With the Marvel Cinematic Universe about to enter Phase Six, fans are bracing for change—and some familiar faces won’t be coming along for the ride.
Marvel’s next chapter kicks off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), the first film of Phase Six, starring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. The film also features Julia Garner as Silver Surfer and Ralph Ineson as Galactus.
It’s a fresh start for the franchise following a difficult Phase Five, which struggled at the box office with titles like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), The Marvels (2023), Captain America: Brave New World (2025), and Thunderbolts* (2025). All eyes are now on Avengers: Doomsday (2026) as the next major ensemble event.
Despite a lineup packed with returning fan favorites—including Robert Downey Jr. in the new role of Victor Von Doom—two key actors will officially not be returning: Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly have stepped away from the MCU.
Quantumania ushered in Phase Five with high ambitions. Directed by Peyton Reed, the film plunged into the Quantum Realm with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), and the Pym family confronting Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). With its cosmic scope and mixed critical reception (46% on Rotten Tomatoes), it earned $476 million worldwide but suffered a 69% drop in its second weekend, casting doubt on the future of its characters.
Michael Douglas, who originated the role of Dr. Hank Pym, has since decided to step away from acting entirely. At the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, he shared via Variety, “I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop… I have no real intentions of going back. I say I’m not retired because if something special came up, I’d go back, but otherwise, no.”
Douglas’s portrayal of the Quantum Realm pioneer spanned several key films, culminating in Quantumania, where he commanded an army of evolved ants in one of the film’s climactic moments.
Evangeline Lilly also quietly exited the spotlight after Quantumania, where her character, Hope, took on a notably smaller role. Her decision came a year after the film’s release. “I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings… I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong,” she wrote in a social media post.
While Lilly made headlines for her participation in anti-vaccine mandate protests—sparking criticism online—Marvel Studios did not issue a public statement.
Paul Rudd is expected to reprise his role in Avengers: Doomsday, which is still slated for release in December 2026.
What do you think of these exits from the MCU? Join the conversation in the comments.
