Two Marvel Actors Officially Removed From MCU Franchise

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Paul Rudd looking exasperated as Ant-Man

Credit: Marvel Studios

As Marvel Studios readies its launch of Phase Six, it has been confirmed that two long-serving franchise stars will not appear in the future Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Iron Man's side hero lineup during Captain America: Civil War, (left to right) Black Panther, Vision, Iron Man, Black Widow, and War Machine
Credit: Marvel Studios

Later this month, Marvel Studios will invite audiences into a new universe with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025).

Featuring Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/Thing), Julia Garner (Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer), and Ralph Ineson (Galactus), the first Phase Six movie will launch a new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It’s no secret that Phase Five of the MCU has been troubled. Beginning with the box office flop Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), and featuring other commercial duds like The Marvels (2023), Captain America: Brave New World (2025), and Thunderbolts* (2025), fans are surely looking forward to this next Phase, which not only includes First Steps, but also Avengers: Doomsday (2026).

The image shows the official logo for the movie "Avengers: Doomsday" from Marvel Studios
Credit: Marvel Studios

While the cast for Avengers: Doomsday is stacked, with many legacy actors returning alongside Robert Downey Jr. (Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom), two names will not be present after their MCU exits have been confirmed. But first, let’s go back to when Phase Five began two years ago.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Falls Flat

Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania kicked off Phase Five of the MCU with a deep dive into the Quantum Realm, where Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), and the Pym family face off against the timeline-twisting villain Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).

Paul Rudd looking exasperated as Ant-Man
Credit: Marvel Studios

Directed by Peyton Reed, Quantumania introduced high-concept multiversal stakes while shifting away from the more grounded heist-style tone of earlier Ant-Man entries. Visually bold but narratively divisive, Quantumania divided fans and critics alike, holding a 46% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite earning $476 million globally—including $106 million during its four-day domestic opening—it marked one of the steepest second-weekend drops in MCU history at 69%. With an estimated $200+ million budget and added marketing costs, the film fell short of profitability expectations. While its box office launch was the best in the trilogy, it’s widely viewed as a financial underperformance within the broader Marvel framework.

Wasp and Ant-Man looking scared and hurt in the Quantum Realm
Credit: Marvel Studios

The movie was also overshadowed by Jonathan Majors’s controversy, arrest, and backlash. Majors returned in the pre-filmed Loki Season 2 but has been absent from the MCU ever since.

Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly Out of the MCU

Michael Douglas reprises his role as Dr. Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man and inventor of the Pym Particle. Once a top S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist, Hank’s Quantum tech discoveries laid the groundwork for much of the MCU’s Multiverse science.

In Quantumania, he leans into his genius as he explores the Quantum Realm’s untapped potential, even leading a swarm of hyper-intelligent ants into battle. Douglas, known for iconic roles in Wall Street (1987) and Basic Instinct (1992), brings depth to Hank’s role as a stubborn, protective father figure. At the time, the actor hinted that this may be his last MCU appearance, and it now seems it was.

Michael Douglas as Hank Pym in the MCU
Credit: Marvel Studios

At the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Michael Douglas explained that he has stepped away from making movies.

“I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,” he said, per Variety. “I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. I have no real intentions of going back. I say I’m not retired because if something special came up, I’d go back, but otherwise, no.”

Similarly, Evangeline Lilly also expressed that she was leaving Hollywood last summer, one year after the third Ant-Man movie hit theaters.

'Ant-Man's Evangline Lilly as Wasp in 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' (2018)
Credit: Marvel Studios

Evangeline Lilly returned as Hope van Dyne, the Wasp, whose role in Quantumania was more subdued compared to previous films. Hope, a skilled fighter and tech expert, helped guide the group through the Quantum Realm, though much of the narrative centers on Scott and Cassie, with audiences baffled by her lack of screen time.

Lilly explained last year that she was stepping away from the film industry. “I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings,” she said.

“Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment. I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”

Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) behind the scenes in 'Ant-Man and the Wasp'
Credit: Ben Rothstein for Marvel Studios

The actress, widely recognized from her time on Lost and The Hobbit (2012), stirred controversy in recent years for her public opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and participation in related protests. These views sparked backlash among fans, though Marvel Studios did not issue a formal response.

As for Ant-Man himself, Paul Rudd is next scheduled to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which is on track for a December 2026 release.

How do you feel about these characters no longer being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!

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