Fresh off his Golden Globe win for portraying Liberace in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, Michael Douglas has signed on to star in Marvel’s Ant-Man.
In the film Douglas will play scientist Hank Pym – a character who first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27. Pym was the creator of the technology that shrinks humans to the size of an insect, allowing a human to become Ant-Man.
Paul Rudd is set to star alongside Douglas as Scott Lang, Ant-Man’s alter ego.
Douglas has won two Academy Awards – one for Best Actor for his role as Gordon Gecko in Wall Street, and the other as an executive producer for the Best Picture winner One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In addition to the Golden Globe for his role as Liberace, he also won an Emmy for the same role.
“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,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige in a statement on the Marvel website. “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.”
Ant-Man is scheduled to hit theaters on July 31, 2015. The film is being directed by Edgar White.
