Paul Rudd Teases A Major Change For Ant-Man 3
Comedy has always been a big part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the Ant-Man series has leaned heavier into comedy than most other films in the franchise. The first movie involved casting shade at the character’s insect-based name, fighting around a toy Thomas the Tank Engine train set, and a major supporting character whose entire schtick is how ridiculously off-track he gets when talking. However, at CCXP22 in Brazil, Paul Rudd hinted that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania might get a bit more serious.
At the comic and entertainment convention, Paul Rudd emphasized that Ant-Man 3 is the first Ant-Man movie to take place after Avengers: Endgame. Having just saved the universe, Rudd says, forces Scott Lang to deal with how to move on with life after such an earth-shattering experience. While wrangling with that question, Lang gets himself thrust into a conflict larger than anything he’s had to handle without the Avengers to back him up.
The comments came as part of a group panel that also included head MCU producer Kevin Feige, director Peyton Reed, and Wasp actress Evangeline Lilly. Reed echoed Paul Rudd’s sentiment by saying the cast and crew are starting out MCU phase 5 with an adventure that’s bigger than anything either Ant-Man or the Wasp have ever faced. Reed stated that regardless of whether they’re doing comedy or drama, he encourages his actors to improvise and bring parts of themselves into their roles. By getting input from his actors, Reed says, the cast is able to make their on-screen personas seem more real.
Evangeline Lily implied that the shift in tone doesn’t just apply to Paul Rudd’s character in Ant-Man 3. Lilly says that Hope Van Dyne, AKA The Wasp has to deal with the fact that her mother’s return isn’t as perfect as she thought it would be after rescuing her in the previous film. There are things about her mom’s 30-year stay in the quantum realm that aren’t revealed until the new movie, and Hope has to wrestle with that reality.
Kevin Feige, meanwhile, emphasized that Ant-Man has moved from being a minor character to being at “the peak” of the Marvel franchise. He said that he loves how Paul Rudd’s character, who started out as a thief in the original Ant-Man, has moved to such heights.
Also featured in the panel was newcomer Jonathan Majors, who will play Kang the Conquerer in the upcoming movie. Majors, who will likely confront Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man in the upcoming movie, expressed enthusiasm about his role as a major marvel villain.
Reed emphasized that the version of Kang in the newest movie will differ from the version seen in the dimension-hopping Loki series. He went on to say that Majors’s version of the character is a frightening character to face.
Paul Rudd will appear in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania when it releases on February 17, 2023. It will be followed by Secret Invasion, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and The Marvels that same year.
