Seasoned comic book movie actor David Dastmalchian addresses his long MCU absence after playing two Ant-Man characters at SDCC 2025. David Dastmalchian made his MCU debut in Ant-Man, where he played Scott Lang’s friend Kurt Goreshter. Eight years later, Dastmalchian played the alien being Veb in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. Yet, neither character has returned or been acknowledged since then.

David Dastmalchian talked with ScreenRant‘s Ash Crossan at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, where he shared his thoughts on his MCU roles. Dastmalchian jokes that he’s “got a bit of beef with Marvel” because Veb’s translating abilities and Kurt’s tech knowledge could still come in handy in the MCU, but they’ve been forgotten. Read Dastmalchian’s full comments:

Screen Rant: Where do you think Kurt is at? Did the Baba Yaga get him?

David Dastmalchian: “No, Kurt is thriving. If you saw What If…?, unfortunately, Kurt got munched by a zombie, although he made it to the end of his What If…? adventure. But that is a What If…?, which exists in its own timeline.

Here’s where I’m at, Ash. I’ve got a little bit of a beef with Marvel right now, Kevin, I don’t understand why, when the Fantastic Four are going to be interacting with intergalactic, innerspecies beings from all over the different parts of the galaxy and universe, we need someone to help read and interpret the language barriers between these species. Why is [Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s] Veb not present to pour a little goo into people’s mouths and help them understand what’s being said? It’s just logic, it’s just the lore. We built this empire together, guys, why is the Veb empire not there?

And then, technologically, Kurt being the most adept computer specialist in all of the MCU could have been recruited a long time ago. I think he should be a core Avenger at this point. So, I don’t know guys. I feel like we need to have a meeting soon. Kurt’s hair is secretly what defeated Thanos. Some people think it was the great sacrifice of Iron Man, some people from the comic books think it was Squirrel Girl. I think it was Kurt’s hair.”

What David Dastmalchian MCU Comments Mean

David Dastmalchian’s MCU Characters Need Closure

David Dastmalchian’s Kurt Goreshter was a standout supporting character in Ant-Man alongside Michael Peña’s Luis. But after his return in Ant-Man and the Wasp, the MCU completely ignored Kurt and Scott’s whole crew in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The third Ant-Man movie’s Quantum Realm setting made it quite different from the first two installments, and Scott’s supporting cast suffered as a result.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania brought back David Dastmalchian in a void role as Veb. However, Veb got lost in the threequel’s convoluted plot. None of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s Quantum Realm characters have been mentioned again despite being played by notable actors like William Jackson Harper,Katy O’Brian, Bill Murray, and Dastmalchian himself.

Our Take On David Dastmalchian’s MCU Comments

David Dastmalchian May Eventually Return To The Superhero Genre

As Dastmalchian explains, What If…? brought back Kurt in an alternate timeline. What If…? season 1 episode 5 features Dastmalchian’s Kurt in a minor role as he falls victim to the zombie horde. With Marvel Zombies releasing soon, the possibility of seeing Kurt again is fifty-fifty. Although this Kurt is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, he could appear in flashbacks.

David Dastmalchian has an impressive superhero movie record. Apart from his two Marvel roles, Dastmalchian played Thomas Schiff in The Dark Knight and Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad. Since the DCU retains certain characters from Gunn’s DCEU тιтles and the MCU doesn’t seem to be bringing back Dastmalchian’s characters anytime soon, the actor could eventually return as Polka-Dot Man in the DCU.

Although his absence from the MCU might disappoint some fans, David Dastmalchian has quietly built an impressive and varied career beyond superhero fare. He has starred in Late Night with the Devil, played a supporting role in Oppenheimer, and appeared in The Boogeyman, The Life of Chuck, and Dexter: Resurrection. Dastmalchian will also play M. Bison in the upcoming Street Fighter.