Michael Douglas ‘Panicking’ That Catherine Zeta-Jones Is ‘Building a Life Without Him’ (Exclusive)

After nearly 25 years of marriage, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas are leading separate lives, a source tells the National Enquirer.

Douglas, 80, recently announced that he’s stepping back from acting, but his wife “has no intention of slowing down,” says the source. “Now he’s panicking that she’s building a brand-new life that has no place for him in it.”

The Wednesday actress, 55, is “looking to re-invent her career and is packing her calendar with work” now that their children Dylan, 25, and Carys, 22, are out of the house, says the source, noting that she’s got two new projects coming up.

“And she’s looking for more,” adds the source. “She’s out schmoozing and mingling with people in Hollywood, while Michael is effectively sitting home alone like an old man.”

When the Wall Street star “said he was going to scale back on work, he didn’t expect Catherine to drop everything and sit by his side, but he did think there would be more date nights,” says the source. “So it’s difficult for him because she’s coming home excited and giddy over her career while he’s relegated to the easy chair.”

Zeta-Jones, who recently caught flak for joking about a “cute” 12-year-old who asked for her autograph during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, has become “frustrated” by their age difference, an insider previously told the Enquirer.

“She has become more of a caretaker to him than a wife,” the insider said. “Catherine wants to travel the world and play golf, do more movies and work with interesting people, and Michael can’t keep up with her.”