Michael Douglas says he has no real intentions of acting again as he reflects on nearly 60 years in Hollywood and why he chose to step away.
Michael Douglas is hitting pause on his legendary Hollywood career—and he’s perfectly content with the decision.
The Wall Street and Basic Instinct star opened up during a press conference at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where he shared candid reflections about his life, health, and long-standing career in front of the camera. The 80-year-old actor admitted that while he hasn’t formally retired, he’s taken a conscious step back from acting—and he’s in no rush to return.
“I’ve purposely not worked for the last few years,” Douglas said. “I realized I had to stop. I’d been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set.”
Douglas clarified he hasn’t completely shut the door on future projects but doesn’t have any current plans to re-enter the spotlight. “I’m not retired, because if something special came up, I’d go back. But otherwise, I’m quite happy,” he said. “I just like to watch my wife work.”
Douglas has been married to Catherine Zeta-Jones since 2000, and the couple remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring partnerships.
The Oscar-winning actor hasn’t appeared in a film since 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, where he reprised his role as Marvel’s Hank Pym—a character he first brought to life in 2015. He’s notably not listed among the cast for Avengers: Doomsday, signaling a potential end to his superhero stint.
His most recent project was Franklin, an Apple TV+ miniseries in which he portrayed Benjamin Franklin. Douglas is also slated to appear opposite his son, Cameron Douglas, in the upcoming movie Looking Through Water, though a release date has yet to be announced.
At the film festival, Douglas was honored with a surprise Karlovy Vary Award, and a special screening of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was held in recognition of the film’s 50th anniversary—a project he produced.
Asked about his resilience through health challenges, including a battle with tongue cancer, Douglas didn’t sugarcoat his experience. “Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday,” he said. “But I didn’t have many choices. I was lucky I could keep working.”
His remarks come as other stars, like Lost and Ant-Man co-star Evangeline Lilly, also take breaks from Hollywood. Lilly revealed in 2024 that she’s on an “indefinite hiatus,” though she may return in the future.
For now, Douglas appears focused on enjoying life out of the spotlight, supporting his family, and reflecting on a career that’s spanned decades—with no regrets.
