Golden Globe winner set to bring 'charm and fortitude' to superhero scientist role in Marvel movie

Michael Douglas has signed on to play scientist Hank Pym in Edgar Wright's long-gestating comic-book movie Ant-Man, according to multiple US reports.

The move confirms Douglas's resurgent currency in Hollywood following his dual Golden Globe and Emmy triumphs for Steven Soderbergh's Behind the Candelabra. "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. "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."

The exact type of role Douglas will play remains shrouded in mystery. Hank or Henry Pym was the original Ant-Man, a scientist who discovered the ability to shift his size down to the size of an insect or up to the mass of an elephant, and used it to fight evil. It is now being suggested that Paul Rudd, who was confirmed as Ant-Man last month, will portray a different version of the character named Scott Lang instead. In the comics, Lang was a thief who stole the Ant-Man technology to try and save his sick daughter, but later took on the mantle of the superhero with Pym's blessing.

Pym himself has been the subject of controversy in the comics following an early 80s incident in which he was seen to slap his then-partner Janet van Dyne, aka The Wasp, in a moment of anger.

The episode somewhat soured attitudes towards the character, and there have been numerous reports throughout the development of Wright's film that Marvel Studios would find a way to avoid putting the original Ant-Man in the suit. The first Variety report of Douglas's appointment stated that he would be playing the villain in Wright's film, though the reference was later removed.

"I've been dying to do a Marvel picture for so long," Douglas told Reuters. "The script is really fun, the director is really good. [My son] Dylan will love it. He'll have a picture he can see."

The Oscar-winning actor suggested he saw the role of Pym as another off-the-wall choice to pair with his decision to play the flamboyant pianist Liberace in Behind the Candelabra. "Sometimes - like [when] they didn't see you for Liberace - you've got to shake them up a little bit and have some fun," he said.

Douglas's arrival in the Marvel universe lands 10 months after Hollywood legend Robert Redford signed on to portray a SHIELD commander in upcoming Captain America sequel The Winter Soldier.

Ant-Man in theory exists in the same universe as Steve Rogers and other superheroes such as Iron Man, The Hulk and Thor. Rudd is not, however, expected to appear in next year's Avengers sequel Age of Ultron, which will reunite the superhero ensemble to fight a new menace following the events of Joss Whedon's $1.5bn box-office megalith in 2012.

In unconfirmed Marvel news, the Latino Review blog reports that Johnny Depp is in talks for the role of Doctor Strange in the Disney-owned studio's forthcoming film about the sorcerous superhero.