The ant man movies tend to be the lightest, lightest entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Within the first few minutes of the original film, Paul Rudd is wearing a pink Baskin-Robbins uniform. The tone can be described as: A fish called Wanda meets Baby I shrunk the kids. The first film is a fast paced farce revolving around a robbery, while the second film is a crazy Elmore Leonard-esque crime hairdresser revolving around a reduced-sized laboratory the size of a briefcase. There are some gripping dramatic moments in the franchise – from Scott Lang plunging into the Quantum Realm to save his daughter to Hank Pym’s heartwarming reunion with his wife Janet decades after she was presumed dead – but director Peyton Reed tends to keep it light with a plethora of goofy running gags like Scott’s close-up magic and Luis’ crawling anecdotes.
With the next installment in the shrinking super solo series, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the audience expects another light-hearted comedy. But Marvel may soon be attracting fans with this film. To be released on February 17, 2023, Quantumania will be the first installment in Phase Five of the MCU. The silly sounding title may be a misrepresentation. Based on the plot details Marvel has revealed so far, ant man threequel can take an unexpectedly dark turn. The first look revealed at Comic-Con has yet to be released online to the general public, but more of the same is being created based on reports. Quantumania is framed as another fun, carefree comedic caper in the vein of his predecessors. This time, Scott has written a memoir about his role in saving the universe called Watch out for the little man, and he’s on a book tour to promote it. But that little guy is about to face his most terrifying adversary yet.
The fact that Kang the Conqueror is the film’s main villain teases a darker story than fans expect in Quantumania. Kang is one of the most menacing antagonists in the entire Marvel Comics universe. After debuting in the season finale of Loki through his “He Who Remains” variant, Kang is set up as Thanos’ next big baddie the size of the MCU. He will be the titular villain in the next one avengers movie, The Kang Dynasty, in which the time-traveling villain will torment all of Earth’s mightiest heroes. With every hero in the MCU about to join forces to face his wrath, it’s impossible for Kang to be defeated by Ant-Man and the Wasp alone on their next solo outing. This is the movie that should show moviegoers just how powerful Kang is before taking on the reformed Avengers in the next phase.
Quantumania is reportedly a new adventure set in the Quantum Realm. It could finally explain what that bustling city is all about – maybe it’s Kang’s lair. The role of Cassie Lang, aged by EndgameThe time jump has been rearranged with a bigger star: Kathryn Newton. She promises to take on her own superhero mantle – Stature or Stinger, depending on which comic book line Marvel Studios chooses to follow – in the threequel. Alongside Kate Bishop and America Chavez, Cassie will be yet another addition to the MCU’s ever-expanding Young Avengers roster.
All these details seem like evidence of another standard comic book action. But Marvel can intentionally mislead fans. Quantumania will definitely start as a traditional ant man film in the style of its predecessors, but it could take a harrowing turn when Kang shows up. There’s even a rumor that Kang will kill Ant-Man to establish the threat he poses to his multi-movie villain arc. He might not actually kill Ant-Man – that seems pretty bold for the MCU – but he could kill an important character like Hope or Hank to show how powerful he is.
Marvel has explored darker territory in recent projects. John Walker defeated a Flag-Smasher with the Captain America shield and convinced himself he was doing the right thing. Wanda Maximoff went into full villain mode and killed the Masters of the Mystic Arts and the Illuminati roster from another universe. Jane Foster died of cancer and Gorr the God Butcher chased the bejeebers out of the Asgardian children he kidnapped and imprisoned in a black and white wasteland. Clearly, the MCU doesn’t shy away from grittier, creepier storylines in the brave new world of “The Multiverse Saga.” Maybe the producers are using Kang to kill Ant-Man after all.
Quantumania could end up being the opposite of Thor: Ragnarok. When Taika Waititi was hired to lead the God of Thunder’s third solo outing, he brought some much-needed levity and humor to a bleak franchise. Ant-Man’s third solo film could take the completely opposite approach, leaving the levity in the rearview mirror and plunging headfirst into the darkness.
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