Veteran actor Michael Douglas, known for his role as the shrinking scientist Hank Pym in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has hinted that his days in the superhero franchise might be over. Douglas has graced the big screen in all three Ant-Man films, including the latest, 2023's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," which faced a lukewarm reception, as well as in "Avengers: Endgame."
As production kicks off for "Avengers: Doomsday," fans are left wondering if they'll see Hank Pym one final time. However, Douglas himself has poured cold water on those hopes, telling Deadline, "I don't think so," when asked about returning for another Marvel project. He reflected on his experience, saying, "I had the experience, and I was excited to do it."
Douglas, who has largely retired from acting, has focused his recent efforts on producing, amassing over a dozen credits in this field. He shared his initial foray into the world of green screen filmmaking with Marvel, stating, "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."
Previously, Douglas expressed a desire for Hank Pym to meet his end in "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," believing it would add higher stakes to Paul Rudd's portrayal of Ant-Man. However, Marvel chose a different path for the character.
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The box office performance of "Quantumania" has cast doubts over the future of the Ant-Man series. Despite this, Paul Rudd is set to reprise his role in "Avengers: Doomsday." As for the rest of the Ant-Man family, including Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer's Janet Van Dyne, and Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne, their return seems unlikely. Lilly announced in June 2024 that she would step away from acting to focus on her family, further dimming the prospects of her character Wasp appearing in the upcoming film.
Speculation about "Avengers: Doomsday" continues to swirl, especially after footage purportedly leaked from the set earlier this week, hinting at the return of a surprising location from "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."
