Michael Douglas Cast In Marvel’s ANT-MAN

Well, the speculation as to which version of Ant-Man Paul Rudd will be playing in the upcoming Marvel Studios adaptation of the comic book series is settled today as Variety today announced that Michael Douglas will be playing scientist Hank Pym, the first to use the superheroic identity.

This leaves Rudd’s character being Scott Lang, who in comics continuity was a thief who stole the original Ant-Man’s costume when he was trying to get some money together to help his ailing daughter Cassie. How much of that story will carry over into writer/director Edgar Wright’s film remains to be seen, but with both of them as characters in the film there will definitely be some sort of relation between the two.

Wright previously teased that Rudd would be playing Scott Lang, but this is the first confirmation we’ve had.

In a statement to the Variety, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige stated –

With Hank Pym’s rich history in the Marvel Universe, we knew we needed an actor capable of bringing the weight and stature to the role that the character deserves. We felt incredibly relieved when Michael Douglas agreed to step into the part with the charm and fortitude he brings to every character he inhabits, and couldn’t be more excited to see what he will do to bring Hank Pym to life.

Ant-Man is scheduled to be released by Marvel on July 31, 2015.