An Unbelievable Request: Actor in the MCU Wanted His Character to Die, But Disney Said Otherwise

A film to symbolize the crisis of the MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has refused to kill its characters since the end of the Infinity Stones arc and the death of the tyrant Thanos. However, it is a sine qua non condition for giving stakes to intrinsically linked stories and keeping captive spectators who are increasingly reluctant to go to theaters to discover the latest part of the adventures of the “Avengers”. Only Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was both a financial and critical success last year. James Gunn and his magnificent losers were THE superheroic beacon in the Marvel night in 2023.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania perfectly symbolizes the crisis that the MCU has suffered for several years. This film, which was supposed to launch phase 5 with great fanfare and induct the big bad of the next 10 years, badly failed at the box office. For an estimated budget of 326.6 million US dollars, the adventures of Scott Lang aka Ant-Man had to settle for 476.1 million at the box office, which de facto translates into a net loss for Disney (in taking into account marketing costs).

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A categorical refusal from Disney

An actor present since 2015 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe wanted to leave in style in the third feature film centered on Ant-Man, but this was categorically refused by Disney. Indeed, Michael Douglas had imagined a climax ending with lots of special effects for the character of Hank Pym at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Unfortunately for him, this was not the case. This does not mean, however, that the actor will put on the costume of this superhero again. He made it clear that he did not intend to reprise the role for a possible fourth film.

That's what I asked for the third. I said I wanted to have a serious death, with all these great visual effects. There must be some amazing way where I can shrink to the size of ants before exploding, or something. I want to use all these effects. But it was the last. Now, I don't think I'm going to show up (for the fourth movie). – Michael Douglas (Hank Pym in the Marvel Cinematic Universe)