In the mid-1980s, as he came closer to retirement age, Ferzetti's career in film began to decline, mainly appearing in low-budget TV movies and mini series, including an uncredited role in "The Scarlet and the Black" (1983) under Jerry London, and the mini-series "Quo Vadis?" (1985), "La voglia di vincere" (1987), and "Around the World in 80 Days" (1989). His only other films of the period were "Julia and Julia" (1987), directed by Peter Del Monte, in which he starred alongside Kathleen Turner, Gabriel Byrne, and Sting, and "Computron 22", directed by Giuliano Carnimeo (1988).