Michael Douglas’ Ant-Man 4 Dream Is More Likely Than Ever After Ultron’s MCU Return

After the confirmation that Ultron will be returning to the MCU, a possible Ant-Man 4 could finally make Michael Douglas’ dream future for Hank Pym come to fruition. Michael Douglas first appeared as Henry “Hank” Pym in 2015’s Ant-Man, acting as Scott Lang’s mentor as he trained to become the superhero Ant-Man. Pym’s depiction in the MCU is very different to his Marvel Comics counterpart, who had an extended career as the original Ant-Man, while this has only been alluded to in the MCU.

Michael Douglas returned in Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Endgame and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but has taken more of a backseat to Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang and Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne. Hank Pym has been an influential figure in the MCU, but Michael Douglas has already revealed that his time in Marvel’s superhero franchise may soon come to an end. After a recent update revealing James Spader’s return as Ultron in Marvel Television’s Vision series, the opportunity is there for Michael Douglas to get his one wish for the as-yet-unannounced Ant-Man 4.

Michael Douglas Wants Hank Pym To Die In Ant-Man 4

Michael Douglas Has Made 4 Live-Action Appearances In The MCU & Also Returned In The Animated What If…? Series

Back in February 2023, Michael Douglas spoke to The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. When asked whether he’d return for a possible Ant-Man 4, Douglas delivered a blunt response, noting that he’d come back “as long as [Hank Pym] could die.” At 79-years-old, it makes sense that veteran actor Michael Douglas may not want to stick around in the MCU for too much longer, and while the disappointing performance of Quantumania may make a sequel unlikely, there’s now a clear way Hank Pym could meet his demise in the MCU.

Hank Pym Has A Strong Connection To Ultron In Marvel Comics

Ultron Made His Marvel Comics Debut In 1968’s The Avengers #54

James Spader’s return to the MCU as Ultron after an 11-year hiatus is very exciting, and provides the upcoming Vision series with more gravitas and anticipation. This could also create the best chance for Michael Douglas to get his wish for Hank Pym, given the fact that Hank Pym and Ultron are intricately connected in Marvel Comics. Ultron debuted in Marvel Comics in 1968’s The Avengers #54, and The Avengers #58 revealed that the tyrannical robot had, in fact, been created by Hank Pym, using his own brainwaves to develop Ultron’s artificial intelligence.

In the MCU, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner used the Mind Stone and JARVIS artificial intelligence to develop Ultron as a worldwide peacekeeping program, but Ultron attempted to “save the world” from humanity by rendering the human race and the Avengers extinct.

Upon waking, Ultron developed an Oedipus complex, forming an intense hatred for his creator, while becoming infatuated by Pym’s wife, Janet van Dyne. Ultron quickly built the synthezoid Vision in an attempt to destroy the Avengers, of which Hank Pym was a member at the time as Ant-Man. Ultron and Pym battled many times in the years since, and even briefly merged into one being, but this rich history has been completely removed in the characters’ live-action depictions. Bringing them together could mark the end of the line for Hank Pym, however.

Ultron Killing Hank Pym Would Be A Fantastic Call-Back For The MCU

Marvel Studios Could Hark Back To Ultron’s Marvel Comics History By Bringing Him & Hank Pym Together

Even though Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym had nothing to do with the creation of Ultron in the MCU, and didn’t even appear in the franchise until after Ultron had been created and destroyed, their connection from Marvel Comics could still be referenced. Whether it be in a potential Ant-Man 4 or another upcoming project, perhaps even the MCU’s Vision series, having Ultron kill Hank Pym in the MCU would kill many birds with one stone. Most notably, this would accomplish Michael Douglas’ wish that Hank Pym die in his next MCU appearance.

As well as giving Michael Douglas his wish, having Ultron kill Hank Pym would be a great way to establish his power and brutality when reintroducing him to the MCU. By the time the Vision series premieres, it will have been 11 years since Avengers: Age of Ultron, and many formidable villains have come and gone since then. Ultron will need to, once again, prove himself to be supremely powerful, and killing off a major piece of the MCU’s Ant-Man franchise, even if this isn’t in Ant-Man 4, would be the perfect way for him to establish his dominance.