The announcement of a film surrounding the Ant-Man character wasn't met with high expectations. He was viewed as a C-list superhero and one who might have been a bit too goofy to make work on the big screen. Of course, leave it to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to make it work wonderfully.

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In 2015, Ant-Man debuted and was a box office success ($519.3M). It went on to spawn a 2018 sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, which was also successful ($622.7M). Both films were met with high praise and a major reason for that was the performances put in by the outstanding cast.

Corey Stoll

Corey Stoll as Darren Cross explaining shrinking technology in a laboratory in Ant-Man

The first film was considered the final entry into the MCU's Phase Two. That was something of an unfortunate timeframe because the franchise was about to finally start delivering on great villains but wasn't quite there yet. Corey Stoll played the antagonist in Ant-Man.

He took on the role of Darren Cross, an old protégé of Hank Pym's who took over his company. Cross eventually uses Pym technology to create and become the Yellowjacket. Stoll brought the right amount of unbalanced to the mindset of this character, even if the reason for it wasn't well written.

Bobby Cannavale

Bobby Cannavale looks on in Ant-Man

When audiences first get a look at Bobby Cannavale in Ant-Man, they probably assume they won't like him. He plays Jim Paxton, a police officer who is married to Scott Lang's ex-wife Maggie. He is also immediately rude to Scott Lang at a birthday party.

However, Paxton eventually becomes a delightful character. Cannavale makes him likable thanks to his immense charm. You buy the fact that he's a genuinely good person and you totally believe that he cares deeply for Cassie. He does quite a lot with a little.

Randall Park

Jimmy Woo looks on in Ant-Man and the Wasp

Speaking of actors who found success without having a major role, it's Randall Park. He didn't appear in the first installment and didn't have a ton of screen time in the sequel. That being said, Park made sure that fans everywhere remembered his hilarious scenes.

Park is a very talented comedian. That's why he was a perfect choice to play FBI agent Jimmy Woo, who doubled as Scott's parole officer. His interactions with Lang and Cassie throughout are full of laughs. It's interesting to note that he is being brought back for the WandaVision series.

Walton Goggins

Walton Goggins as Sonny Burch holding a shrunken lab in Ant-Man and the Wasp

Walton Goggins is almost the definition of "that guy in that thing." That's not a knock on the versatile actor at all. It's a good way to describe him because while he's not a household name or a leading star anywhere, Goggins has appeared in many films and series over the decades.

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He joined Ant-Man and the Wasp as Sonny Burch, a lower-level villain with his eyes on Pym technology in the hopes of selling it on the black market. He was the ideal choice for this role, managing to bring plenty of charisma to a smaller role without overshadowing other characters.

Hannah John-Kamen

Ghost with her mask off looking angry in Ant Man and the Wasp

Darren Cross was possibly a bit too evil in the first film for a lighthearted story like this series is known for. That might be why the filmmakers opted for a different take on the sequel's antagonist. Ava Starr, better known as Ghost, was that option, played by Hannah John-Kamen.

The character is not truly a villain, it's just that her goals clash with the heroes. She's completely sympathetic and even if it prevents the heroes from getting what they want, you kind of end up rooting for her. A lot of that is down to how well John-Kamen did with the role.

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas as Hank Pym in Ant Man

It was actually really surprising when Hank Pym survived the first Ant-Man movie. He was the mentor to Scott Lang and that kind of character is often killed off so the main hero can take over. Maybe the reason why Pym stuck around was because of Michael Douglas.

The veteran actor does very well with the character and makes it his own. It helps that he showcases tremendous chemistry with every other actor he has to share the screen with. That's even true in shorter stints with the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer and Laurence Fishburne.

Abby Ryder Fortson

Abby Ryder Fortson as Cassie Lang

In Avengers: Endgame, Scott Lang is reunited with his daughter Cassie, except she's now a teenager due to the time that passed after Thanos's snap. The scene was touching but it was missing one major element. The performance of Abby Ryder-Fortson.

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Although she's just a child, Abby Ryder Fortson quite possibly steals the show as Cassie Lang. She's adorable and every scene with her father is brilliant. It's one of the best and more underrated parts of the series. It's a shame that the character has aged and someone new took on the role.

Evangeline Lilly

Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne

Famous for Lost and The Hobbit franchise, it certainly seemed like Evangeline Lilly was a good choice for the physical role of Hope van Dyne. She delivered in a big way, although it didn't fully stand out until she could actually get physical.

In the first installment, Lilly played well off of her co-stars but wasn't given a ton to do outside of a handful of scenes. Thankfully, she was given a leading role in the sequel and was brilliant. She nailed the scenes where she had to be tough, emotional, vulnerable, and everything else in between.

Michael Peña

Michael Peña as Luis

It's impossible to watch these movies and not be enamored with Michael Peña. The comedic actor portrays Luis, a former cellmate and good friend of Scott Lang. He's a member of Lang's crew and helps to run their X-Con Security company.

What makes Luis such a beloved character is totally the performance of Peña. He is masterful at delivering the fast-talking wit the character is known for. His recaps and storytelling are genuine highlights of the series to the point where fans wanted him to do one covering the entire MCU.

Paul Rudd

No matter how good the rest of the actors are, there's just no way that any of it succeeds without Paul Rudd being cast as the lead. Known mostly for a career of comedy and seemingly never aging, he turned out to be a perfect choice. He was able to bring the lightheartedness that the role needed.

Plus, there's something inherently likable about Paul Rudd. With him leading the way, audiences couldn't but love Lang. It's why the character has worked so well and why he even arguably stole the show in Avengers: Endgame. Rudd delivers in spades next to every actor, from Lang's friends to his family to his co-workers.

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