Paul Rudd's Scott Lang, better known by his superhero moniker Ant-Man, hasn't appeared on the big screen since Avengers: Endgame two years ago, and a solo Ant-Man feature film was last released three years ago. In news that will excite patiently-waiting fans, director Peyton Reed has confirmed that filming on Ant-Man And the Wasp: Quantumania has officially wrapped.
Production on the next installment in the Ant-Man franchise started in July 2021 in Buckinghamshire, England, and was revealed by director Reed by a post of the terrifying bunny doll gifted by Scott to his daughter Cassie in 2015's Ant-Man. While the sequel was originally slated for a 2022 release, this was changed to February 2023 and then again to July of the same year, and this release window does not appear to have been altered again.
Reed revealed in his Tweet that principal photography on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has been completed, meaning that the movie is now ready for post-production. Reed teased that he can't wait to show the fruits of their labor and included an image in the form of concept art by Mark James Hiblin. The artwork shows a minuscule Wasp, who is played by Evangeline Lilly, poised on the head of a giant-looking Ant-Man, hinting at the size-shifting challenges ahead for the two heroes.
Details on the upcoming feature are few and far between, but there is much excitement surrounding the inclusion of Kang the Conqueror, who only made his first MCU appearance in the finale of Loki, played by Jonathan Majors. Kang, a warlord who can time-travel, would make sense as an antagonist to Ant-Man since Avengers: Endgame saw Scott stumble across time-travel. Fans are speculating that Quantumania could give Kang his full introduction as the main villain of Marvel Studios' Phase Four, but it is also not clear what version of Kang will appear in Ant-Man 3. There is also speculation that the inclusion of Kang could mean the debut of the Young Avengers team in the MCU. The groundwork is being laid with Kate Bishop already appearing in the Disney Plus series Hawkeye while Scott's daughter, Cassie Lang, is now being played by Kathryn Newton, a more recognizable name perhaps hinting that Cassie may finally become Stature, another of the Young Avengers.
This is Reed's third outing as an official MCU director. He was new to the world of superheroes for the first Ant-Man movie in 2015 but has subsequently been back again twice. Recently, actress Lilly praised the script for Ant-Man 3, which was penned by Jeff Loveness of Rick and Morty. While it's his first foray in the world of Marvel, and indeed film as a whole, Loveness recently won an Emmy for his work as a scribe on Rick and Morty and he's worked on the series for two years. These serious comedy credentials should give Quantumania a much-needed boost in the humor department that was missing from previous Ant-Man entries.
Fans will have to wait until July 2023 to see what will happen, but one thing that can be expected is a further exploration of the Quantum Realm and all its multiverse drama. In the meantime, keep an eye on Reed's Twitter for any more sneak peeks at what's to come.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently scheduled to be released on July 28, 2023.
Source: Peyton Reed | Twitter