There are reports that Marvel Studios and one of the main actors from the Ant-Man movies have separated. While Marvel films feature a large cast with many actors signing on for multiple projects over many years, not everyone stays with the studio permanently. This can happen for various reasons, even if their character or the film series continues.
According to entertainment reporter Daniel Richtman on X, Michael Peña, who played Luis in Ant-Man and Ant-Man and The Wasp, likely won’t be reprising the role. Luis was a key supporting character, known as Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) close friend and former cellmate, and helped the team with their missions. Richtman stated he doesn’t know what led to the decision not to bring Peña back.
Michael Peña didn’t appear in the 2023 film Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, but his character, Luis, wasn’t really needed for the story. Director Peyton Reed explained that the movie took place almost entirely in the Quantum Realm, and including Luis just wouldn’t have fit.
Just because an actor doesn’t appear in one movie doesn’t mean they’re gone for good, especially in the vast Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, recent reports suggest Michael Peña likely won’t be returning to the MCU, for reasons unknown. This isn’t unusual for Marvel Studios, as they’ve moved on from other actors before, and Peña now joins the growing number of stars not expected to reprise their roles.
These Stars Are Unlikely To Return to the MCU
Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard was among the earliest Marvel actors to leave the studio, despite being one of its first stars. He played Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes (War Machine), Tony Stark’s friend, in the very first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Iron Man. However, Don Cheadle replaced him in the role for Iron Man 2 and all subsequent movies.
Howard initially stated he left due to a disagreement over pay. He later explained on Watch What Happens Live (according to Entertainment Weekly) that Robert Downey Jr.’s increased salary played a role. Howard said the person he helped become Iron Man received a raise during contract negotiations for the second movie, and that money was taken from what he was supposed to receive, ultimately leading to his departure.
Edward Norton
It’s been a long time since the Hulk had his own movie – the last one was in 2008. Because of this, people often forget that Mark Ruffalo wasn’t the first actor to play the Hulk. Edward Norton originally played both Bruce Banner and his alter ego in The Incredible Hulk. Just like Robert Downey Jr., who was also a major MCU star back then, Norton was expected to continue playing the Hulk for many years. However, he was replaced by Ruffalo for the team-up movie The Avengers in 2012.
When Mark Ruffalo was cast, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige explained the decision to replace Edward Norton, stating it wasn’t about money, but about finding an actor who would fit in well and work collaboratively with the rest of the cast.
Since then, Ruffalo has played the Hulk in many Marvel films and TV shows. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has even officially recognized that Edward Norton played the Hulk before him.
Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke, who was nominated for an Oscar, played the villain Whiplash in Iron Man 2. Though Marvel villains don’t usually show up in many projects, Rourke has said he wouldn’t be interested in returning even if they asked. He’s criticized Marvel Studios multiple times, telling CraveOnline (as reported by IndieWire) that they only wanted a simple villain, and much of his performance was ultimately cut from the film.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is a veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and was the first woman to lead as a major Avenger. Although she didn’t get her own Black Widow movie until 2021, she was a frequent presence in the MCU, appearing in films like Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as well as all of the Avengers movies.
In Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow died, and unlike Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, there’s been no indication she’ll be back in Avengers: Doomsday. Scarlett Johansson has stated she’s finished playing Black Widow, telling Vanity Fair she struggles to see how a return would work for her or the character.
Hugo Weaving
As a huge movie fan, I always get excited learning about the actors who join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One interesting case is Hugo Weaving, who you probably know from films like The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings. He played Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger, and apparently, he originally signed on for three movies! But, he told Time Out that the money they were offering just wasn’t enough to make him come back for more. It’s a shame, I thought he was a great villain!
The offer for the latest ‘Avengers’ movies was actually less than what I made on the first one, even though it was for two films. We were originally told our pay would increase with each movie, but that didn’t happen. Honestly, I wasn’t thrilled about doing it, but I would have if I had to.
As a huge Marvel fan, I always find it fascinating to learn about the behind-the-scenes changes. It’s interesting how they recast roles sometimes! For example, Ross Marquand took over as Red Skull in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and he’s actually continued playing the character in the What If…? series, which is pretty cool.
Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston, who played the villain Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, is often seen as a missed opportunity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eccleston later revealed he wasn’t fully informed about the extensive time needed for his character’s makeup, which he found unpleasant. Both the actor and Marvel Studios seemed content with Malekith remaining defeated, as there have been no hints of his return, and his death in Thor 2 makes a future appearance unlikely.
Jonathan Majors
After Jonathan Majors debuted as He Who Remains in Loki, Marvel Studios envisioned him becoming a central figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, similar to Thanos. They planned for him to play Kang the Conqueror, the main villain in the upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty movie, which has since been reworked and is now titled Avengers: Doomsday.
Jonathan Majors was gaining momentum with roles in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and Season 2 of Loki, but his career came to a halt when he was arrested and put on trial for domestic violence. As a result, Marvel Studios has ended its relationship with him, and it appears unlikely he will work with them again.
Dave Bautista
Dave Bautista, who started as a professional wrestler before becoming an actor, became well-known for playing Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers movies. Although fans enjoyed his portrayal of the character, Bautista has stated he’s finished with the role after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, calling it “a hard but necessary decision and the perfect way to end his time as Drax.”
Michael Douglas
Look, I’m a big Michael Douglas fan, and while he doesn’t have anything against Marvel specifically, it seems like he’s pretty much retired from acting altogether. He mentioned in 2025, when he was turning 80 and had just shared his throat cancer diagnosis, that he doesn’t plan on returning to the screen unless a truly exceptional role comes along. So, while I’d love to see him back as Hank Pym in another Ant-Man or MCU movie, it’s sadly pretty unlikely at this point.
Douglas had stated he would only reprise his role in a fourth Ant-Man film if his character died, but it’s unclear if Ant-Man 4 will actually be made, or if that would even be enough to convince him to act again.
Tatiana Maslany
Tatiana Maslany is a recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring as She-Hulk in the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. While a second season of She-Hulk isn’t confirmed, Maslany was anticipated to continue working with Marvel, and her name frequently appeared in discussions about potential future Avengers films.
Tatiana Maslany hasn’t said much about coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She’s also been critical of Disney, the company that owns Marvel Studios, speaking out about issues like the cancellation of the Jimmy Kimmel show and even calling for a boycott (though she wasn’t alone among Marvel actors in doing so). It’s uncertain if this strained relationship with Disney could mean she’ll leave her role as She-Hulk.
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2026-03-13 08:37