We know that as a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you're probably excited about the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania landing in theaters tomorrow. As the 31st film in the franchise and the first in Phase 5, there's a lot riding on it and the future of the MCU. But before you grab your popcorn and head to the theater, there are a few things you should know to fully appreciate the movie. In this article, we'll cover some things you should probably know before watching Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
When is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania being released?
For those that haven't been living under a rock, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania lands in theaters tomorrow, February 17th, 2023.
Phase 5 of the MCU
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania marks the beginning of Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase 5 promises to bring new stories and characters to the MCU, with movies Gaurdians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels coming later this year, not to mention the other films that have been announced, such as Captain America: New World Order, and Thunderbolts already announced for next year. There are also the slew of Marvel TV shows landing this year and next including What If...? Season 2, Secret Invasion, Echo, Loki Season 2, and Ironheart.
The Plot
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania picks up after the events of 2018's Avengers: Endgame, with Scott Lang trying to balance being a superhero and a father. The movie's main antagonist is Kang the Conqueror, a time-traveling villain who threatens to take over the multiverse. Ant-Man, The Wasp, and their team must use their size-shifting abilities to stop Kang and save the world.
Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp
The first two movies in the Ant-Man series are crucial to fully understanding the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. These films introduce the main characters, Scott Lang (Ant-Man) and Hope van Dyne (the Wasp), and their families and abilities. The films also introduce the concept of the Quantum Realm, which plays a significant role in the upcoming movie.
Avengers: Endgame
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame. It's essential to refresh your memory on what happened in the movie, particularly as it relates to the Quantum Realm. The Quantum Realm played a significant role in the events of Endgame, and it's expected to play a similar role in the upcoming movie.
Avengers: Endgame was the culmination of over a decade of films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it brought together dozens of beloved characters for the grand finale. The movie begins after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, in which the villainous Thanos has acquired all six Infinity Stones and wiped out half of all life in the universe.
As the surviving Avengers and their allies mourn their losses, they devise a plan to go back in time and retrieve the Infinity Stones before Thanos can get them. The plan involves splitting up into teams and traveling to various points in the past to retrieve the stones, but they encounter unexpected challenges and setbacks along the way.
Meanwhile, Thanos from the past learns of their plan and travels to the present to stop them. The resulting battle is one of the most epic in cinematic history, featuring nearly every major character from the MCU. The stakes are high as they fight to undo the damage caused by Thanos and bring back the people who were lost.
The movie concludes with a heartbreaking and emotional goodbye to some of the series' most beloved characters, as well as a glimpse into the future of the MCU.
You may want to rewatch Endgame if you haven't seen it in a while...
The Importance of Quantum Realm
In Ant-Man and the Wasp, we were introduced to the concept of the Quantum Realm, a microscopic dimension that can only be accessed through subatomic shrinking. The Quantum Realm plays a vital role in the plot of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as it's the key to stopping Kang's plans.
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror is the primary antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He is a time-traveling supervillain who has faced off against several Marvel superheroes. He is expected to be a formidable opponent in the upcoming movie, and it's essential to understand his powers and motivations.
In the comics, Kang the Conqueror, whose real name is Nathaniel Richards, was born on Earth-6311 in the 30th century. He discovered part of a time machine left by his ancestor from Earth-616, a man who brought peace to Nathaniel's world as the Benefactor. This discovery sparked Nathaniel's obsession with time travel, leading him to become Kang the Conqueror.
Kang the Conqueror's powers are mostly in his brain and technology. He does not have any superhuman abilities, making him similar to Tony Stark. He is a genius, having developed advanced technology that allows him to travel through time and space.
In the MCU, Kang the Conqueror is portrayed by Jonathan Majors, who has described the character as "the biggest challenge for the Super Heroes of the MCU". His character is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Easter Eggs and References
As with all MCU movies, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is full of Easter eggs and references to other movies and comics. Keep an eye out for nods to characters like the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, as well as callbacks to previous MCU movies like Avengers: Endgame and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Knowing the MCU's history and what to look out for will make the movie even more enjoyable.
The Cast
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania stars Paul Rudd as Ant-Man/Scott Lang, Evangeline Lilly as The Wasp/Hope Van Dyne, and Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. Other cast members include Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne, and Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang. It's important to know who's who in the cast to fully understand the dynamics between the characters.
The Comics
The characters of Ant-Man and The Wasp were first introduced in the pages of Marvel Comics in the early 1960s. The original Ant-Man was Hank Pym, a scientist who discovered a way to shrink objects and people down to the size of an ant. Pym was also the creator of the cybernetic helmet that allows him to communicate with and control ants. Janet Van Dyne, who later becomes The Wasp, was a wealthy socialite who was trained by Pym to become his partner in crime-fighting.
The first appearance of Ant-Man and The Wasp in Tales to Astonish #27 and #44, respectively, established the origin stories of the two characters. These issues detail how Hank Pym discovered the shrinking serum and how he trained Janet Van Dyne to become The Wasp.
The quantum realm was first introduced in the pages of Marvel Comics in the 1980s. This is a subatomic universe that exists beyond our own reality and is a key element in the Ant-Man films. The quantum realm is home to strange and dangerous creatures and has the potential to be used for time travel and dimensional exploration.
The multiverse is a concept that has been explored in various Marvel Comics storylines, including "Spider-Verse" and "Secret Wars." The multiverse is a vast, interconnected network of alternate realities and dimensions that could potentially be explored in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need to watch previous Ant-Man movies before watching Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?
While it's not necessary to watch the previous movies, it's recommended as it will give you a better understanding of the characters and their relationships.
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Is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania a standalone movie?
While the movie has its own plot and story, it's part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe and sets up future movies.
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What is Kang the Conqueror's power?
Kang the Conqueror is a time-traveling villain with advanced technology and combat skills. While he doesn't have any super powers, he has genius level intellect.
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What is the Quantum Realm?
The quantum realm is a subatomic universe that exists beyond our own reality. It is a key element in the Ant-Man films and is home to strange and dangerous creatures.