''Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'' is an upcoming American
superhero film
A superhero film (or superhero movie) is a film that focuses on the actions of superheroes. Superheroes are individuals who possess superhuman abilities and are dedicated to protecting the public. These films typically feature Action film, ac ...
based on
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
featuring the characters
Scott Lang / Ant-Man and
Hope Pym
Hope Pym is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, the character first appeared in '' A-Next'' #7 (April 1999). She is the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne ...
/
Wasp
A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. Th ...
. Produced by
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios, LLC (originally known as Marvel Films from 1993 to 1996) is an American film and television production company that is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of the Walt Disney Company. Marvel Studios produces the Mar ...
and distributed by
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, formerly known as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. until 2007, is an American film distribution studio within the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. It ha ...
, it is intended to be the sequel to ''
Ant-Man
Ant-Man is the name of several superheroes appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, Ant-Man's first appearance was in ''Tales to Astonish'' #27 (January 1962) but first appeared in costum ...
'' (2015) and ''
Ant-Man and the Wasp
''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' is a 2018 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope Pym / Wasp. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is th ...
'' (2018) and
the 31st film of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by ...
(MCU). The film is directed by
Peyton Reed
Peyton Tucker Reed (born July 3, 1964) is an American television and film director. He directed the comedy films ''Bring It On'', ''Down with Love'', ''The Break-Up'', and '' Yes Man'', as well as the superhero film ''Ant-Man'' and its sequels.
...
, written by
Jeff Loveness
Jeff Loveness is an American screenwriter, television producer, actor, and comic book writer who has worked on the television series ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' and ''Rick and Morty,'' as well as the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe films '' Ant-M ...
, and stars
Paul Rudd
Paul Stephen Rudd (born April 6, 1969) is an American actor. He studied theater at the University of Kansas and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, before making his acting debut in 1991. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in ...
as
Scott Lang and
Evangeline Lilly
Nicole Evangeline Lilly (born 3 August 1979) is a Canadian actress and author. She is the recipient of various accolades including a Screen Actors Guild Award and an MTV Movie Award. She has also received nominations for a Golden Globe Award, ...
as
Hope van Dyne
Hope van Dyne (née Pym) is a fictional character portrayed by Evangeline Lilly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise, loosely based on the Marvel Comics character Hope Pym. Portrayed as the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van D ...
alongside
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and film producer. He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AF ...
,
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress and producer. A prolific performer whose List of Michelle Pfeiffer performances, screen work spans over four decades, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars and ...
,
Kathryn Newton
Kathryn Newton (born February 8, 1997) is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Louise Brooks in the CBS comedy series ''Gary Unmarried'' (2008–2010), Abigail Carlson in the HBO mystery drama series '' Big Little Lies' ...
,
Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Michael Majors (born September 7, 1989)Majors in is an American actor. He rose to prominence after starring in the independent feature film ''The Last Black Man in San Francisco'' (2019). In 2020, he garnered wider notice for portraying ...
,
David Dastmalchian
David Dastmalchian (; born July 21, 1975) is an American film and stage actor. He has had supporting roles in a number of superhero franchises; he portrayed Thomas Schiff in ''The Dark Knight'', Kurt in the first two Marvel Cinematic Univers ...
, and
Randall Park Randall may refer to the following:
Places
United States
*Randall, California, former name of White Hall, California, an unincorporated community
* Randall, Indiana, a former town
*Randall, Iowa, a city
*Randall, Kansas, a city
* Randall, Minneso ...
. In the film, Lang and van Dyne explore the
Quantum Realm
Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, qua ...
along with their family and face
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror (Nathaniel Richards) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is most frequently depicted as an opponent of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. A time-traveling entity, seve ...
(Majors).
Plans for a third ''Ant-Man'' film were confirmed in November 2019, with Reed and Rudd returning. Loveness was hired by April 2020, with development on the film beginning during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. The film's title and new cast members were announced in December 2020. Filming in Turkey began in early February 2021, while additional filming occurred in San Francisco in mid-June, ahead of
principal photography
Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production.
Personnel
Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...
starting at the end of July at
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London.
The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to te ...
in
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...
and ending in November.
''Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'' is scheduled to be released in the United States on February 17, 2023, as the first film of
Phase Five of the MCU.
Premise
Scott Lang and
Hope van Dyne
Hope van Dyne (née Pym) is a fictional character portrayed by Evangeline Lilly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise, loosely based on the Marvel Comics character Hope Pym. Portrayed as the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van D ...
, along with Hope's parents
Hank Pym
Dr. Henry Jonathan "Hank" Pym () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by penciller Jack Kirby, editor-plotter Stan Lee and writer Larry Lieber, the character first appeared in ''Tales to ...
and
Janet van Dyne and Lang's daughter
Cassie
Cassie is a feminine given name and a short form of various other given names mostly used in English-speaking countries. It is more rarely a surname. People and fictional characters named Cassie include:
People with the name Given name or nickna ...
, go on a new adventure exploring the
Quantum Realm
Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, qua ...
that pushes their limits and pits them against
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror (Nathaniel Richards) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is most frequently depicted as an opponent of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. A time-traveling entity, seve ...
.
Cast
*
Paul Rudd
Paul Stephen Rudd (born April 6, 1969) is an American actor. He studied theater at the University of Kansas and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, before making his acting debut in 1991. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in ...
as
Scott Lang / Ant-Man:
An
Avenger
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...
and former petty criminal with a
suit
A suit, lounge suit, or business suit is a set of clothes comprising a suit jacket and trousers of identical textiles worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes. A skirt suit is similar, but with a matching skirt instead of tr ...
that allows him to shrink or grow in scale while increasing in strength.
After the events of ''
Avengers: Endgame'' (2019), Lang has become a well-known celebrity to the public, as well as the author of an
autobiographical
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life.
It is a form of biography.
Definition
The word "autobiography" was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English peri ...
book titled ''Look Out for the Little Guy'', which tells a different version of how he helped save the universe from
Thanos
Thanos is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by writer-artist Jim Starlin, and first appeared in '' The Invincible Iron Man'' #55 ( cover date February 1973). An Eternal– Deviant w ...
in ''Endgame''.
*
Evangeline Lilly
Nicole Evangeline Lilly (born 3 August 1979) is a Canadian actress and author. She is the recipient of various accolades including a Screen Actors Guild Award and an MTV Movie Award. She has also received nominations for a Golden Globe Award, ...
as
Hope van Dyne / Wasp:
The daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne who is handed down a similar suit and the Wasp mantle from her mother.
Lilly said the film would explore how the character deals with her "fragilities and her vulnerabilities", continuing from how ''
Ant-Man and the Wasp
''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' is a 2018 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope Pym / Wasp. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is th ...
'' (2018) showed how powerful and capable she was.
*
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and film producer. He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AF ...
as
Hank Pym
Dr. Henry Jonathan "Hank" Pym () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by penciller Jack Kirby, editor-plotter Stan Lee and writer Larry Lieber, the character first appeared in ''Tales to ...
: A former
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in ''Strange Tales'' #135 (August 1965), it often deals ...
agent, entomologist, and physicist who became the original Ant-Man after creating the suit.
*
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress and producer. A prolific performer whose List of Michelle Pfeiffer performances, screen work spans over four decades, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars and ...
as
Janet van Dyne: Pym's wife, Hope's mother, and the original Wasp, who was lost in the
Quantum Realm
Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, qua ...
for 30 years.
*
Kathryn Newton
Kathryn Newton (born February 8, 1997) is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Louise Brooks in the CBS comedy series ''Gary Unmarried'' (2008–2010), Abigail Carlson in the HBO mystery drama series '' Big Little Lies' ...
as
Cassie Lang
Cassandra "Cassie" Lang is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The daughter of Scott Lang, the character first appeared in '' Marvel Premiere'' #47 (April 1979) as Cassie Lang, in '' Young Avengers' ...
:
Scott Lang's daughter who acquires a suit similar to her father's.
She is scientifically inclined, and gains an interest in Pym's old notes and learning more about the science and technology from the Quantum Realm.
The character was previously portrayed as a child by
Abby Ryder Fortson
Abby Ryder Fortson (born March 14, 2008) is an American actress who played Ella Novak in '' Transparent'', Harper Weil in '' The Whispers'', Sophie Pierson in '' Togetherness'' and Cassie Lang in ''Ant-Man'' (2015) and ''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' ( ...
in the previous ''Ant-Man'' films and as a teenager by
Emma Fuhrmann
Emma Cate Fuhrmann (born September 15, 2001) is an American actress known for her work as Finnegan O'Neil in ''The Magic of Belle Isle'' (2012), Espn Friedman in '' Blended'' (2014), and Cassie Lang in '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019).
Personal l ...
in ''Endgame''.
Director
Peyton Reed
Peyton Tucker Reed (born July 3, 1964) is an American television and film director. He directed the comedy films ''Bring It On'', ''Down with Love'', ''The Break-Up'', and '' Yes Man'', as well as the superhero film ''Ant-Man'' and its sequels.
...
said that he wanted to further develop the relationship between Cassie and Scott, as it was central to the previous ''Ant-Man'' films.
*
Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Michael Majors (born September 7, 1989)Majors in is an American actor. He rose to prominence after starring in the independent feature film ''The Last Black Man in San Francisco'' (2019). In 2020, he garnered wider notice for portraying ...
as
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror (Nathaniel Richards) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is most frequently depicted as an opponent of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. A time-traveling entity, seve ...
:
A "time-traveling, multiversal adversary" trapped in the Quantum Realm who is an alternate-timeline variant of the character
He Who Remains
The Time Variance Authority (TVA) is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is depicted as a group of timeline monitors.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Chronicoms, based on the lower-ran ...
, the creator of the
Time Variance Authority
The Time Variance Authority (TVA) is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is depicted as a group of timeline monitors.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Chronicoms, based on the lower-ran ...
(TVA) introduced in the
first season of ''
Loki
Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi or Na ...
'' (2021).
Kang was described by ''Loki'' season one
head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits. In fictional comedy o ...
Michael Waldron
Michael Waldron (born April 23, 1987) is an American screenwriter and producer known for his work on television series ''Rick and Morty'' and '' Heels'', as well as creating the Marvel Cinematic Universe series '' Loki'' and writing the script ...
as the "next big cross-movie villain" for the MCU.
Majors said Kang is different from He Who Remains, who is not in ''Quantumania'', with a shifted psychology, portraying Kang differently from He Who Remains due to the different characters surrounding him, and transitioning from a series to a film.
He was attracted to Kang's "character and dimensions" and the potential that presented to him as an actor, noting Kang would be a different type of villain to the MCU than
Erik Killmonger
Erik Killmonger ( né N'Jadaka) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler, he first appeared in ''Jungle Action'' #6 (September 1973). The character is commonly depi ...
and Thanos were,
as well as the possibility of playing a complex villain about whom everyone has to be careful, akin to
Iago
Iago () is a fictional character in Shakespeare's ''Othello'' (c. 1601–1604). Iago is the play's main antagonist, and Othello's standard-bearer. He is the husband of Emilia, who is in turn the attendant of Othello's wife Desdemona. Iago hates ...
in
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's tragedy ''
Othello
''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...
'' (1603).
Majors added of muscle for the role, focusing on strength and conditioning training.
Reed said ''Quantumania'' would show a "different flavor" of Majors' approach to Kang's alternate versions, and explained Kang "has dominion over time", calling him a warrior, strategist, and an "all-timer antagonist" compared to the antagonists of the prior ''Ant-Man'' films as a "force of nature".
Given his work with time, Kang does not live a linear life.
*
David Dastmalchian
David Dastmalchian (; born July 21, 1975) is an American film and stage actor. He has had supporting roles in a number of superhero franchises; he portrayed Thomas Schiff in ''The Dark Knight'', Kurt in the first two Marvel Cinematic Univers ...
as
Kurt: A member of Lang's X-Con Security crew.
*
Randall Park Randall may refer to the following:
Places
United States
*Randall, California, former name of White Hall, California, an unincorporated community
* Randall, Indiana, a former town
*Randall, Iowa, a city
*Randall, Kansas, a city
* Randall, Minneso ...
as
Jimmy Woo
James "Jimmy" Woo (Woo Yen Jet) is a fictional secret agent appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by EC Comics writer Al Feldstein and artist Joe Maneely, the Chinese-American character first appeared in '' Yel ...
: An
FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...
agent who was previously Lang's parole officer.
Additionally,
Gregg Turkington
Gregg Turkington (born November 25, 1967) is an Australian-born American entertainer, actor, musician and writer. He is known for his performances as Neil Hamburger, a stand-up comedian persona he developed in the 1990s. Alongside Tim Heidecker, ...
reprises his role as Dale, the manager of a
Baskin-Robbins
Baskin-Robbins is an American multinational chain of ice cream and cake speciality shops owned by Inspire Brands. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin (1913–1967) and Irv Robbins (1917–2008) in ...
store who Lang worked for, from ''
Ant-Man
Ant-Man is the name of several superheroes appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, Ant-Man's first appearance was in ''Tales to Astonish'' #27 (January 1962) but first appeared in costum ...
'' (2015),
while
Bill Murray
William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his deadpan delivery. He rose to fame on ''The National Lampoon Radio Hour'' (1973–1974) before becoming a national presence on ''Saturday Nigh ...
is cast as an undisclosed villain who has a history with Janet van Dyne in the Quantum Realm.
Reed believed Murray's character represented a person's past "always find
nga way to show up again" and the film's theme of secrets between family members and how they are each effected by them.
Ruben Rabasa appears as a coffee shop attendant.
William Jackson Harper
William Fitzgerald Harper (born February 8, 1980), known professionally as William Jackson Harper, is an American actor and playwright. He is best known for his role as Chidi Anagonye on the NBC comedy ''The Good Place'' (2016–2020), for which ...
and
Katy O'Brian
Katy M. O'Brian (born February 12, 1989) is an American actress, writer, and martial artist. She is best known for her roles as Jentorra in '' Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'', George in Syfy's zombie show ''Z Nation'', Major Sarah Grey in ...
are cast in undisclosed roles.
Also slated to appear in the film is
M.O.D.O.K.
MODOK (also written as M.O.D.O.K.; an acronym for Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first MODOK is George Tarleton, a former e ...
, a mutated, cybernetically enhanced individual with an oversized head.
Production
Development
Ahead of the release of ''
Ant-Man and the Wasp
''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' is a 2018 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope Pym / Wasp. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is th ...
'' (2018), director
Peyton Reed
Peyton Tucker Reed (born July 3, 1964) is an American television and film director. He directed the comedy films ''Bring It On'', ''Down with Love'', ''The Break-Up'', and '' Yes Man'', as well as the superhero film ''Ant-Man'' and its sequels.
...
said there were elements of that film that leave "a lot to play with" in a potential third film in the franchise. He highlighted the
Quantum Realm
Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, qua ...
, which was introduced in ''
Ant-Man
Ant-Man is the name of several superheroes appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, Ant-Man's first appearance was in ''Tales to Astonish'' #27 (January 1962) but first appeared in costum ...
'' (2015) and explored further in ''Ant-Man and the Wasp''; Reed said they were "just dipping our toes into it" for the previous films.
Reed added that he and
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios, LLC (originally known as Marvel Films from 1993 to 1996) is an American film and television production company that is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of the Walt Disney Company. Marvel Studios produces the Mar ...
were hopeful about a third film and had discussed potential story points for such a sequel.
In February 2019,
Hank Pym
Dr. Henry Jonathan "Hank" Pym () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by penciller Jack Kirby, editor-plotter Stan Lee and writer Larry Lieber, the character first appeared in ''Tales to ...
actor
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and film producer. He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AF ...
confirmed that informal discussions regarding a sequel to ''Ant-Man and the Wasp'' had taken place,
though by that time
Evangeline Lilly
Nicole Evangeline Lilly (born 3 August 1979) is a Canadian actress and author. She is the recipient of various accolades including a Screen Actors Guild Award and an MTV Movie Award. She has also received nominations for a Golden Globe Award, ...
had not heard of any plans for her character
Hope van Dyne / Wasp following her role in ''
Avengers: Endgame'' (2019). Lilly stated that "Hope is mid-journey. I don't see her journey as being over by any stretch."
That October,
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress and producer. A prolific performer whose List of Michelle Pfeiffer performances, screen work spans over four decades, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars and ...
expressed interest in reprising her role of
Janet van Dyne in a sequel,
while Marvel Studios President
Kevin Feige
Kevin Feige ( ; born June 2, 1973) is an American film and television producer who has been the president of Marvel Studios and the primary producer of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise since 2007. The films he has produced have a combin ...
was asked about the future of
Paul Rudd
Paul Stephen Rudd (born April 6, 1969) is an American actor. He studied theater at the University of Kansas and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, before making his acting debut in 1991. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in ...
's
Scott Lang / Ant-Man in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by ...
(MCU) following ''Endgame'', and responded that "the chess pieces were arranged very purposefully" at the end of that film, with some taken "off the board" and others, like Ant-Man, "still on
he board, soyou never know".
Rudd was asked whether he would be returning to the role, either in a third ''Ant-Man'' film or as part of another hero's MCU franchise, and said that both of those options had been discussed.
Reed officially signed on to direct a third ''Ant-Man'' film at the start of November 2019. Rudd was set to star as Lang,
with Lilly and Douglas also returning.
Filming was scheduled to begin in January 2021 for a likely release date in 2022.
Reed was hired again, despite Marvel's interest in new filmmakers bringing different takes to their heroes for each film, because executives felt he had "a real grasp on the ''Ant-Man'' universe and want
dto see him return to wrap up his trilogy".
Jeff Loveness
Jeff Loveness is an American screenwriter, television producer, actor, and comic book writer who has worked on the television series ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' and ''Rick and Morty,'' as well as the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe films '' Ant-M ...
was hired to write the script for the film during "the early days of Hollywood's shutdown" due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, and he had begun working on the screenplay by April 2020. At that point, it was no longer clear when production would begin on the film due to the effects of the pandemic on all film productions.
In August 2020, Reed confirmed that development on the film was continuing during the pandemic. He said that Lilly would continue to get equal billing in the film alongside Rudd as she is "a very, very important part" of the partnership between Ant-Man and the Wasp, despite rumors that her role would be reduced following controversial comments about the pandemic. Reed added that the story for the film had been "cracked", though "nothing
asofficial yet",
and said the third film would be a "bigger, more sprawling movie than the first two
ith
The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometres, is the longest line of crags in North Germany.
Geography
Location
The Ith is immediatel ...
a very different visual template".
Reed stated they wanted to further explore the Quantum Realm in the film as a "massive world-building undertaking", and compared its design to
electron microscope
An electron microscope is a microscope that uses a beam of accelerated electrons as a source of illumination. As the wavelength of an electron can be up to 100,000 times shorter than that of visible light photons, electron microscopes have a hi ...
photography, the ''
Heavy Metal'' magazine issues of the 1970s and 1980s, and his favorite science fiction cover artists such as
Jean Giraud
Jean Henri Gaston Giraud (; 8 May 1938 – 10 March 2012) was a French artist, cartoonist, and writer who worked in the Bandes dessinées, Franco-Belgian ''bandes dessinées'' (BD) tradition. Giraud garnered worldwide acclaim under the pseu ...
for fantastical
realism
Realism, Realistic, or Realists may refer to:
In the arts
*Realism (arts), the general attempt to depict subjects truthfully in different forms of the arts
Arts movements related to realism include:
*Classical Realism
*Literary realism, a move ...
.
Marvel Studios producer
Brian Gay
Joseph Brian Gay (born December 14, 1971) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.
Early years
A military brat, Gay was born in Fort Worth, Texas, but was raised primarily at Fort Rucker, A ...
said the film would "feel like a real departure" from the first two ''Ant-Man'' films and be a big adventure.
Fellow Marvel Studios executive
Stephen Broussard
Marvel Studios, LLC (originally known as Marvel Films from 1993 to 1996) is an American film and television production company that is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, a division of the Walt Disney Company. ...
was producing the film alongside Feige.
Pre-production
In September 2020,
Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Michael Majors (born September 7, 1989)Majors in is an American actor. He rose to prominence after starring in the independent feature film ''The Last Black Man in San Francisco'' (2019). In 2020, he garnered wider notice for portraying ...
was cast in a "lead role" for the film, which was reported to be
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror (Nathaniel Richards) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is most frequently depicted as an opponent of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. A time-traveling entity, seve ...
.
Because the actor cast as Kang would first portray an alternate version of the character, named
He Who Remains
The Time Variance Authority (TVA) is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is depicted as a group of timeline monitors.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Chronicoms, based on the lower-ran ...
, in the
Disney+
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...
series ''
Loki
Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi or Na ...
'',
Kate Herron
Kate Herron (born 1987/1988) is an English director, writer, and producer. She is known for her female-led comedies. She directed and executive produced the first season of the Disney+ series ''Loki''.
Career
Herron began her career writing a ...
and
Michael Waldron
Michael Waldron (born April 23, 1987) is an American screenwriter and producer known for his work on television series ''Rick and Morty'' and '' Heels'', as well as creating the Marvel Cinematic Universe series '' Loki'' and writing the script ...
—the director and
head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits. In fictional comedy o ...
of ''Loki''
first season, respectively—were involved in casting Majors in addition to Reed and executives at Marvel Studios;
Majors was approached for the role without an audition,
and later noted he had been involved in the film "since the beginning" before joining ''Loki''.
Reed was interested in having Ant-Man and the Wasp go up against a formidable foe in the film, believing Kang to be one of Marvel Comics' "all-timers" like
Loki
Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi or Na ...
and
Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the fi ...
.
In November, filming was expected to start in 2021.
In December, Pfeiffer confirmed her involvement and that filming would begin in mid-2021.
Shortly after at Disney's Investor Day, Feige revealed the film's title as ''Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'', confirmed the return of Rudd, Lilly, Douglas and Pfeiffer, alongside Majors as Kang, and revealed that
Kathryn Newton
Kathryn Newton (born February 8, 1997) is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles as Louise Brooks in the CBS comedy series ''Gary Unmarried'' (2008–2010), Abigail Carlson in the HBO mystery drama series '' Big Little Lies' ...
had joined the film as
Cassie Lang
Cassandra "Cassie" Lang is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The daughter of Scott Lang, the character first appeared in '' Marvel Premiere'' #47 (April 1979) as Cassie Lang, in '' Young Avengers' ...
.
Emma Fuhrmann
Emma Cate Fuhrmann (born September 15, 2001) is an American actress known for her work as Finnegan O'Neil in ''The Magic of Belle Isle'' (2012), Espn Friedman in '' Blended'' (2014), and Cassie Lang in '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019).
Personal l ...
, who played the character as a teenager in ''Avengers: Endgame'', was saddened by the announcement of Newton taking over the role, and hoped to be involved in the MCU in the future.
Later that month, Loveness revealed that he had turned in the first draft of the script, and said Marvel had used the COVID-19 pandemic break to "do something new and weird" with the film.
Pfeiffer and Douglas both indicated that the film would be released in 2022.
Reed planned to feature comedian
Tom Scharpling
Thomas John Giuliano II (born February 9, 1969), known professionally as Tom Scharpling, is an American comedian, television writer, producer, music video director, voice actor, and radio host. He is best known for hosting the weekly Internet r ...
again in the film, after his cameos in the previous two films were ultimately cut from the theatrical releases; however, the scene in which he would have been featured was cut before it was filmed.
Filming
On February 4, 2021, Turkey's
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (born 1968) is a Turkish businessman and current Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1968. After completing his secondary education in the Deutsche Schule Istanbul, he studied Bus ...
announced that shooting for the film had begun in the country's region of
Cappadocia
Cappadocia or Capadocia (; tr, Kapadokya), is a historical region in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It largely is in the provinces Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde.
According to Herodotus, in the time of the Ionian Revo ...
, with the production also set to film in other parts of Turkey.
At the beginning of March,
Tip "T.I." Harris was revealed to not be returning as his character
Dave Dave may refer to:
Film, television, and theater
* ''Dave'' (film), a 1993 film starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver
* ''Dave'' (musical), a 2018 stage musical adaptation of the film
* Dave (TV channel), a digital television channel in the ...
from the first two ''Ant-Man'' films.
This news came after
sexual abuse allegations against Harris and his wife
Tameka Cottle
Tameka Dianne Cottle Harris (born July 14, 1975), known professionally by her nickname Tiny, is an American singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the multi-platinum R&B vocal group Xscape. She received a Grammy Award ...
arose at the end of February, but ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' reported that this was unrelated and Harris was never set to return for the sequel.
In early May 2021, Marvel Studios announced that the film would be released on February 17, 2023.
In mid-June, Rudd and Douglas headed to England to prepare for filming.
Shooting to capture exterior shots and background plates took place at the
San Francisco Police Department Central Station in
North Beach, San Francisco
North Beach is a neighborhood in the northeast of San Francisco adjacent to Chinatown, the Financial District, and Russian Hill. The neighborhood is San Francisco's "Little Italy" and has historically been home to a large Italian American pop ...
on June 19 and 20, with filming of the station's interior, the outward view of the building, and downtown San Francisco.
In July, Joanna Robinson of ''
Vanity Fair'' reported that
Corey Stoll
Corey Stoll (born March 14, 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Congressman Peter Russo on the Netflix political thriller series ''House of Cards'' (2013–2016), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination in 2013, ...
would reprise his role as
Darren Cross / Yellowjacket from ''Ant-Man'' in "some shape" for ''Quantumania''.
Principal photography
Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production.
Personnel
Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...
began on July 26, 2021,
at
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London.
The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to te ...
in
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...
,
using the
working title
A working title, which may be abbreviated and styled in trade publications after a putative title as (wt), also called a production title or a tentative title, is the temporary title of a product or project used during its development, usually ...
''Dust Bunny''.
Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded on May 26, 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when he began pro ...
provided the same
StageCraft
Stagecraft is a technical aspect of theatrical, film, and video production. It includes constructing and rigging scenery; hanging and focusing of lighting; design and procurement of costumes; make-up; stage management; audio engineering; and p ...
virtual production technology Reed used while directing episodes of the
Disney+
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...
''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'' series ''
The Mandalorian
''The Mandalorian'' is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, beginning five years after the events of ''Retur ...
''.
Principal photography was previously set to begin in January 2021, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was then expected to take place between May 31 and September 24.
Will Htay served as production designer.
By September 16, over 50 crew members from Pinewood Studios productions, including ''Quantumania'', contracted
norovirus
Norovirus, sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Infection is characterized by non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Fever or headaches may also occur. Symptoms usually deve ...
following an outbreak at the studio. The main cast was not affected.
In October, the film's release was delayed to July 28, 2023.
Later that month,
Bill Murray
William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his deadpan delivery. He rose to fame on ''The National Lampoon Radio Hour'' (1973–1974) before becoming a national presence on ''Saturday Nigh ...
revealed he had shot material for a Marvel film with Reed, which was believed to be ''Quantumania''. Murray explained he joined the project as he liked Reed and his work on ''
Bring It On Bring It On may refer to:
Books
* ''Bring It On'' (book), by Pat Robertson
* ''Bring It On!'' (manhwa), a romance manhwa by Baek Hye-Kyung
Film and stage
* ''Bring It On'' (film series), an American series of teen comedy cheerleading films capit ...
'' (2000), despite not being interested in superhero films,
before he further indicated his involvement in the film, but said he could not comment on his prior statement;
Murray later said he was playing a "bad guy" in the film.
Principal photography was completed in November 2021.
Filming was also expected to take place in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
,
and the production was slated to move to San Francisco in 2022 with the cast.
Post-production
Adam Gerstel and Laura Jennings serve as co-editors on the film.
In April 2022, the film was moved back to its February 17, 2023 release date, swapping places with ''
The Marvels
''The Marvels'' is an upcoming American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney St ...
'' given ''Quantumania'' was further along in production than that film.
In September 2022,
Randall Park Randall may refer to the following:
Places
United States
*Randall, California, former name of White Hall, California, an unincorporated community
* Randall, Indiana, a former town
*Randall, Iowa, a city
*Randall, Kansas, a city
* Randall, Minneso ...
was confirmed to be reprising his role as
Jimmy Woo
James "Jimmy" Woo (Woo Yen Jet) is a fictional secret agent appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by EC Comics writer Al Feldstein and artist Joe Maneely, the Chinese-American character first appeared in '' Yel ...
,
and Feige called the film "a direct line" into
Phase Five and ''
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty'' (2025),
with Majors reprising his role in ''The Kang Dynasty''.
Reed stated that ''Quantumania'' would have a "profound impact" on the MCU, and that the impact of Kang's appearance in this film was discussed with Loveness for ''The Kang Dynasty'', which he was also writing.
He also hoped the film would not be viewed as a "palate cleanser" the previous two films had been following ''Avengers'' films, but would instead feel as big as an ''Avengers'' film.
Gregg Turkington
Gregg Turkington (born November 25, 1967) is an Australian-born American entertainer, actor, musician and writer. He is known for his performances as Neil Hamburger, a stand-up comedian persona he developed in the 1990s. Alongside Tim Heidecker, ...
was also revealed to be reprising his role as Dale, a
Baskin-Robbins
Baskin-Robbins is an American multinational chain of ice cream and cake speciality shops owned by Inspire Brands. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin (1913–1967) and Irv Robbins (1917–2008) in ...
manager, from ''Ant-Man''.
In October 2022,
William Jackson Harper
William Fitzgerald Harper (born February 8, 1980), known professionally as William Jackson Harper, is an American actor and playwright. He is best known for his role as Chidi Anagonye on the NBC comedy ''The Good Place'' (2016–2020), for which ...
was revealed to be appearing in the film in an undisclosed role,
and in November,
Katy O'Brian
Katy M. O'Brian (born February 12, 1989) is an American actress, writer, and martial artist. She is best known for her roles as Jentorra in '' Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'', George in Syfy's zombie show ''Z Nation'', Major Sarah Grey in ...
was revealed to be appearing in the film alongside
David Dastmalchian
David Dastmalchian (; born July 21, 1975) is an American film and stage actor. He has had supporting roles in a number of superhero franchises; he portrayed Thomas Schiff in ''The Dark Knight'', Kurt in the first two Marvel Cinematic Univers ...
, reprising his role as
Kurt from the first two films,
after he previously said he was not involved in ''Quantumania''.
Music
Christophe Beck
Jean-Christophe Beck (born November 30, 1972) is a Canadian television and film score composer and conductor. He is a brother of pianist Chilly Gonzales. He is best known for his collaborations with Disney and its subsidiaries, which include comp ...
was revealed to be composing the score by July 2022, after previously working on the previous two ''Ant-Man'' films, as well as the MCU
Disney+
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...
series ''
WandaVision
''WandaVision'' is an American television miniseries created by Jac Schaeffer for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and Vision. It is the first television series in ...
'' and ''
Hawkeye'' (both in 2021).
Marketing
The first footage from the film was shown at the 2022
San Diego Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con International is a comic book convention and nonprofit multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California since 1970. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International: San Diego; but it is co ...
where Feige, Reed, and the cast promoted the film and discussed the characters.
Further footage was shown at
D23 in September, which Ryan Leston at ''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' called "an intriguing glimpse" into the film.
An official trailer for the film was released on October 24, 2022. It featured "
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John, first released on 5 October 1973 as a double LP. The album has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as John's magn ...
" by
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
.
Tom Chapman at ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gan ...
'' noted the trailer was "darker than ever" compared to the comedic tone of the prior two ''Ant-Man'' films and featured "dramatic pauses and tense musical cues", but felt it was "another MCU teaser trailer that does a little too much teasing" to not reveal key details, such as the absence of the character
M.O.D.O.K.
MODOK (also written as M.O.D.O.K.; an acronym for Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first MODOK is George Tarleton, a former e ...
who was shown in the D23 footage.
Charles Pulliuam-Moore of ''
The Verge
''The Verge'' is an American technology news website operated by Vox Media, publishing news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, consumer electronics news, and podcasts.
The website launched on November 1, 2011, and uses Vox Media' ...
'' compared the trailer to Disney's then-upcoming film ''
Strange World'' (2022) and highlighted the Quantum Realm's appearance as being "beautiful and nonsensical,"
while ''
Empire
An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
'' Owen Williams compared the Quantum Realm to
Ego's planet from the MCU film ''
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
''Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'' is a 2017 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to ' ...
'' (2017).
Release
''Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'' is scheduled to be released on February 17, 2023.
The film was previously set to be released in 2022,
before being officially announced as releasing on February 17, 2023, in May 2021.
It was delayed to July 28, 2023, in October 2021,
and returned to the February 2023 date in April 2022.
It will be the first film of Phase Five of the MCU.
Future
In June 2015, Reed proposed a prequel film focused on a younger version of Hank Pym,
an idea that Douglas expressed interest in by June 2018.
References
External links
* at
Marvel.com
Marvel Entertainment, LLC (formerly Marvel Enterprises) is an American entertainment company founded in June 1998 and based in New York City, New York, formed by the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group and Toy Biz. The company is a wholly own ...
*
{{Portal bar, Film, United States, Speculative fiction, Comics
2020s American films
2020s English-language films
2020s science fiction adventure films
2020s superhero films
2023 adventure films
2023 science fiction action films
American science fiction action films
American science fiction adventure films
American sequel films
Ant-Man (film series)
Films about insects
Films about quantum mechanics
Films about size change
Films directed by Peyton Reed
Films scored by Christophe Beck
Films set in San Francisco
Films shot at Pinewood Studios
Films shot in Atlanta
Films shot in London
Films shot in San Francisco
Films shot in Turkey
Films using motion capture
Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Five films
Productions using StageCraft
Superhero crossover films
Superheroine films
Upcoming sequel films
Works by Jeff Loveness