Life catches up to Michael Douglas

The actor, undergoing treatment for throat cancer, is doing some of his most acclaimed work.

September 19, 2010|Rebecca Ascher-Walsh, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Stone says it is precisely Douglas' darker side that made him eager to recast him as Gekko. "He's a much more interesting character now," the director says. "In the original 'Wall Street,' Michael brought surprise because no one saw him as an actor of that weight at the time. But now, Michael has lived life. He's always had a side of him that's dark, but back then he had a more golden life in a lot of ways. Now, the rubber has met the road. Life catches up with everyone, and Michael has the gift of being able to project that."

For the moment, Douglas says he is walking the line between focusing on spending time with friends and family during his treatment and looking forward to his next projects. "We're going to do Liberace," he says of the long-planned biopic, "and people say, 'Why are you going to do that?' And I say, 'I have no idea.' It's the risk factor and knowing there's a solid story there," he says confidently. "But what I really always like and am drawn to," he adds with a smile, "is the unpredictable."

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