Marvel’s stable of award-winning actors grows with the recent addition of Michael Douglas to the cast of Ant-Man.
Douglas will play Hank Pym, who first appeared in “Tales To Astonish” #27 (1962), opposite Paul Rudd, who will play Scott Lang, whose origin was in Marvel Premiere #47-48 (1979).
For those unfamiliar with the characters, Hank Pym was the original Ant-Man, creating the serums that could shrink him to the size of an ant.
Scott Lang entered the story when, in an effort to save his ill daughter, he broke into Pym’s home and stole his Ant-Man uniform and shrinking gas containers. He did this because the doctor who could cure his daughter was being held prisoner.
After he saved the doctor and his daughter was cured, Lang intended to return the Ant-Man items to Pym, and turn himself in to the police. However, when Pym discovered why Lang stole from him, he decided to let Lang keep being Ant-Man, provided he used the power to uphold the law.
Pym went on to created several other Marvel identities, including Goliath and Yellowjacket, but I’m not sure if any of that will be touched on in the movie.
No story or additional cast has been announced for the film that will be directed by Edgar Wright, from a script written by Wright and Joe Cornish.
Ant-Man is poised to be a summer blockbuster for Marvel, with a release date set for July 31, 2015.