Marvel Studios’ Phase Six plans are beginning to take shape, but the evolving Marvel Cinematic Universe may be moving forward without several familiar faces connected to the Ant-Man corner of the franchise.
The studio officially launched Phase Six last July with the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), a film designed to kick off a new chapter of interconnected storytelling. The project introduced Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing. Julia Garner also joined the cast as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer, while Ralph Ineson portrayed Galactus, marking the audience’s first look at the next era of the MCU.
The launch comes after a challenging stretch during Phase Five. Marvel began that period with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), which struggled to meet expectations, followed by releases such as The Marvels (2023), Captain America: Brave New World (2025), and Thunderbolts* (2025). Several of those titles faced mixed reactions from critics and audiences alike, prompting the studio to recalibrate its approach ahead of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
While Avengers: Doomsday is expected to bring together a wide range of returning characters from across the MCU–along with former 20th Century Studios heroes–some longtime names appear to be missing. The film will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, but several established characters have yet to be confirmed for the lineup. Mark Ruffalo’s Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk and Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel are not currently attached, for example, with Ruffalo confirming that he is not part of the cast.
At the same time, reports indicate that certain supporting players from earlier MCU installments may be gone from the franchise entirely. One such figure is a fan-favorite presence from the Ant-Man series.
Directed by Peyton Reed, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania kicked off Phase Five by transporting Scott Lang and his family into the Quantum Realm. Paul Rudd returned as Scott alongside Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, and the Pym family as they encountered Kang the Conqueror, portrayed by Jonathan Majors.
Unlike the earlier Ant-Man movies, which leaned into smaller-scale heist storytelling, Quantumania pushed the franchise into Multiverse territory. The shift drew mixed reactions, and the film finished with a 46% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
At the global box office, Quantumania earned roughly $476 million, including a $106 million four-day domestic debut. However, the film’s second weekend brought a sharp 69% drop in ticket sales. With a production budget exceeding $200 million before marketing costs, the release ultimately landed below Marvel’s financial targets despite opening stronger than the previous Ant-Man films.
Complicating matters further was the legal controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors. Although the actor briefly appeared in previously filmed material in Loki Season 2 alongside Tom Hiddleston, Kang has not returned to the MCU since. While Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has said the studio was already considering introducing Doctor Doom before Majors was fired, some observers argue Kang was originally intended to remain the saga’s central antagonist.
Now, a new report suggests another familiar character from the Ant-Man films may have quietly exited the franchise. Entertainment insider Daniel Richtman recently claimed on X that Michael Peña–who played Scott Lang’s close friend Luis–does not appear likely to return to the MCU. Richtman added that he “[wasn’t] sure what happened” between Marvel Studios and Peña, implying the actor’s time with the series may have already concluded.
Peña debuted as Luis in Ant-Man (2015) before returning in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). The character quickly became a standout thanks to his rapid-fire storytelling sequences and unwavering loyalty to Scott.
However, Luis was absent from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. At the time, Peyton Reed explained that the story’s focus on the Quantum Realm made it difficult to incorporate the character. “There were no versions of this movie with [Luis],” Reed explained, adding that including him “didn’t make sense” given the setting and direction of the story.
Peña may not be the only Ant-Man veteran stepping away from the franchise. Michael Douglas, who played the original Ant-Man, Dr. Hank Pym, has suggested that Quantumania could represent his final appearance.
During an appearance at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 2025, Douglas confirmed he had deliberately stepped back from acting.
“I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,” he said, per Variety. “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.”
Evangeline Lilly has also indicated she is stepping away from Hollywood. The actor revealed in 2024 that she was taking a break from acting roughly a year after Quantumania premiered. Lilly returned as Hope van Dyne–the Wasp–in the third Ant-Man installment, though the character played a smaller role compared with previous entries as the story focused heavily on Scott and Cassie.
Discussing her decision, Lilly wrote: “I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment. I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
Best known for Lost and The Hobbit trilogy, Lilly has also drawn criticism in recent years for opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and attending protests related to those policies, though Marvel Studios did not publicly comment on the situation.
For now, Paul Rudd remains connected to the MCU. The actor is confirmed to reprise Scott Lang in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December 2026, though it remains unclear if he will appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, which is expected to arrive in 2027.
How do you feel about these likely exits from the MCU? Let us know in the comments down below!
