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In the potential scenario of an MCU reboot during “Avengers: Secret Wars,” two established heroes could significantly benefit from a fresh take. Over the span of seventeen years, the MCU has transformed into a colossal cinematic entity, but this grandeur has sometimes resulted in an unbalanced character emphasis. Whilst certain heroes have wrapped up impressive, decade-long storylines, others are still embarking on their adventures. Consequently, characters such as the Fantastic Four and X-Men haven’t had the opportunity to engage with MCU stalwarts like Tony Stark and Captain America yet.

Secret Wars.

The MCU Wasted Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym & Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet Van Dyne

Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym & Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet Van Dyne Had Very Limited Impact On The MCU

Marvel Studios changed the focus of Ant-Man and the Wasp from Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, who were once prominent figures but are now portrayed as retired heroes with their past adventures mostly happening off-screen, to their successors Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne. These new characters first establish themselves as individual superheroes before joining the Avengers. Hank Pym serves as a reluctant mentor to Scott Lang, while Janet van Dyne makes a brief reappearance at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp, only to later be revealed as having a connection to Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

In a unique twist, Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, with their rich backstory as veterans in the superhero world before the Avengers, presented an intriguing concept for casting. Regrettably, they didn’t share many on-screen battles, and their mentor roles weren’t fully explored. Despite being present in all three Ant-Man films, Michael Douglas’ portrayal of Hank Pym and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne had a smaller impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Ant-Man’s lore compared to their comic book characters.

Michael Douglas Likely Won’t Return As Hank Pym In The MCU

Michael Douglas Has Made It Clear He’s Done With Hank Pym

Michael Douglas’ character, Hank Pym, played a crucial part in Kang the Conqueror’s downfall in the movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”. He led an army of highly intelligent ants to overpower the antagonist within the Quantum Realm. Despite surviving the events of the third Ant-Man film, Michael Douglas has hinted he’s leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In 2025, he mentioned that he doesn’t plan to return to his MCU role and is currently enjoying some time off from acting. As the MCU moves on from the Ant-Man trilogy, it seems Hank Pym might be settling into retirement too.

Before making a statement in 2025, Michael Douglas expressed a desire for Hank Pym’s death in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to be dramatic. However, as portrayed in the film, this didn’t happen. Nevertheless, it is evident that Douglas wished to part ways with the role. The Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn’t necessarily have to kill off Hank Pym or explain his absence; a peaceful retirement could suffice, given the character’s narrative arc.

Janet Van Dyne Has Little Left To Do After Kang The Conqueror’s Defeat

Kang’s Departure Leaves Janet Van Dyne With No MCU Future

Following her brief appearances in Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp, Michelle Pfeiffer’s character, Janet van Dyne, took on a significant part in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In this film, it was disclosed that she had been working alongside Kang the Conqueror in the Quantum Realm. However, she eventually betrayed Kang and managed to flee the Quantum Realm with her family. The ending of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hinted at Kang’s possible return, which could have led to a substantial role for Janet in the next two Avengers films had Marvel’s plans for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty materialized.

Initially, Marvel Studios had planned for “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” but those plans were abandoned due to legal issues involving Jonathan Majors. This led to a major revamp of the crossover film, which is now titled “Avengers: Doomsday” and focuses on Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback as Doctor Doom. Since Kang the Conqueror is no longer the main antagonist, Janet van Dyne’s connection to the primary villain has been weakened, leaving her with minimal involvement in the franchise. Although “Avengers: Doomsday” could utilize Janet’s knowledge of the Quantum Realm, its extensive cast leaves limited opportunities for her. Consequently, it seems likely that she will follow a similar path as Hank Pym and peacefully retire with her family.

Scott Lang And Hope Van Dyne Are Also Ready To Exit The MCU

Ant-Man & The Wasp’s MCU Story Is Basically Over As Well

In a similar vein to their earlier roles, it seems that Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne have wrapped up their stories within Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in the film “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”. Over the course of the series, Scott transformed from a simple cat burglar into a bona fide Avenger. His journey culminated in a near single-handed defeat of one of the MCU’s strongest antagonists. Although there remains some uncertainty about whether Kang the Conqueror will resurface, given that the villain’s narrative has been put aside, it is possible that Scott Lang’s participation in potential future films like “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” could serve as his triumphant farewell tour before retiring from the superhero scene.

Hope van Dyne, also known as Wasp, has had a less prominent role compared to Scott Lang (Ant-Man) within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In fact, her character development has been relatively sparse among the MCU’s heroes. After establishing a life beyond crime-fighting and contributing to defeating Kang the Conqueror, it appears that Hope van Dyne is preparing to retire from her superhero duties. Evangeline Lilly, who plays Wasp, announced in 2024 that she was stepping away from acting, which suggests that “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” may be the final appearance of this version of Wasp in the MCU.

Ant-Man & The Wasp Deserve An MCU Reboot Most Than Any Other Character

The MCU’s Rebooted Ant-Man & Wasp Would Need To Be Much More Prominent

As a passionate film enthusiast, I must say that Ant-Man and The Wasp have certainly earned their stripes alongside other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) heroes and demonstrated they can stand toe-to-toe with the Avengers. However, their live-action portrayals fall short compared to their comic book counterparts.

With the upcoming multiverse reboot post-Avengers: Secret Wars on the horizon, it’s an excellent chance to give both Ant-Man and Wasp key roles within the Avengers team, possibly even founding members. This fresh take could finally elevate the Wasp to her rightful place in the spotlight and preserve her comic book heritage.

Moreover, the MCU reboot could emphasize Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne as the original Ant-Man and Wasp, while still featuring Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne as their successors. This dual approach would offer a unique blend of continuity with a fresh start, ensuring both characters get the recognition they deserve in the Marvel Universe.

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2025-05-24 23:09