Ant-Man 4
Ant-Man 4 hasn’t been officially greenlit yet but we can speculate on some of the cast.
Marvel producer Stephen Broussard has revealed that Ant-Man 4 is in the works at Marvel Studios. While the fourth Ant-Man movie has yet to be greenlit, MCU creators are already talking out plans of what to do next in the Ant-Man chapter of the Marvel franchise.
The third Ant-Man film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, is the first feature to kick off Phase Five at the MCU. Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang has proven to be an essential part of the Avengers, even more so now that he will be the first to battle MCU Phase Five’s big bad, Kang the Conquerer, who will be (officially) introduced in Quantumania. And while Ant-Man will likely stick around for future MCU films, will he get a fourth solo feature?
If it’s up to Broussard, director Peyton Reed, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, the answer seems to be yes. Which, to us, is a very good sign that Ant-Man 4 will be a go.
Here is everything we know so far about the plot, cast, and potential release date of Ant-Man 4.
Warning: The Following Contains Spoilers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
ANT-MAN CREATORS IN TALKS TO MAKE ANT-MAN 4
While Ant-Man 4 has not been greenlit yet, the wheels are already turning in the MCU creators’ minds. Stephen Broussard, who produced all three of the current Ant-Man films, as well as seven other MCU projects, mentioned in an interview with Comic Book that he, Peyton Reed (who directed the three Ant-Man movies), and MCU President Kevin Feige have already had discussions around what Ant-Man 4 could be about.
Ant-Man leading actor, Paul Rudd, has also said he believes there is more “story to tell” when it comes to Scott Lang’s journey as the shrinking superhero. Though Rudd admitted the discussions were happening behind closed doors that shut him out of the conversation, the actor’s comments not only show that there is a potential for more but also that Rudd would be willing to return for a fourth film.
THE PLOT OF ANT-MAN 4 IS COMPLETELY UNKNOWN
Since Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the beginning of a brand new chapter for the MCU, the sky is the limit as far as what Ant-Man 4 could possibly be about. Unfortunately, Quantumania gives no helpful clues either, as the entirety of the film is basically a setup for MCU Phase Five, including the post-credit scene.
Even Broussard doesn’t know what might happen in the next Ant-Man movie if it gets made. The producer said that he and the team have had plenty of ideas but have yet to reveal any specific details of what they’ve been brainstorming.
One thing is certain: if Ant-Man 4 happens, it won’t take place in Phase Five, which is already booked to the brim. This means the feature would have to either slide into one of the open spots in Phase Six or wait until Phase Seven. The placement of the movie would obviously affect the plot as far as what challenges the characters would face as well as what villain the team of insect-based superheroes would be up against.
Both Rudd and Evangeline Lilly (the Wasp) have said they would love for Ant-Man 4 to dial down on the action. If the fourth film moves forward, they are hoping for a down-to-earth feature that highlights the family dynamics of the characters as well as their normalcy.
Another possibility for Ant-Man 4 is to move the focus away from Scott Lang and spend more time developing the character of his daughter, Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton).
While no official plans for the new generation of Avengers, called Young Avengers, have been announced, many of the characters needed to form the team have already been introduced to the MCU. Cassie Lang as Stinger is one of them, which means an Ant-Man 4 where Scott Lang passes the superhero torch to his daughter makes sense.
IF ANT-MAN 4 HAPPENS, HANK WILL PROBABLY DIE
All of the major players in Ant-Man survive in Quantumania, leaving the potential for anyone to return for a fourth movie. Both Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly have already said they would be interested in reprising their roles for Ant-Man 4.
Even Michael Douglas, who plays scientist Hank Pym, says he would return for a fourth film, but only under one condition—Hank has to die. While Douglas says he’s enjoyed playing the character, he doesn’t want Hank to overstay his welcome in the MCU. Instead of fizzling out pathetically, Douglas wants Hank to leave the cinematic universe in a way that fans will remember forever, even if it breaks our hearts.
Ant-Man 4 could also see the return of the inhabitants of the Quantum Realm, featuring cameos by William Harper Jackson and Katy O’Brian, who played Quaz and Jentorra.
It’s also possible for David Dasmaltchian to reprise his role as the slimy Veb. However, fans will most likely not see the return of MODOK as Corey Stoll’s character finally met his maker in Quantumania.
Additionally, Jonathan Majors as Phase Five’s big bad, Kang the Conquerer, probably wouldn’t appear in Ant-Man 4, as the fourth Ant-Man movie would likely happen in a later phase, and having two films in the franchise feature the same villain would be redundant.
PAUL RUDD’S MCU CONTRACT IS POTENTIALLY UP
Although it’s impossible to know what Paul Rudd’s contract with the MCU entails (those details are kept under strict lock and key), there have been hints that have led amateur sleuths and fans of the MCU to believe that Paul Rudd’s contract is close to its expiration date.
In 2015, Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige, said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that Rudd was signed on for a “three-plus-plus” contract. Meaning he was attached to three Ant-Man films as well as two additional appearances in MCU features. Since three Ant-Man movies have been made, and Rudd appeared in both Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame, it appears as though the actor’s time at Marvel Studios could be up.
However, this doesn’t mean we’ve seen the end of Scott Lang. Even if Rudd’s contract has come to an end, likely, Ant-Man will still play a pivotal role in Phase Five, at the very least. This means that Rudd will likely be offered another, though a possibly shorter, contract with the studio. Perhaps one that covers his appearance in Ant-Man 4?
THE NEXT ANT-MAN COULD FIT IN MARVEL’S PHASE 6 OR PHASE 7
It’s going to be a while before we see Scott Lang back in action in his own solo movie, if that even ends up being the direction Ant-Man 4 takes. Phase Five at the MCU is fully booked, so it would be impossible for Ant-Man 4 to squeeze into this part of the Multiverse Saga. There are a few open slots in Phase Six. However, it’s unlikely that an Ant-Man sequel will be placed here either.
This means that if Ant-Man 4 happens at all, it will likely be placed in Phase Seven. This would put the film’s theatrical release (or however movies end up being released at that point) in the year 2026 or later.
Although it might be a few years before we see Ant-Man in a solo film again, the insect-sized superhero will likely appear in other Phase Five films, giving audiences their Scott Lang fix while we wait.
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