London, May 18 : Actor Michael Douglas, who admits that he had doubts about actor Shia LaBeouf being able to carry off his role in the new Wall Street movie, has lavished praise on the Transformers star.

Douglas, 65, who won an Oscar for his role as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film, did not think LaBeouf, 23, “had the chops” to carry the role as well as his former co-star Charlie Sheen.

“Shia, honestly, we were all not sure about whether he had the chops,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

“As you remember from the first, Charlie Sheen carried the movie, Gordon Gekko had very colourful parts but it was not every scene,” he recalled.

But after watching LaBeouf acting the part, Douglas figured the young actor has nailed it.

“He knocked it out of the park. I’m so proud of him, he just kicked butt,” he added. (ANI)