Both Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) were key parts of the Ant-Man franchise and even had a key role to play in the previous Avengers movies. But it seems that their run has come to an end, as they are two characters who are not going to return to the upcoming Avengers films, unless recast.
While Marvel does have a habit of bringing back actors and characters you least expect, things may be different for Hank Pym, and Ant-Man’s partner, the Wasp.
Why the Wasp and Hank Pym may not be with Ant-Man in Avengers: Doomsday
The primary reason both Pym and Hope will not be in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday is that both actors have seemingly retired from acting.
After Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumunia, Evangeline Lilly announced her retirement. The actress had long planned to do this and embraced her next phase in life. She had said in a heartfelt Instagram post in 2024, “I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision… I might return to Hollywood one day, but for now, this is where I belong.”
Lilly also revealed she had no contractual obligations, which means she can simply choose not to reprise her role as Hope van Dyne. Lilly is continuing her literary pursuits as of now.
As for Michael Douglas, the veteran actor also announced his retirement after Ant-Man 3. Douglas’ decision is quite understandable as he is already 80 years old. He also cited his age as the reason he was quitting.
Talking about his retirement, Douglas said, “I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop.” He added, “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.”
So, it seems that both of these characters will not be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday and maybe beyond that as well, unless Marvel decides to recast them. Moreover, the Avengers film has a huge cast list and would not really force Hope and Pym back if they did not want to. There’s a possibility that these movies might not have space for Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet Van Dyne as well.
Additionally, as per rumors, Avengers: Secret Wars might semi-reboot the universe, which could give Marvel a way to recast some of the characters, allowing new actors to play the roles.
