovern Fund Gala Is Sold Out |date=April 29, 1972 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/29/archives/mcgovern-fund-concert-in-cleveland-is-sold-out.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420221638/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/29/archives/mcgovern-fund-concert-in-cleveland-is-sold-out.html |archive-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref> In June 1972, Beatty produced [[Together for McGovern]] at [[Madison Square Garden]], reuniting [[Simon and Garfunkel]], [[Nichols and May]], and [[Peter, Paul and Mary]], and featuring [[Dionne Warwick]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/15/archives/rock-n-rhetoric-rally-in-the-garden-aids-mcgovern.html |last=Phillips |first=McCandlish |author-link=McCandlish Phillips |date=June 15, 1972 |title=Rock 'n' Rhetoric Rally in the Garden Aids McGovern |newspaper=The New York Times |url-status=live|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805081147/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/15/archives/rock-n-rhetoric-rally-in-the-garden-aids-mcgovern.html}}</ref> With these productions, campaign manager [[Gary Hart]] said that Beatty had "invented the political concert".<ref name="finstad"/> He had mobilized Hollywood celebrities for a political cause on a scale previously unseen, creating a new power dynamic.<ref name="biskind"/>

Beatty appeared in the films ''[[The Parallax View]]'' (1974), directed by [[Alan Pakula]]; and ''[[The Fortune]]'' (1975), directed by [[Mike Nichols]]. Taking greater control, Beatty produced, co-wrote and acted in ''[[Shampoo (film)|Shampoo]]'' (1975), directed by [[Hal Ashby]], which was nominated for four Academy Awards, including [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]], as well as five Golden Globe Awards, including [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture]] and Best Actor. 

=== 1978–1999: Directorial debut and expansion === 
In 1978, Beatty directed, produced, wrote and acted in ''[[Heaven Can Wait (1978 film)|Heaven Can Wait]]'' (1978) (sharing co-directing credit with [[Buck Henry]]). The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Adapted Screenplay. It also won three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture and Best Actor.

{{quote box|width=25em|quote=A film [''Reds''] of this scope and size demands incredible work from the director, and when you consider that Beatty also served as producer, writer and star, it's hard to believe so much work could come from one man. As a film, it's a marvelous view of America in the 1912–19 era, and Beatty brought some superior performances from a large cast.|source=—Joe Pollack, syndicated columnist<ref>''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', March 28, 1982, p. 121</ref>}}

Beatty's next film was ''[[Reds (film)|Reds]]'' (1981), a historical epic about American Communist journalist [[John Reed (journalist)|John Reed]] who observed the Russian [[October Revolution]] – a project Beatty had begun researching and filming for as far back as 1970. It was a critical and commercial success, despite being an American film about an American Communist, made and released at the height of the Cold War. It received 12 Academy Award nominations – including four for Beatty (for Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Original Screenplay), winning three. Beatty won for Best Director, [[Maureen Stapleton]] won for Best Supporting Actress (playing anarchist [[Emma Goldman]]), and [[Vittorio Storaro]] won for Best Cinematography.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1982|title=The 54th Academy Awards (1982) Nominees and Winners|website=Oscars.org|access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> The film received seven Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay. Beatty won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director]].

Following ''Reds'', Beatty did not appear in a film for five years until 1987's ''[[Ishtar (film)|Ishtar]]'', written and directed by [[Elaine May]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2010/02/ishtar-excerpt-201002|title=Madness in Morocco: The Road to Ishtar|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|first=Peter|last=Biskind|date=January 7, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801134910/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2010/02/ishtar-excerpt-201002|archive-date=August 1, 2024}}</ref> Following severe criticism in press reviews by the new British studio chief [[David Puttnam]] just prior to its release, the film received mixed reviews and was unimpressive commercially.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ishtar.htm|title=Ishtar (1987) – Box Office Mojo|website=Boxofficemojo.com|access-date=February 3, 2018}}</ref> Puttnam attacked several other over-budget American films greenlighted by his predecessor and was fired shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20097589,00.html|title=He Rode into Hollywood on a Chariot of Fire, but David Puttnam's Job at Columbia Went Up in Smoke|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|first=Margot|last=Dougherty|date=November 16, 1987|access-date=December 10, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090931/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20097589,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Warren Beatty cropped.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|Beatty at the [[62nd Academy Awards]] (1990)]]

Under his second production company, Mulholland Productions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buzzfile.com/business/Mulholland-Productions-Inc-310-873-3400|title=Mulholland Productions Inc|website=Buzzfile}}</ref> Beatty produced, directed and played the title role of [[comic strip]]-based detective [[Dick Tracy]] in the 1990 [[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|film of the same name]]. The film received positive reviews and was one of the highest-grossing films of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1990&p=.htm|title=1990 Yearly Box Office Results – Box Office Mojo|website=Boxofficemojo.com|access-date=February 3, 2018}}</ref> It received seven [[Academy Award]] nominations, winning three for [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]], [[Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling|Best Makeup]], and [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991|title=The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners|website=Oscars.org|access-date=August 1, 2011}}</ref> It also received four [[Golden Globe Award]] nominations, including Best Motion Picture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/23953 |title=Dick Tracy at the Golden Globes |website=goldenglobes.org|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=April 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011222307/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/film/23953 |archive-date=October 11, 2008 }}</ref>

In 1991, he produced and starred as the real-life gangster [[Bugsy Siegel]] in the critically acclaimed and commercially successful film ''[[Bugsy]]'', directed by [[Barry Levinson]], which was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor; it later won two of the awards for Best Art Direction and [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/20/movies/bugsy-a-big-winner-in-oscar-nominations-rife-with-surprise.html |title=Bugsy a Big Winner In Oscar Nominations Rife With Surprise|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Bernard|last=Weinraub|date=February 20, 1992|access-date=November 12, 2010|location=Beverly Hills, California|url-status=live|archive-date=February 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221000918/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/20/movies/bugsy-a-big-winner-in-oscar-nominations-rife-with-surprise.html|url-access=registration}}</ref> The film also received eight Golden Globe Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture and Best Actor, winning for Best Motion Picture. Beatty's next film, ''[[Love Affair (1994 film)|Love Affair]]'' (1994), directed by [[Glenn Gordon Caron]], received mixed reviews and was a commercial failure.

In 1998, he wrote, produced, directed and starred in the [[political satire]] ''[[Bulworth]]'', which was critically acclaimed and nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/37721/beatty-defending-bulworth|title=Beatty Defending "Bulworth"|website=[[E!|E! Online]]|first=Danielle|last=Frankel|date=February 12, 1999}}</ref> The film also received three Golden Globe Award nominations, for Best Motion Picture, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/12/18/golden-globe-categories/|title=Golden Globe Categories|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=December 18, 1998|access-date=December 10, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222130416/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1998-12-18/news/9812180609_1_truman-show-saving-private-ryan-shakespeare-in-love|url-status=live}}</ref> Beatty has appeared briefly in numerous documentaries, including ''[[Madonna: Truth or Dare]]'' (1991) and ''[[One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern]]'' (2005).

=== 2000–present ===
Following the poor box office performance of ''[[Town & Country (film)|Town & Country]]'' (2001), in which Beatty starred, he did not appear in or direct another film for 15 years. In May 2005, Beatty sued [[Tribune Media]], claiming he still maintained the rights to ''Dick Tracy''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-05-17-beatty-sues_x.htm|title=Warren Beatty sues Tribune over Dick Tracy|work=[[USA Today]]|date=May 17, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227163444/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-05-17-beatty-sues_x.htm|agency=Associated Press|location=Los Angeles}}</ref> On March 25, 2011, U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson ruled in Beatty's favor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warren-beatty-wins-dick-tracy-171587/|title=Warren Beatty Wins Dick Tracy Lawsuit|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 25, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111230614/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warren-beatty-wins-dick-tracy-171587/|archive-date=November 11, 2024}}</ref>

{{quote box|align=right|title=''Rules Don't Apply'' (2016)|width=25em|quote=Who else is better equipped to understand the symbiosis between show business and politics and to assert that when a certain degree of wealth and power have been achieved, the ordinary rules of human behavior can be flouted?... Fools and idiots abound, but demonic, systemic evil does not. Mr. Beatty obviously loves Hollywood, which has been good to him.|source=—[[Stephen Holden]], ''The New York Times''<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=November 22, 2016 |title=Review: 'Rules Don't Apply' Features Warren Beatty as Howard Hughes |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/movies/rules-dont-apply-review-warren-beatty.html |issn=0362-4331 |url-status=live|archive-date=May 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519135103/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/movies/rules-dont-apply-review-warren-beatty.html |url-access=registration}}</ref>}}

In 2010, Beatty directed and reprised his role as [[Dick Tracy]] in the 30-minute television special ''Dick Tracy Special'', which premiered on [[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]]. The [[metafiction]]al special features an interview with Tracy and film critic and historian [[Leonard Maltin]], the latter of whom discusses the history and creation of Tracy. Tracy talks about how he admired [[Ralph Byrd]] and [[Morgan Conway]] who portrayed him in several films, but says he didn't care much for Beatty's portrayal of him or [[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|his film]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/488308|title=Dick Tracy Special|website=Turner Classic Movies|publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|first=John M.|last=Miller|access-date=November 26, 2015}}</ref> The production of the special allowed Beatty to retain the rights to the character.<ref name=vanityspecial>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/02/warren-beattys-dick-tracy-battles-his-toughest-foe-copyright-lawyers|title=Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy Battles His Toughest Foe: Copyright Lawyers|magazine=Vanity Fair|last=Hoffman|first=Jordan|date=February 11, 2023|access-date=February 11, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327034355/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/02/warren-beattys-dick-tracy-battles-his-toughest-foe-copyright-lawyers|archive-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref> At CinemaCon In April 2016, Beatty reiterated that he intends to make a ''Dick Tracy'' sequel.<ref name="Variety20160413">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/warren-beatty-dick-tracy-howard-hughes-movie-1201752997/|title=Warren Beatty Eyeing 'Dick Tracy' Sequel, Howard Hughes Movie Gets Release Date|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=James|last=Rainey|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=April 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823174125/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/warren-beatty-dick-tracy-howard-hughes-movie-1201752997/|archive-date=August 23, 2024}}</ref> In 2023, Beatty reprised the role of Tracy and played the character opposite himself in ''Dick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms In'', a follow-up to the ''Dick Tracy Special'' that also aired on TCM. The 30-minute special, which mostly consists of a [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] interview with [[Ben Mankiewicz]] and a returning Maltin in which Tracy criticizes aspects of the 1990 film adaptation to Beatty's face and suggests that a younger actor should take over the role of Tracy, concludes with Beatty and Tracy meeting in person and suggesting that Dick Tracy will return in the future.<ref name=vanityspecial/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/new-dick-tracy-movie-once-again-teased-by-warren-beatty-in-bizarre-fashion/|title=New Dick Tracy Movie Once Again Teased by Warren Beatty in Bizarre Fashion|website=Den of Geek|last=Cecchini|first=Mike|date=February 11, 2023|access-date=February 11, 2023}}</ref>

In the mid-1970s, Beatty signed a contract with [[Warner Bros.]] to star in, produce, write, and possibly direct a film about [[Howard Hughes]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.younghollywood.com/scene/warren-beatty-s-howard-hughes-biopic-40-years-in-the-making.html|title=Warren Beatty's Howard Hughes Biopic: 40 Years in the Making|website=[[Young Hollywood]]|first=Greg|last=McIver|access-date=March 11, 2015}}</ref> The project was put on hold when Beatty began ''[[Heaven Can Wait (1978 film)|Heaven Can Wait]]''. Initially, Beatty planned to film the life story of [[John Reed (journalist)|John Reed]] and Hughes back-to-back, but as he was getting deeper into the project, he eventually focused primarily on the Reed film ''[[Reds (film)|Reds]]''. In June 2011, it was reported that Beatty would produce, write, direct and star in a film about Hughes, focusing on an affair he had with a younger woman in the final years of his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/warren-beatty-returning-filmmaking-paramount-203419/|title=Warren Beatty Returning to Filmmaking With Paramount Project|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Gregg|last=Kilday|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=February 26, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914140149/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/warren-beatty-returning-filmmaking-paramount-203419/|archive-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref> During this period, Beatty interviewed actors to star in his ensemble cast. He met with [[Andrew Garfield]], [[Alec Baldwin]], [[Owen Wilson]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Shia LaBeouf]], [[Jack Nicholson]], [[Evan Rachel Wood]], [[Rooney Mara]], and [[Felicity Jones]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2011/06/warren-beatty-playing-howard-hughes-great-cast-circling-142269/|title=Warren Beatty Playing Howard Hughes, Great Cast Circling|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=June 22, 2011|access-date=February 26, 2014}}</ref> The film would eventually be released under the title ''[[Rules Don't Apply]]'', a fictionalized true-life romantic comedy set in 1958 Hollywood and Las Vegas.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/S2N4CCMmy4s Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160714135407/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2N4CCMmy4s&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2N4CCMmy4s|title=Rules Don't Apply Official Trailer 1 (2016) – Lily Collins Movie|last=Movieclips Trailers|date=July 14, 2016|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Beatty wrote, co-produced, directed and starred alongside [[Alden Ehrenreich]] and [[Lily Collins]], with supporting cast including Baldwin, [[Annette Bening]], [[Matthew Broderick]], [[Candice Bergen]], [[Ed Harris]] and [[Martin Sheen]]. Some have said that Beatty's film was 40 years in the making.<ref name="Cieply">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/movies/if-warren-beatty-is-directing-shooting-can-wait-for-years.html|title=If Warren Beatty Is Directing, Shooting Can Wait. For Years.|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Michael|last=Cieply|date=March 6, 2015|access-date=May 2, 2015|location=Los Angeles, California|url-status=live|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926101310/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/movies/if-warren-beatty-is-directing-shooting-can-wait-for-years.html|url-access=registration}}</ref> It was released on November 23, 2016, and was Beatty's first film in 15 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/07/warren-beatty-rules-dont-apply-first-look-trailer-1201786405/|title='Rules Don't Apply' Trailer: First Look At Warren Beatty's Star-Studded Film|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anita|last=Busch|date=July 14, 2016|access-date=July 14, 2016}}</ref>{{efn|It began [[principal photography]] in February 2014 and wrapped in June of the same year.<ref name="Cieply"/>}} Rotten Tomatoes' "Top Critics" gave the film a 55% "Rotten" rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rules_dont_apply|title=Rules Don't Apply|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=February 3, 2018}}</ref> The film was also a commercial disappointment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=rulesdontapply.htm|title=Rules Don't Apply (2016)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 31, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, Beatty reunited with his ''Bonnie and Clyde'' co-star [[Faye Dunaway]] at the [[89th Academy Awards]], in celebration of the film's 50th anniversary. After being introduced by [[Jimmy Kimmel]], they walked out onto the stage to present the [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture Award]]. They had been given the wrong envelope, leading Dunaway to incorrectly announce ''[[La La Land (film)|La La Land]]'' as Best Picture, instead of the actual winner, ''[[Moonlight (2016 film)|Moonlight]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Jim |title=MOONLIGHT Wins Best Picture After 2017 Oscars Envelope Mishap |work=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |date=February 26, 2017 |url=http://oscar.go.com/news/winners/after-oscars-2017-mishap-moonlight-wins-best-picture |access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Konerman |first=Jennifer |title=Oscars Shocker: Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway Read Wrong Best Picture Winner |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 26, 2017 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/warren-beatty-faye-dunaway-stage-bonnie-clyde-reunion-oscars-2017-980193/ |access-date=February 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916001114/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/warren-beatty-faye-dunaway-stage-bonnie-clyde-reunion-oscars-2017-980193/ |archive-date=September 16, 2024}}</ref> This became a social media sensation, trending all over the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/oscars-best-picture-snafu-social-facebook-twitter-1201997787/|title=Oscars: Best-Picture Snafu Was Top Social-Media Moment of Night (Of Course)|last=Spangler|first=Todd|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 27, 2017|access-date=July 23, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909143206/https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/oscars-best-picture-snafu-social-facebook-twitter-1201997787/|archive-date=September 9, 2024}}</ref> In 2018, Beatty and Dunaway returned to present Best Picture at the [[90th Academy Awards]], earning a standing ovation upon their entrance, making jokes about the previous year's flub. Without incident, Beatty announced ''[[The Shape of Water]]'' as the winner.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKenzie |first=Joi-Marie |title=Oscars 2018: Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty present best picture winner one year after snafu|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/oscars-2018-faye-dunaway-warren-beatty-present-best/story?id=53504578 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=March 5, 2018 |access-date=March 5, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201210821/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/oscars-2018-faye-dunaway-warren-beatty-present-best/story?id=53504578 |archive-date=December 1, 2024}}</ref>