Unless you’re a villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you are probably signed on for multiple Marvel Studio films. Samuel L. Jackson is infamous for signing a nine-picture deal, while Disney had to renegotiate Robert Downey Jr.’s contract when his deal expired with Iron Man 3. So a majority of the time, actors sign multiple pic deals that locked them in either for a large role or even a cameo.

However, a big surprise now is that actor Michael Douglas isn’t signed on for more Ant-Man or other Marvel movies. But that doesn’t mean the actor isn’t interested in reprising his role. In fact, he has expressed a huge interest in making a return as Dr. Hank Pym. More on the story below.

The odds were stacked against Ant-Man last weekend, but Marvel Studios’ latest film beat the naysayers earning an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but grossed an underwhelming $58 million at the box office – despite being number one – just shy of the $60-$65 million expectations industry experts predicted. Still, James Gunn praised Marvel’s latest, saying it was the best Marvel Studios film since Iron Man, even our very own Adam Frazier liked the film.

Now Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has taken the time to praise film, and to point out a serious issue that Marvel has that I am sure everyone will agree with. While Martin said Ant-Man was “wholly satisfying,” he says that these films have a serious villain issue. More on the story below.

What a long, strange trip it has been for Ant-Man, Marvel Studios’ latest entry in their constantly expanding cinematic universe. It had been in development for a decade before it went before the cameras, and by then the director who had been with the project since its inception had long departed due to the dreaded “creative differences.” This has probably been the most difficult baby for Marvel to birth since The Avengers, and when Ant-Man brings Marvel’s Phase Two line-up to a rousing conclusion this weekend, we’ll finally find out if the movie has proven to be worth the wait.

I decided to trace Ant-Man‘s obstacle-fraught journey from the pages of Marvel Comics to the big screen beginning when the visionary British filmmaker Edgar Wright first signed on to develop a live-action feature based on the character. From 2010 onward, the development will be recounted as it was covered by several writers here at Geeks of Doom over the years, myself included.

Ant-Man
Director: Peyton Reed
Writers: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay, Paul Rudd
Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Michael Peña, Michael Douglas
Walt Disney Pictures | Marvel Studios
Rated PG-13 | 117 Minutes
Release Date: July 17, 2015

“I think our first move should be calling The Avengers…”

An unexpected mix of Innerspace, Matinee, and Small Soldiers, Ant-Man feels like the kind of superhero movie Joe Dante might have made in the ’90s. The final entry in “Phase Two” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man is a playful sci-fi caper that blends fantastical special effects with an offbeat sense of humor.

Directed by Peyton Reed (Bring It On, Yes Man), Ant-Man stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, an ex-con serving up Mango Fruit Blasts at Baskin-Robbins and sharing an apartment with his former cellmate, Luis (Michael Peña). Behind on child support payments, Lang joins Luis and his crew (Tip “T.I.” Harris, David Dastmalchian) on one last job: breaking into the home of Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym (Michael Douglas), a scientist and former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

During the Cold War, Pym and his wife, Janet van Dyne, battled Soviet spies as Ant-Man and Wasp, a pair of insect-controlling, half-inch heroes. This was made possible by Pym’s discovery of what he calls “Pym Particles” – subatomic particles that can radically shrink or enlarge objects. After breaking into Pym’s high-tech vault, Lang discovers the Ant-Man technology collecting dust and decides to swipe it.

This week, the much-anticipated Ant-Man hits theaters. Cast Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Michael Pena, director Peyton Reed, and MCU head superhero Kevin Feige sat down with press to talk about the exciting characters that are gonna hit the screen.

You can see what they had to say below.