'Ant-Man' Star Reportedly Exits Disney's MCU Franchise

As Marvel Studios continues to roll out Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, multiple veteran performers tied to the franchise appear unlikely to return following confirmed departures from the long-running series.

The studio’s Phase Six chapter began last July with the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), a film designed to usher in the next era of MCU storytelling.

The project starred Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing. The ensemble also included Julia Garner portraying Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer and Ralph Ineson as Galactus, positioning the film as the audience’s first foray into Phase Six.

The launch followed a difficult stretch for Marvel Studios during Phase Five. The period began with the underperforming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and continued with titles such as The Marvels (2023), Captain America: Brave New World (2025), and Thunderbolts* (2025), several of which struggled critically and commercially. The studio is now aiming to course-correct as it builds toward Avengers: Doomsday (2026).

Although the upcoming Avengers film will feature numerous returning MCU (and 20th Century Studios) veterans alongside Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, there are some notable absences from the lineup. Mainstays like Mark Ruffalo’s Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk and Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel have not been confirmed. In fact, the former has actively stated he is not in the Doomsday cast.

And then there are others in supporting roles that are reportedly out of the MCU for good. This recent report suggests that an Ant-Man movie series favorite has exited Disney’s billion-dollar franchise following his exclusion from the third entry.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Flops

Directed by Peyton Reed, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania launched Phase Five by sending Scott Lang and his allies into the Quantum Realm. The story followed Scott (Paul Rudd), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), and the Pym family as they confronted Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors.

The film shifted the Ant-Man series toward larger multiversal stakes rather than the smaller-scale caper style of earlier entries. The reception was mixed, with the movie earning a 46% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Globally, the film collected about $476 million, including a $106 million four-day domestic debut. However, the second weekend saw a steep 69% drop. Given a production budget exceeding $200 million plus marketing expenses, the release ultimately landed below Marvel’s financial expectations despite opening stronger than previous Ant-Man installments.

The film’s reception was also overshadowed by legal controversy involving Jonathan Majors. Though the actor later appeared in pre-filmed material for Loki Season 2 alongside Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Kang has not returned to the MCU since. While Kevin Feige stated that the studio was already looking to bring in Doctor Doom before Majors’ firing, some have contested that claim, saying that Kang was meant to be the main antagonist all along.

Popular Ant-Man Actor Exits MCU

According to entertainment insider Daniel Richtman, one familiar face from the Ant-Man films may not be returning. In a post shared on X, Richtman claimed that Michael Peña—who played Scott Lang’s fast-talking friend Luis—doesn’t appear to be coming back to the MCU. Richtman added that he “[wasn’t] sure what happened” between Marvel Studios and Peña, suggesting that the actor’s run in the franchise may already be over.

Peña first appeared as Luis in Ant-Man (2015) and later returned for Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). The character quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his comedic storytelling style and his loyalty to Scott Lang (Rudd).

However, the character was noticeably missing from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the third installment in the series. At the time, director Peyton Reed addressed Luis’s absence, explaining that the story simply didn’t have room for the character. Much of Quantumania takes place inside the Quantum Realm, which means the usual supporting cast wasn’t part of the adventure.

“There were no versions of this movie with [Luis],” Reed explained, noting that including the character “didn’t make sense” given the setting and direction of the story. And Peña is not the only Ant-Man franchise star that is reportedly no longer part of Disney’s MCU.

Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly Out of the MCU

Michael Douglas portrayed Dr. Hank Pym, the scientist behind the Pym Particle and the original Ant-Man. In Quantumania, the character again demonstrated his brilliance while exploring the Quantum Realm, even commanding an army of hyper-intelligent ants in battle. The Oscar-winning actor had previously suggested the third Ant-Man film might mark his final appearance.

Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 2025, Douglas confirmed he has intentionally stepped away from acting.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Evangeline Lilly indicated in 2024 that she was stepping back from acting as well, roughly a year after Quantumania arrived in theaters.

Lilly returned as Hope van Dyne, also known as the Wasp, though the character played a smaller role in the film compared to earlier installments. A skilled combatant and tech expert, Hope assists the team in navigating the Quantum Realm while much of the story centers on Scott and his daughter, Cassie.

Discussing her decision to step away from the industry, Lilly shared: “I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings. 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.”

Known for earlier roles in Lost and The Hobbit trilogy, Lilly also faced criticism in recent years for speaking out against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and attending protests related to those policies. Marvel Studios did not publicly address the situation.

As for Ant-Man himself, Paul Rudd will reprise his role as Scott Lang in Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to arrive in December 2026. It is not confirmed if he will return for 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars.

How do you feel about these three Ant-Man stars exiting the MCU? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!