Paul Rudd’s performance as Scott Lang (Ant-Man) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is one of the most surprising aspects of the franchise. Rudd plays Scott as an affable, self-deprecating man, constantly out of place among gods, billionaire geniuses, and playboy philanthropists. His role in Avengers: Endgame was one of heartfelt emotion as he reunited with his daughter Cassie five years after being trapped in the quantum realm. Then he proved to be the key to defeating Thanos.
Scott is a bumbling-but-capable hero striving to remain in good legal standing so he can be part of his daughter’s life. Eric O'Grady, a rogue Shield agent who takes the mantle in Irredeemable Ant-Man #1 is self-centered and narcissistic, functioning as a fascinating anti-hero. Adding another unique character who wears the Ant-Man suits could give the MCU a boost in unique motivations and humor. Here are ten actors who could portray the Irredeemable Ant-Man in the MCU.
LaKeith Stanfield
Sorry to Bother You, Uncut Gems, Knives Out, Bojack Horseman, Atlanta. These are the recent works of LaKeith Stanfield, arguably the most accomplished actor on this list. He touts an unparalleled range, playing straight-laced detectives, aggressive hustlers, and even the faithful, cross-faded best friend. Stanfield as Eric O’Grady would be wonderful for one simple reason: he plays edgy better than anyone in Hollywood, and Marvel has yet to cast such a daring role. He can play O’Grady smart-ass, intense, and just a little unsure of himself. Opposite Paul Rudd's Scott Lang as a potential mentor, Stanfield as Eric O’Grady could be one of the most dynamic Marvel roles ever.
Dan Stevens
With credits in landmark films such as 2017’s Beauty and the Beast as well as smaller indie-action titles like The Guest, Dan Stevens is capable of playing everything from a brooding monster to an unhinged drifter. His first big role as Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey earned him the love of millions of fans, but Steven's work on Noah Hawley’s Legion is perhaps the most impressive work he’s done.
As schizophrenic telepath David Haller, Stevens stumbles along a razor-sharp line between good and evil, showing his desire for good and his inherent frustration reconciling himself with a seemingly unsympathetic world. His aggression and sheer gravitas would make him an excellent O’Grady, capable of intimidating heroes like Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner.
Zac Efron
The High School Musical actor has come a long way since 2006, appearing mostly in dirty comedies like Neighbors and Dirty Grandpa. But returning to his musical roots in The Greatest Showman proved his adaptability as a singer and supporting character. Most recently playing Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, Efron cemented his ability to play serious and bad characters. His portrayal of Bundy is very near to recordings of the infamous killer: admittedly charming with a sense of rottenness underneath. Many are already clamoring for his casting as any superhero, and with the character’s legitimate redemption arc, Efron is equipped to succeed as O’Grady.
Nicholas Hamilton
While his most famous role to date is the vicious bully Henry Bowers in It, Nicholas Hamilton has several qualities that could make him a great Eric O’Grady. First, the twenty-year-old actor has experience opposite some of the biggest names in Hollywood like Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba in 2017’s The Dark Tower. This is a necessity if an anti-hero like Eric O’Grady is going to interact with actors like Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) and Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther). Second, Hamilton can play menace with ease, as witnessed in It as his character murders his abusive father. These reasons and his talent could make Hamilton a great long-game addition to the MCU as Eric O’Grady.
Alan Ruck
By far the actor with the most interesting experience on this list, Alan Ruck has appeared in many films and nearly a dozen popular TV series over the years. His most recent role is Connor Roy in the hit show Succession. Many first saw him play Cameron Frye in the cult classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Ruck possesses an innate understanding of comedic timing, leveraging his presence as the often-overlooked coworkers or sibling to conniving effect later on. One of the older actors on this list, it would be a blast to see him smooth-talk out of sticky situations with the X-Men or Fantastic Four.
Bill Skarsgård
The twenty-nine-year-old Swedish actor has one of the most intense and memorable faces in Hollywood. Unsurprisingly, it earned him a role as the terrifying child-destroying clown Pennywise in the It movies. Not only that, but Skarsgård also participates in one of the most unexpected, hysterical and grotesque death sequences in superhero memory as Zeitgeist in Deadpool 2. He’s famous for his roles as unnerving baddies, but his appearance in Atomic Blonde affirms his fit as a sneaky undercover operative with a good heart. If Marvel wants to cast a young actor capable of charisma and physical prowess, Bill Skarsgård would be an excellent choice to play the conceited Eric O’Grady.
Robert S. Powell III
While many may not know the name or face of Robert S. Powell III, he has appeared in one of the greatest episodes of TV in the last decade: “Barbershop” in season 2 of Atlanta. Powell plays the incessantly-jabbering barber Bibby. “Barbershop” becomes a wild goose-chase of cringing laughs and anxiety-inducing capers.
Powell plays the atypical Atlantan barber to incredible effect, which could also carry over to Eric O’Grady: suave, ready to take the easiest way out, and shirking any personal responsibility. Although Atlanta is his only screen credit (he works primarily as a comedian), Robert S. Powell III would be a truly incomparable casting choice as the despicable Eric O’Grady.
Michael Angarano
Some might remember him from Sky High as the frustrated son of two famous superheroes, while others may have recently seen him in This is Us as Nick Pearson. Angarano has acted mostly in TV. Although he’s less aggressive than some of the other choices on this list, Angarano has discipline and takes his roles seriously. If Marvel decides to include Eric O’Grady at some point in phase 4 or 5, Angarano would be an excellent choice as a toned-down version of the comic anti-hero, capable of good despite bad choices. The young actor would likewise be a good fit for the series as a recurring character.
Patrick Fugit
Fugit’s first big role was teenage rock journalist William Miller in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. Appearing alongside Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson, Fugit’s presence as the awkward yet loyal writer wasn’t diminished by his co-stars. Since shedding his boyish looks in this role, Fugit has morphed into a striking actor, recently appearing in We Bought a Zoo, Gone Girl, and First Man as supporting characters. His action chops are also up to snuff, as he is a supporting USA’s action series Treadstone. If Marvel is seeking an unusual choice, Fugit would be an excellent selection with an impressive resume.
Keegan-Michael Key
Some names on this list have striking looks, some have undeniable talent, and some, irreverent humor. But one man has all three: Keegan-Michael Key. A brilliant comedian, he can play it straight when he needs to, like in Dolemite is My Name. Key's presence is magnetizing and hysterical. His physicality alone would be surprising for the most notable Avengers, and he’s proven his affinity for action in The Predator. It is easy to envision Key comically convincing a S.H.I.E.L.D. guard to let him into a secure vault or baiting Falcon just to pick a fight. Key would arguably be most memorable if he played the role over-the-top just as he does many of his comedic sketches. But however the character is played, Keegan-Michael Key would be a standout as this unpredictable rogue character in the MCU.