Fans are Catapulted Into the Coming Phases of The MCU in This Vibrant Third Installment

By Sabrina Kenoun

As per usual, Marvel Studios has released yet another sure-to-be record breaking film to box offices this weekend with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. In this fast-paced, colorful third installment of the Ant-Man franchise, fans join Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) in the post-Endgame world where he seems to be absolutely thriving – he’s got his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) back, he has his beautiful girlfriend Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lily), and he’s recently published a memoir.

But Scott’s suddenly perfect life hangs in the balance when he and his family get thrust into the effervescent quantum realm that fans have learned about over the course of many films.

As MCU fanatics know, the quantum realm can be totally unpredictable in the best way – but for readers who like a little bit of a heads up, there’s a sneak peak down below.

Scott Lang Has a New Nemesis

Since his introduction to the MCU, viewers have witnessed Scott fight a genetically engineered bee, space aliens and even alongside Captain America himself – but what we have yet to see him tackle in real time is the Quantum Realm and all of its perils.

Now, the way of the MCU has always been to place Easter eggs for upcoming projects into its new releases, and then watch fans light up as those hints come to fruition in later films – and a rather big one is revealed in this new blockbuster. As seen in the film’s two trailers, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) is rearing his ugly head.

Marvel junkies were first introduced to Kang in the season one finale of the hit Disney+ show Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston. At the end of the show, we note that Kang has overtaken the TVA, and chaos is bound to ensue in the multiverse. Sure enough, Kang is the focal point of this latest adventure for Ant-Man and The Wasp.

Of course, Kang is unlike any threat which Scott and Hope have ever faced before – he’s stronger, smarter, and even more dangerous than anyone could ever imagine. But it seems that his antics here are only just the beginning.

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Cassie Lang is All Grown Up, Character Returns & More

It must be said that in spite of Phase 4 of the MCU having disappointed many thus far, that Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania serves exactly the purpose that it was expected to in both its content and its performance.

The vetted MCU fan is used to the somber and serious tones of movies featuring our favorite Avengers like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor (Ragnarok and Love and Thunder aside) or Black Widow. But the one thing that has always been counted on with the Ant-Man franchise is its humor and heart for family.

Paul Rudd’s sprightly character is nothing if not nonchalant and a little boastful (in the best way), while also doing everything he could possibly do for his daughter, Cassie. His humor is unmatched, with comedic timing that can almost rival that of the legendary Tony Stark.

On top of that, it seems he deems his daughter his greatest challenge, as well as greatest achievement like any good father would. Cassie is just like Scott in every way that matters: she’s willing to go to jail, and even more willing to help a person in need.

Not only that, but over the course of films like Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) Dr. Strange: The Multiverse of Madness (2022), watchers are finally given a hint as to what the center of the franchise’s phases to come will be. After exiting the Infinity Stone saga, this Multiverse compilation is finally beginning to make sense.

While the aforementioned films gave the audience a brief overview of what the concept of the multiverse meant, Quantumania has truly explained and made viewers aware of the chaos that lies at the heart of it all.

And even though this was just the right explanation for all that is to come, its comedy and cuteness factor were the perfect palette cleanser for the future of the MCU.

Final Rating

All in all, Scott Lang and Co. delivered a perfectly standard adventure with the tools they were given. While the humor and overall plot left a bit to be desired, Ant-Man: Quantumania did a wonderful job at propelling Phase 4 of the MCU forward in a way which we have not seen since the December 2021 release of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

For the first time in a while, Marvel movie-goers may feel a little bit more comfortable in expressing their excitement for the future of the heroic cinematic universe.