Scott Lang, the Ant-Man, will make his return to the big screen in the highly anticipated blockbuster Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, set to premiere on February 17th. This film will also kick off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and officially introduce the next major villain, Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors.
Through the trailers that have been released, it is evident that in this film, Scott and his family will inadvertently become trapped in the Quantum Realm, where they will encounter Kang the Conqueror, a villain with the ability to manipulate timelines within the Marvel universe. Scott has entered into a deal with this character, hoping to “retrieve what he has lost.”
So, what exactly is the deal that Scott is making, and why does he choose to collaborate with Kang despite the warnings from Janet Van Dyne regarding the events that transpired in the Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania trailers?
What does Kang offer that might compel Ant-Man to help him?
Since the release of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios has yet to fully explore the emotional depth and consequences of Scott Lang’s life following the devastating snap by Thanos. Everything that has been revealed showcases how the actions of the Mad Titan have had a significant, often negative impact on Scott’s life.
When the snap occurred, Scott was on a journey through the Quantum Realm and accidentally became trapped there. Although he felt a sense of loss for five years, in reality, Scott has spent five years missing out on his daughter’s life. This absence weighs heavily on Scott, especially as his daughter, Cassandra “Cassie” Lang, has grown into a young woman, and Scott feels he has missed out on crucial moments in her upbringing.
This is one of the driving forces behind Scott’s feelings of regret, guilt, and longing, despite his generally optimistic character. The father-daughter bond between Scott and Cassie has been emphasized by Marvel Studios in the previous two Ant-Man films. Therefore, the five-year gap in their relationship is a significant emotional blow for Scott, and it serves as a major motivation that Kang will exploit in Quantumania.
In the trailers that have been released, Kang suggests that he can help Scott regain those lost years, indicating that time is a crucial element of their negotiation. However, it is evident that Scott must weigh the consequences of such a deal, particularly when considering the potential for time travel to impact the future.
But what exactly does that mean, and how might it affect Scott’s decisions moving forward? After realizing Kang’s true nature, Scott may face the stark choice of sacrificing his own desires to thwart Kang’s sinister plans—potentially even sacrificing his own timeline for the sake of others.
The complexities of time travel may not resolve Scott Lang’s dilemmas.
With a complex background in time travel, Kang could theoretically bring Ant-Man back to the past to avoid being trapped in the Quantum Realm and reclaim the five years he lost with his daughter. However, previous MCU entries have shown that such methods often do not resolve the root problems faced by the characters involved.
In the MCU, changes in the past do not necessarily affect the present, and they create new timelines with their own futures. While this might allow Scott to escape the Quantum Realm, the reality of his current existence would remain unchanged. Moreover, if Scott Lang were to escape the Quantum Realm without being trapped in time and space, he would not be able to stop Thanos’s snap.
In other words, this plan could create too many complications and conflicts within the Marvel universe, making it very difficult for Marvel Studios to manage in future narratives.
Additionally, even if Scott were to avoid being trapped in the Quantum Realm, there is no guarantee that he would remain safe from the repercussions of Thanos’s snap. Even if he were to escape, he might still miss out on the relationship with his daughter, as he would have altered the timeline.
In summary, time travel and alterations to the past carry too many risks that could create significant upheaval in the timelines and the overall Marvel universe. As seen with He Who Remains, Kang is fully aware of this principle.
Kang could bring Scott Lang to an alternate reality
The only possible way for Scott to receive a “second chance” is to be transported to a different timeline within the Marvel universe, where Kang’s abilities could grant Scott the chance to live a happy life beside alternate versions of Cassie and Hope.
However, this is not a perfect solution. It only serves as a temporary escape for Scott without addressing any interactions he may have with other characters in Earth-616, the main setting of the MCU. The Ant-Man will likely be brought into a different reality, living alongside different versions of Cassie and Hope. However, it is crucial to remember that this could only be a ruse orchestrated by Kang to ensure Scott believes he can live a fulfilling life in an alternate timeline without causing any significant repercussions.
Despite Kang’s intentions, Scott’s hopes may never materialize
However, the trailers for Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania have hinted at a complex deal between Kang the Conqueror and Scott Lang, indicating that Scott may never truly receive what he desires. The question arises: can Kang truly grant Scott the fulfillment of his wishes? After confronting Kang’s essence, Scott may decide to sacrifice his own desires to thwart Kang’s dark ambitions—potentially even sacrificing himself to prevent harm from befalling others.
The haunting line, “We don’t need to win, we just need the two of us to lose,” has already become one of the standout moments from the trailers of Quantumania. It serves as a haunting reminder that Scott may not recover the five years he lost, despite the potential powers Kang possesses.
At present, it is challenging to ascertain whether Kang is genuinely plotting against Scott and the Marvel universe. Nevertheless, audiences will likely receive clearer answers when Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17th.
Source: ScreenRant, Marvel Studios
