Michael Douglas spoke out against the risks of autocracy in the U.S. and touted the benefits of democracy during a press conference at the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic on Saturday.
The star came to the picturesque Czech spa town to present a screening of a newly restored version of Czech-American directing legend Miloš Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, on which Douglas was a producer and which starred Jack Nicholson. “The 1975 classic, which swept the Oscars and earned dozens of international awards, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year,” the festival highlighted. As one of the producers, Douglas also received the Academy Award for best picture for the movie.
Douglas met the press after earlier in the day receiving a surprise award statuette from the festival. He called Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest “timeless.” That led a journalist to mention that the movie is seen as one about rebellion, asking Douglas about the current state of politics in the U.S.
“I think our president’s name has been mentioned enough over the short time that he’s been president,” the star replied, highlighting “how precious democracy is, how vulnerable it is, and how it always has to be protected.”
His take on today’s state of U.S. politics? “Our country is flirting with autocracy, [like] some other democracies in this world,” Douglas said. “And I hope that … what we’re struggling with right now is a reminder for all of the hard work that the Czech did in terms of gaining their freedom and their independence and … [that] always, democracy is not to be taken for granted. I think it reminds us that we all need to make our efforts. It’s not the job of somebody else.”
Douglas also discussed the role of money in politics. “The disappointing thing is that politics now seems to be for profit. Money has entered democracy, not just in our country, but in others, as a way of a profit center. People are going into politics now to make money, and we maintain an idealism in the U.S. which does not exist now.”
Douglas concluded, “I find myself worried, I’m nervous, and I just think it’s all of our responsibility, not for somebody else to look out for us, but for us to look out for ourselves.”
The star was also asked on Saturday whether he was working on new projects or considered himself retired. “I have not worked since 2022, purposely, because I realized I had to stop,” Douglas shared with the reporters in the room. “I’ve been working … for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on set. So I’m very happy with you taking your time off. I have no real intention of going back. I say I’m not retired, because [if] something special came up, I’d go back. But otherwise, I’m quite happy to watch my wife work. Douglas is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones.
“Catherine is 25 years younger than I am. She’s very busy right now,” he also shared later. “And I think in the spirit of maintaining a good marriage, I’m happy to play the wife.” At one point, he also mentioned one possible project that had piqued his interest. “I had one little independent movie that I’m trying to get a good script out of, but that’s about it,” Douglas said without sharing more details.
Douglas also shared some stories from Cuckoo’s Nest, including ones about Nicholson. “Jack did not want to come to the Oscars. He had already lost twice,” he said. The film team didn’t win the first four possible Oscar award categories, and so the star turned around and told Douglas, “Told you so!” But then the screenplay and director Oscars came in and turned things around, Douglas recalled, also sharing that Nicholson used to call him “Mikey D.”
Douglas shared that he is still in touch with Nicholson. “He’s in good health,” he shared. “He’s a bit of a hermit. … He is doing well.”
Cuckoo’s Nest made Oscar history as only the second movie to win all five major Academy Award categories: best picture (Douglas and Zaentz), best director (Forman), best actor (Jack Nicholson), best actress (Louise Fletcher), and best adapted screenplay (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman).
The new version, restored by the Academy Film Archive, screened as part of KVIFF’s “Out of the Past” section in a special gala. The legend was joined there by fellow producer Paul Zaentz, nephew of the late Saul Zaentz, who co-produced the film, as well as members of Forman’s family.
Adapted from Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest centers on Randle McMurphy, a rebellious gambler whose defiance of authority challenges the rigid system of a mental institution.
Douglas last attended KVIFF in 1998, when he and Saul Zaentz were honored with the festival’s Crystal Globe. Douglas is one of several big names attending the 2025 edition of the Karlovy Vary fest, which has long been a magnet for Hollywood stars.
