Ant-Man Michael Douglas is Hank Pym

[cherokeesam]

Edit: Sam has there been any news about Wasp? That's really my only complaint/ concern about the Douglas casting. How might Jan fit into all this?

No news about Janet at all.
All that's been said with any degree of certainty so far is that Janet is in the script "in a roundabout way" (Wright's words), and there was that rumored casting call for Rashida Jones for an unspecified role in the movie.

I'd hate for Janet to not be in this film at all, but at this point, there's no indication that she is.

No Sam, it's not apples to oranges.
To a fan of the character it doesn't matter if other people think it's not a "universal icon".

Okay, let's take his post further then. He went on to hypothesize that if somebody made a Batman Beyond movie first, there'd be no chance to see Bruce Wayne ever in the movies. Extrapolate that as best as you see fit.

He, and others, are making wildly inaccurate assumptions that this news means Pym is going to die, that he's not going to be in The Avengers, yadda yadda yadda; while Douglas himself said *specifically* that they've already asked him to be in sequels. That means Pym is going to stick around for Ant-Man sequels and/or Avengers films. And why would they give him a multi-pic deal if they *didn't* plan on franchising him as a superhero?

It's common sense, people. Lang: Ant-Man. Pym: Giant-Man. Both: Avengers. Feige knows what he's doing. The only thing that's changed here is Pym's age, and that affects nothing, if people would wipe the tears out of their eyes and start actually *looking* at what all this means.

 

[Tony Stark]

So Black Panther can never join...? Darn.

BP, brings a different dynamic. Yes he's a genious, but he's also the leader of a nation. He has conflicts on doing what is best for his country, vs. doing what is best for the Avengers.

What I'm saying is that Pym doesn't really bring a new dynamic to the team. Unless they want to go the wife beater route, which I think is best left out of the film.

A former criminal turned good guy working on the Avengers? Now that I want to see.

 

[Shikamaru]

^ Won't Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch already be just that? Former criminals working for the Avengers?

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

My kids love that I'm still a "geek/nerd". There ARE a lot of older people in this area that love the Marvel films over the comics.

 

[Airwings]

THATS WHAT I'M HOPING FOR.....I just asked that question a few minutes ago. That would make a lot more sense to have a younger guy playing the 60's PYM.....not Douglas!!

Michael Douglas plays Hank Pym of today, in case you didn't get it.
In flashbacks, we will see a younger actor. Jamie Bell or someone else.

 

[H.U.S.T.L.E.]

Perhaps Janet won't be his love interest in this movie. She is a good enough character to be interesting without having to be arm candy. Heck, she doesn't even need to be Pym's love interest for him to want to give her powers. Maybe she's his protégé/confidant for example, or maybe she's related to him in some way. There are other ways to do this without the two having to be a couple.

I would not write Janet off for the future. Joss has went on record that he loves Janet/Wasp and she was almost in the first Avengers (there were storyboards that had her in them circulating around). I always got the impression Joss dropped Wasp as Edgar really wanted his movie to be the first one to introduce the concept of shrinking characters and Joss was giving the man a professional curtesy.

It took me a little time to warm up to the idea of Douglas as Pym because it does mean the relationship with Jan changes. But as I thought about it, I'm actually ok with Jan being separated from Hank in the MCU. While my exposure to the characters mostly comes from Avengers: EMH, the reason Jan was so good in the show IMO wasn't necessarily because of anything about her relationship with Hank - it's her feisty demeanor, loyalty and independent spirit that really makes her a great character. So I'd be alright with a Jan that is more of Hank's protégé or confidant, as long as her character traits shine through. I do hope that Wright doesn't feel it's necessary for Jan & Scott to be paired romantically and that it's more of a platonic friendship, if Jan is still going to be a part of his Ant-Man film.

And with Joss Whedon personally stating his appreciation for the Wasp character (as Tym outlined above), I think it's very possible that she shows up as an Avenger at some point.

I see 60ies period pieces with a young Pym in the future. (I mean, let's face it, how many stories can one tell with Lang as the main character? Lang centric sequels are therefore unlikely) Pym-prequels would be a nice way to fill the gap in the MCU timeline that exists between 1945-2008. Maybe Pym even inspired Fury to come up with the Avengers initiative, which would make him technically one of the founders.
Remember when Fury told Stark that he's not the only superhero in the world? technically, with Cap lost and the Hulk considered more a monster than a hero, Stark at that time was the only superhero. UNLESS someone else was active at that time we don't know yet. This someone could have been Pym all along.
I see potential here.

I like this idea a lot, and some of the 60s Pym escapades could be mined in One-Shots or even the rumored Agent Carter series.

 

[TX85]

Amazing casting,I never thought he'd be in a CBM like this in any role but I fully support him as old Hank

 

[Shazam]

It *is* about ageism.

Black Panther is a very physical character, who relies on strength and agility and youth as part of his powers. (Gi)Ant-Man does not. Hank Pym is a normal guy physically....in fact, a bit on the scrawny side, since he's a scientist instead of a fighter. There is literally nothing in Hank Pym's powerset and skillset that he wouldn't still be able to do at age 70.

Pym has never been portrayed as skinny......Just because he's scientist?? They tried to lay that at Reed Richards feet too. Reed fought Doc Doom head to head without his powers once.

http://www.reviewingcomics.com/wp-c...p-as-the-music-distores-the-world-295x300.jpg

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads...-vallejo-marvel-comics-x-men-yellowjacket.jpg

Pym was a fighter.....not Capt America skill level. But he could fight.

http://i48.tinypic.com/1gpp9x.jpg

 

[Shazam]

Michael Douglas plays Hank Pym of today, in case you didn't get it.
In flashbacks, we will see a younger actor. Jamie Bell or someone else.

Then Im good with that

 

[McSir]

Just my $0.02, but at this point I'm viewing Douglas's Pym as essentially an original character. Consider this, Hank Pym in the comics is known for really three things:

1. Changing identities several times, which this version might do/have done, but it's unlikely he'll go from Ant Man to Giant Man to Goliath, etc.
2. Creating Ultron, which we know he isn't responsible for in the MCU.
3. Back-handing the Wasp, which won't happen.

So lacking all of those things is he really Hank Pym or just a character who shares the same name?

I find this casting intriguing and as I was never partial to having Ant Man or Wasp on the team anyway (two characters who can shrink is a little redundant, no?) I anticipate Pym sticking to the Ant Man series and Lang being drafted into the Avengers but becoming Giant Man in the process. Or I guess he could stay as Ant Man, if Janet never shows up.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

THATS WHAT I'M HOPING FOR.....I just asked that question a few minutes ago. That would make a lot more sense to have a younger guy playing the 60's PYM.....not Douglas!!

Old Pym in the 1960s-70s wouldn't make any sense. I think some one younger is going to play Young Pym in the Flashbacks.

 

[Airwings]

Then Im good with that

If Ant-Man was made 30 years ago, Kirk Douglas would have been Hank Pym. t:

1984's Scott Lang??? Dan Aykroyd!!!

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

Dan as Lang? No...nooo.

 

[Tymminator]

Like I said in another thread, You can have it where a younger Janet is Pym's Ex-wife (thus you get to skip a messy divorce, plus it's a unique angle for a Superhero movie I think). They could have married when she was young and enamored by this older, intelligent scientist and as time went on, they drifted apart. In this case. I would not mind Lang dating Janet if she is Hank's Ex.

 

[Endeavor]

Okay, let's take his post further then. He went on to hypothesize that if somebody made a Batman Beyond movie first, there'd be no chance to see Bruce Wayne ever in the movies. Extrapolate that as best as you see fit.

He, and others, are making wildly inaccurate assumptions that this news means Pym is going to die, that he's not going to be in The Avengers, yadda yadda yadda; while Douglas himself said *specifically* that they've already asked him to be in sequels.

Good points.
I like you're being optimistic about this. I'm going to just assume this is the one and only Pym we'll ever see and learn to deal with that.
If we get something more then great.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

I don't think anyone should be expecting Pym as an Avenger though. For an Avenger, I imagine someone taking part in the action as well as aiding the team when it comes to other things. Pym seems too old to take part in any action, stunt man or not.

 

[cherokeesam]

Like I said in another thread, You can have it where a younger Janet is Pym's Ex-wife (thus you get to skip a messy divorce, plus it's a unique angle for a Superhero movie I think). They could have married when she was young and enamored by this older, intelligent scientist and as time went on, they drifted apart. In this case. I would not mind Lang dating Janet if she is Hank's Ex.

If they go a May-December route for Hank and Janet (personally, I think they will), then there's not really a need to create an extra layer of redundancy by making her his ex, and freeing her up to be with Lang. I mean, if they're going to make Hank and Janet, in whatever fashion, then there's no need to expand the relationship past those two.

 

[cph9fa]

Here's a random thought: Dr. Hank Pym is an eccentric college Biochemistry professor, and Janet is one of his students.

 

[metaphysician]

It *is* about ageism.

Black Panther is a very physical character, who relies on strength and agility and youth as part of his powers. (Gi)Ant-Man does not. Hank Pym is a normal guy physically....in fact, a bit on the scrawny side, since he's a scientist instead of a fighter. There is literally nothing in Hank Pym's powerset and skillset that he wouldn't still be able to do at age 70.

Eh. . . that's really not accurate. Pym's traditional power set involves physical combat: striking, dodging, moving, lifting, evading, and taking damage. All those physical activities *are* effected by physical condition, and a 70 year old is going to have a lot harder time doing all that. Sure, he can grow to 50 feet tall or shrink to an inch tall. . . but at whatever size he currently is, he'll still move with the agility of a 70 year old, and act with the endurance and stamina of a 70 year old. It may be *possible*, especially if Pym is in unusually good condition for his age, but its probably not prudent on a regular basis.

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

Here's a random thought: Dr. Hank Pym is an eccentric college Biochemistry professor, and Janet is one of his students.

both would get thrown out of campus

 

[Son of Coul]

Eh. . . that's really not accurate. Pym's traditional power set involves physical combat: striking, dodging, moving, lifting, evading, and taking damage. All those physical activities *are* effected by physical condition, and a 70 year old is going to have a lot harder time doing all that. Sure, he can grow to 50 feet tall or shrink to an inch tall. . . but at whatever size he currently is, he'll still move with the agility of a 70 year old, and act with the endurance and stamina of a 70 year old. It may be *possible*, especially if Pym is in unusually good condition for his age, but its probably not prudent on a regular basis.

True, but on the other hand, it'd be a very skilled fighting old man at that point, rather than an older guy becoming Ant-Man later on in life. It'd be like Douglas is this unassuming aged scientist who turns out to kick ass due to years of experience with the technology and combat.

 

[metaphysician]

True, but on the other hand, it'd be a very skilled fighting old man at that point, rather than an older guy becoming Ant-Man later on in life. It'd be like Douglas is this unassuming aged scientist who turns out to kick ass due to years of experience with the technology and combat.

Perhaps, but I'd rather it be in a "Ted Knight" manner, rather than a "regularly dresses up in spandex" manner.

 

[Iceman]

This is awesome casting.

My interest in a solo Ant man film went from reasonably interested to very much hyped after Rudd's casting and now...bloody seriously hyped!

 

[R_Hythlodeus]

Okay, let's take his post further then. He went on to hypothesize that if somebody made a Batman Beyond movie first, there'd be no chance to see Bruce Wayne ever in the movies. Extrapolate that as best as you see fit.

He, and others, are making wildly inaccurate assumptions that this news means Pym is going to die, that he's not going to be in The Avengers,

.) please don't put words in my mouth
.) if you're not sure what I wrote, feel free to read it again
.) comprehensive reading is something everyone should try now and then

 

[The Batman]

I never cared much about Ant Man, but I do feel bad for any Hank Pym fans who are disappointed. Its easy to say "Get over it, etc" when its not your favorite character being changed, or you accept any changes the TPTB make.

I can only imagine what would happen if they made the first ever Batman film about Terry McGuiness, with Bruce Wayne just being an old guy/mentor character.