Marvel Entertainment has courted another Hollywood heavyweight to add prestige to its latest project Oscar winner Michael Douglas will star in Ant-Man, boosting the prospects for a movie based on a character relatively unknown outside of the comic book community.
After reports from Variety and elsewhere, Marvel confirmed the news itself, noting that Douglas will play Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man and creator of the technology that shrinks the hero.
"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," Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said in a statement. "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."
The news comes just weeks after Marvel confirmed that Paul Rudd will have the lead role in Ant-Man. Rudd will play Scott Lang, who uses Pym’s technology.
Douglas just won a Golden Globe last night for his starring role in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra. He’s also won an Oscar for producing (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest) and acting (Wall Street). His other films include Basic Instinct, Wonder Boys, Traffic and many, many other great films.
Douglas is the latest Hollywood legend to find a role in a Marvel film. Robert Redford will appear in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Ant-Man is being directed by Edgar Wright and hits theaters on July 31, 2015.