Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones Split: Where Does His Career Go From Here?

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have split after almost 14 years together, though hinted that it could only be a temporary measure.

Michael Douglas [L] and Matt Damon [R] In 'Behind the Candalabra'

"Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage," a rep for the actress said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.

The power couple had been considered - in the media at least - one of the tightest kit couples in Hollywood, though it appears various personal and medical issues in recent years has taken its toll. Oscar winner Douglas battled with throat cancer, while Zeta-Jones has been receiving treatment for bipolar II disorder.

Earlier this year, Douglas told the Guardian that his cancer was caused by the human papilloma virus, which is said to be transmitted via oral sex - something that reportedly upset his wife.

However, despite the problems, Douglas has enjoyed somewhat of a career resurgence and scored rave reviews for his performance as Liberace in Steven Soderbergh's Behind the Candelabra. It's not unthinkable that the actor would have at least scored an Oscar nomination had the HBO film been eligible for the Oscars in 2014.

Though the split isn't ideal, it may provide Douglas with more focus for his upcoming projects, the first of which is Jon Turteltaub's Last Vegas.

The comedy follows three sixty-something friends taking a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal. Yep, it's The Hangover with old people. There's no getting away from it. However, it stars an all-star cast including Douglas, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline and Morgan Freeman and could end up being at least watchable. We hope.

Michael Douglas Would Almost Certainly Have Scored An Oscar Nomination for 'Liberace'

Last Vegas is already in the can, so whatever Douglas pulled out for that movie, there's little he can do now. But maybe he'll be looking to pull out all the stops for Rob Reiner's comedy-drama And So It Goes, about a self-centered realtor who enlists the help of his neighbour when he's suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he didn't know existed.

Douglas stars opposite the always-excellent Diane Keaton and with a script from As Good As It Gets Mark Andrus, this could turn out to be pretty good.

Now, onto the projects in pre-production: the first being shadowy thriller The Reach, by Jean-Baptiste Léonetti. Based on Robb White's novel 'Deathwatch,' Douglas plays an arrogant businessman and big game hunter who hires a young guide and goes in search of the ultimate prize in the American desert. After shooting and killing an innocent man, a game of cat-and-mouse unfolds when the guide refuses to take part in a cover-up.

Little more is known in terms of casting, though Douglas clearly believes in the project, bringing himself on-board as producer.

Michael Douglas [L] With Three Other Oscar Winners in 'Last Vegas'

The actor's final movie in the pipeline is clearly the most exciting of the lot, and could be the most anticipated Michael Douglas film for many, many years. Donnie Brasco director Mike Newell is getting behind the camera for Reykjavik, a dramatization of the 1986 Reykjavik summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Oscar winner Christoph Waltz will play the former Soviet leader, while Douglas takes on the role of the former US president. Though the meeting ended in gridlock, it eventually inspired the 1987 treaty that eliminated nuclear and conventional ground-launching ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate ranges from US and Soviet arsenals.

"I feel very fortunate to have two such masters to portray the men who brought about the end of the third great war of the 20th century," Newell told Variety at the time of casting Waltz and Douglas.

Ridley Scott, who will produce the film through his Scott Free production company, said: "The film will offer the viewer a unique look into two larger-than-life figures who served as the catalysts for one of the most defining moments in our history, the end of the cold war."

Watch the trailer for Last Vegas: