Michael Douglas Confirms He’s Done With the MCU After Four Films

Michael Douglas is officially hanging up the lab coat. After playing Hank Pym in four Marvel movies over nearly a decade, the actor says he’s stepping away from the MCU.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Douglas made it clear that his Marvel movie chapter has come to a close. When asked whether he might return as the original Ant-Man, he responded:

“I don’t think so. I had the experience, and I was excited to do it. I’d never done a green screen picture before. I did The Kominsky Method because I wanted to work with Chuck Lorre and try some comedy.

“But I’m enjoying my hiatus and enjoying my life. It was overwhelming running the production company and acting at the same time.”

Douglas first appeared as Hank Pym in Ant-Man (2015), playing mentor to Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang. He reprised the role in Ant-Man and the Wasp, briefly Avengers: Endgame , and most recently, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023. His character brought a sharp, cranky charm to the series.

But, with Quantumania underperforming and the future of the Ant-Man solo series uncertain, Douglas seems content with calling it a day. At 80, he’s earned the right to pick his battles and focus on things that bring him joy outside of the Marvel machine.

Still, his departure leaves a bit of a gap. Paul Rudd is confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday, but with Evangeline Lilly and Kathryn Newton’s futures still unannounced, it’s unclear how much of the Ant-family we’ll see again.