Michael Douglas steps back from Hollywood with no plans to return
Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival on July 5, 2025, Douglas shared the news while presenting a restored version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the 1975 classic he produced.
Douglas, 80, clarified that while he's not officially retired, he has purposefully taken a break from acting since 2022. 'I had 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,' he said. 'I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.'
His last on-screen appearances were in 2023's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the 2024 Apple TV+ series Franklin, both filmed in 2021. While he hinted at one small independent film project in development, Douglas emphasized that he is content focusing on his personal life, supporting his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, in her busy career.
The actor also spoke candidly about his past battle with stage 4 tongue cancer. Douglas credited his decision to undergo chemotherapy and radiation, rather than surgery, with preserving his ability to speak — a critical asset for his profession.
With a career spanning six decades, Michael Douglas remains a legendary figure in Hollywood. His decision to step back from acting marks the end of an era, though he leaves the door slightly open for the right role.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Michael Douglas steps back from Hollywood with no plans to return
Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas has revealed he's stepped away from acting, saying he has 'no real intentions' of returning to the screen. Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival on July 5, 2025, Douglas shared the news while presenting a restored version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the 1975 classic he produced. Douglas, 80, clarified that while he's not officially retired, he has purposefully taken a break from acting since 2022. 'I had 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,' he said. 'I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.' His last on-screen appearances were in 2023's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the 2024 Apple TV+ series Franklin, both filmed in 2021. While he hinted at one small independent film project in development, Douglas emphasized that he is content focusing on his personal life, supporting his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, in her busy career. The actor also spoke candidly about his past battle with stage 4 tongue cancer. Douglas credited his decision to undergo chemotherapy and radiation, rather than surgery, with preserving his ability to speak — a critical asset for his profession. With a career spanning six decades, Michael Douglas remains a legendary figure in Hollywood. His decision to step back from acting marks the end of an era, though he leaves the door slightly open for the right role.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Scrapped 'Blade' helped dress 'Sinners'
Marvel Studios' long-delayed Blade reboot, once set to star Mahershala Ali, has officially been removed from Disney's 2025 release schedule. But while the troubled project remains in limbo, one piece of the film has quietly made its way to theatres — its costumes. Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E Carter, best known for her work on Black Panther, had already prepared a full wardrobe of period clothing for Blade before the production was scrapped. Much of that work ended up being repurposed for Ryan Coogler's latest film, Sinners. In an interview with ScreenCrush (via Variety), Sinners producer Sev Ohanian explained that Carter's extensive costume collection, originally intended for Blade, was purchased for use on Sinners after Marvel agreed to part with it at a reduced price. "Ruth Carter was working on the Blade movie that ended up not shooting," Ohanian said. "At one point, that movie was going to deal with, and she's talked about this before, but at one point, that film was going to deal with the past around the same era as Sinners. She happened to have a warehouse full of period-appropriate clothes, and it was like, 'Yo, we got to shoot this movie like tomorrow.' And Marvel was generous enough and kind enough to let us basically purchase it at price." While many background actors in Sinners wore costumes originally designed for Blade, Carter created new, original looks for the film's lead characters. Though Blade's future remains unclear, Coogler is expected to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe soon with Black Panther 3. Denzel Washington recently confirmed he will appear in the sequel, a collaboration Coogler has been eager to realise. "There's no fiction out there," Coogler said during an appearance on Carmelo Anthony's 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. "Denzel is family at this point ... I've been trying to work with him since day one. I think he's the greatest living actor, and in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I've been talking to him about this to him for a long time."
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Tiny Chef still out of the kitchen: Beloved puppet show not yet saved despite fan buzz
The Tiny Chef Show may be sunbathing in a swimsuit, but he's not back on television just yet. On July 4, the official Instagram account for the Emmy-winning puppet series addressed growing speculation that the show had been quietly renewed following its recent cancellation. 'Just to clarify!! Chef is still unemployed!!!' read the caption alongside a photo of Tiny Chef in sunglasses and a striped swimsuit. The team clarified that while Chef's online presence is still active thanks to fan support, the television show remains cancelled for now. This update comes after a wave of renewed interest in The Tiny Chef Show, following a heartfelt viral video where Chef receives the cancellation news via phone call and tearfully processes the disappointment. 'But we won an Emmy?' he pleads in the clip - a line that struck a chord with many viewers. Fans have flooded Chef's social media with supportive comments, applauding both the show's emotional honesty and its quirky humour. Some were relieved to see Chef 'on vacation,' noting his recent pizza-fuelled slump. 'I was concerned since he was eating tons of pizza,' one fan wrote. The show, which aired for two seasons on Nickelodeon and featured celebrity guests like Kristen Bell and Tony Hawk, has become a cult favourite among both children and adults. While Chef remains optimistic and open to 'movie extra and commercial work,' his team emphasized they're taking 'one step at a time' behind the scenes in hopes of bringing the beloved character back to the screen. For now, Tiny Chef continues to charm his 5.1 million Instagram followers.
