1 of 3 | Academy Award Winning actor Michael Douglas stands on the floor of the NYSE before he joins Marvel Entertainment executives to ring the Closing Bell to promote the upcoming release of Marvel's Ant-Man at the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York City on July 13, 2015. Douglas jokes that he is jealous of his 'Ant Man' co-star Paul Rudd because his lines are shorter and pack more humor. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- Michael Douglas sat down with Late Night not long after the death of his mother, Diana Douglas Webster, to discuss the difference between his role as mentor and co-star Paul Rudd's as hero in Marvel's latest release, Ant-Man.
The superhero film is Douglas' first-ever during his 45-year film career. He told host Seth Meyers on Monday night's episode his role was written to bring the plot forward with longer dialogue while Rudd's character's lines were short, sweet and provided comic relief.
"I say [I'm jealous] humorously because I adore him, and Paul was involved with co-writing of the script," Douglas explained. "I found myself getting a more and more plot dialogue, more and more explaining things...while I'm learning these lines for 5-minute speeches and Paul would end the scene for a ba-da-pah!"
About working on a special-effect-heavy film, Douglas said "it's so cool."
"To be part of the Marvel family is pretty amazing...How often do you get a chance to talk to an ant on your shoulder?"
Douglas' mother died earlier this month of cancer at the age of 92. He told Variety this week his mother taught him most about "giving it your best shot and maintaining a good form."
He tells the outlet that he is "still digesting" the death of his parent, but that he will never forget that she was "a class act. A real lady."
"She had a wicked sense of humor, very bright," he said.
