With superpowers linked to the Quantum Realm, Ant-Man becomes the first person to confront the villain Kang (Jonathan Majors) on the big screen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Before the battle begins, it’s likely that this film will serve as a culmination of this superhero’s long journey.
From the film’s trailer, audiences can glean some hints about the upcoming showdown between Ant-Man and Kang in this blockbuster. After Cassie (Kathryn Newton) accidentally creates a device that connects with the Quantum Realm, the entire family, including Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Scott Lang, gets sucked into the inner world. Here, Scott encounters Kang and receives a proposal for collaboration.
What does Kang want from Ant-Man? He intends to regain five years of lost time that Scott spent trapped in the Quantum Realm to save Cassie. Naturally, with a villain like Kang, the stakes are incredibly high, and Scott will realize the true nature of Kang and decide to fight back to protect his family.
The Death of Ant-Man Will Showcase Kang’s Might
Before Kang appears on the big screen, another variant of this villain, He Who Remains, made his debut in the mini-series Loki. This character exudes a powerful aura as he can manipulate every event according to his will and erase any timeline that deviates from his desired path. Additionally, at the Time Variance Authority (TVA), the defeat of Thanos (Josh Brolin) was merely a footnote.
However, Kang is the one who “allows” the superheroes to defeat Thanos. He Who Remains also implies that he is the most dangerous variant in existence. With such overwhelming power in the hands of a villain like Kang, the chances of survival are slim. Throughout the trailers, there are subtle hints that Kang has eradicated various Avengers teams in different timelines. Ant-Man might find it very challenging to defeat Kang.
To counter Thanos, Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) had to sacrifice themselves. The death of Ant-Man will merely be a testament to the overwhelming strength of a villain who dwarfs even the “Titan” moniker. At the same time, Kang will attract the attention of viewers and place the Avengers in a terrifying situation in the upcoming battles.
Scott Lang Is Willing to Sacrifice for Those He Loves
Through the trailer, viewers also get a glimpse of Ant-Man’s journey from the first film released in 2015. Unlike other Avengers, Scott has a much more challenging life, and he has stumbled into this role. He wasn’t trained to be a superhero; he accidentally fell into Hank Pym’s desire when he encountered another villain. However, due to his love for Cassie over the films, Scott has become a true hero, ready to sacrifice himself.
The trailers have hinted at the emotional death of this superhero, with visuals of Ant-Man potentially being obliterated by Kang. This boy seems to only want to die alongside his loved ones or at least ensure Kang’s schemes are thwarted through his statement: “We don’t have to win. We just have to lose.”
Cassie Lang Could Become a Superhero
Recently, Marvel Studios has been focusing on building a new generation of superheroes to continue the legacy. After the death of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the mantle of Black Panther is passed to Shuri (Letitia Wright), while Riri Williams will become Ironheart (Dominique Thorne), succeeding Iron Man. She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) replaces Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) takes the place of Black Widow, with Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) passing the torch to Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld).
In the original comic, Scott also sacrifices himself in the battle and creates the momentum for his daughter Cassie Lang to become the superhero Stature. However, the role of the girl is incredibly important as she becomes intertwined with Iron Lad – a time variant of Kang. Through the image of Cassie in a suit in the trailer, this detail could very well appear in the cinematic version.
If Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ends on a tragic note, Cassie Lang will inherit her father’s legacy and become Stature, forming the Young Avengers team and potentially making her debut in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025). After all, the role of superheroes has always been inspiring and helps future generations achieve their true potential.
Thus, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is likely to be a heartfelt film while also closing the chapter on Ant-Man’s journey on the big screen. This work promises to be a grand spectacle filled with emotions, setting the stage for the next phase of the MCU.
