Clint Eastwood directing his next film

As Clint Eastwood nears his 95th birthday this weekend, the Hollywood icon encouraged filmmakers to generate fresh ideas, noting in an interview that the film industry is now dominated by remakes and franchises.

The Oscar-winning director shared with the Austrian newspaper Kurier his intention to continue working, expressing that he remains in good physical health and hopes no one will have to be concerned about him in that aspect "for a long time yet."

"We're in an era of remakes and franchises. I've made sequels three times, but my interest in that has waned. My philosophy is: create something new or stay home," Eastwood stated, as he prepares to celebrate his 95th birthday on Saturday.

When asked about the source of his energy, Eastwood replied:

"There's no reason a man can't improve with age. I have far more experience now. Certainly, some directors lose their edge at a certain age, but I'm not among them."

Eastwood, who filmed the World War II thriller "Where Eagles Dare" in Austria with Welsh actor Richard Burton in the late 1960s, revealed that his success stems from consistently trying new things as both a director and an actor.

"As an actor, I was still under contract with a studio, part of the old system, which pushed me to learn something new each year," he explained. "And that's why I'll continue to work as long as I can still learn, or until I'm truly senile."