Michael Douglas breaks silence on his hiatus from acting

Michael Douglas is content with his time away from the screen.

The two-time Oscar winner, 80, has been on a break from acting since his appearance as Benjamin Franklin in the 2024 Apple TV+ mini-series Franklin in order to focus on producing and his personal life.

“I’m enjoying my hiatus and enjoying my life,” Douglas told Deadline of his time away from the screen.

“It was overwhelming running the production company and acting at the same time,” added Douglas, who now runs an independent production company, Further Films, founded in 1997.

Douglas, who has since produced films like Don't Say a Word, One Night at McCool’s, and Swimfan among others, also has conditions for returning to acting.

“If something good comes up that I really like. But I don’t feel a burning desire,” he admitted. “I’m still producing. I still love bringing people together.”

He also doesn't seem interested in reprising his earlier roles despite blockbusters like Marvel's Ant-Man films.

“I don’t think so. I had the experience, and I was excited to do it,” he shared. “I’d never done a green screen picture before.”

He also acted alongside his son Cameron Douglas, 46, in the not-yet-released project Blood Knot. But Michael couldn’t offer up any details on when audiences would get to see it, simply noting, “I believe it’s looking for distribution.”