Veteran actor Michael Douglas, known for his role as the shrinking scientist Hank Pym in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has indicated that he is likely finished with the franchise. Douglas has featured in four major films, including all three Ant-Man movies, with his latest appearance in the 2023 release, "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," which received mixed reviews, and "Avengers: Endgame." However, as production for "Avengers: Doomsday" commences, Douglas has expressed doubts about reprising his role.
"I don't think so," Douglas shared with Deadline when questioned about his return to any future Marvel projects. "I had the experience, and I was excited to do it." His recent appearances have been limited to Marvel films, as he has largely stepped back from acting to focus on his role as a producer, where he holds over a dozen credits.Reflecting on his time with Marvel, Douglas mentioned, "I'd never done a green screen picture before. But I'm enjoying my hiatus and enjoying my life. It was overwhelming running the production company and acting at the same time." He had previously expressed a desire for Hank Pym's character to be killed off in "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" to heighten the stakes for Paul Rudd's Ant-Man, but Marvel opted against this.
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The underwhelming box office performance of "Quantumania" has cast doubts on the future of the Ant-Man series. However, Paul Rudd is set to return in "Avengers: Doomsday." As for other members of the Ant-Man family, including Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer's Janet Van Dyne, and Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne, their participation seems unlikely. In June 2024, Lilly announced her decision to step away from acting to prioritize her family, further diminishing the chances of her character, Wasp, appearing in the upcoming Avengers film.
With "Avengers: Doomsday" now in production, speculation about its content continues. Earlier this week, leaked footage from the set hinted at the return of a surprising location from "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," sparking further interest and anticipation among Marvel fans.
