Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Ant-Man

  • Peyton Reed Teases Bill Murray’s “Crucial Role” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    Peyton Reed Teases Bill Murray’s “Crucial Role” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    Ant-Man and the Wasp is back in style as they’re about to face the Quantum Realm in Quantumania. Not only its natural dangers are going to be in their path but also some new and familiar enemies. We finally get our first look at Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror; only met a Variant previously; as well as some new additions. SDCC already confirmed that MODOK, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, will have a role in the film but we also know that Bill Murray has a big role.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Peyton Reed finally got a chance to hype up his upcoming February release by sharing some details on what his next film has in store for us. In it, he also got the chance to talk about Bill Murray‘s character, who leaked that he’s a “bad guy” all the way back in January of this year. Now, Reed got a chance to confirm he has a “crucial role” in the story and how he connects to the overarching storyline.

    Bill Murray plays a character from Janet van Dyne’s. It’s a crucial role. A big theme in this movie is the things that parents and kids don’t say to each other, the secrets that they keep in families. In the last movie, when Hank and Hope rescue Janet, Evangeline Lilly’s character had this idea of: Oh, I’m going to be reunited with my mom, this is going to be great, we’re going to talk about everything. But what happens if the other person, in this case Janet, puts up a wall and maybe is not comfortable talking about certain things and doesn’t reveal certain things about her past? As we know from great stories, you can put the past behind you, but the past will always find a way to show up again. Bill’s character represents that in this movie.

    Peyton Reed

    It’s definitely going to make for an interesting storyline on how our parents have their own secrets, which also adds the question of how this’ll connect back to Scott and Cassie Lang. The Ant-Man film shave been the more family-focused of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and taking a darker twist on that type of storyline will definitely make this an interesting addition to the franchise.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • ‘Quantumania’ Director Says Cassie Lang is Central to Film

    ‘Quantumania’ Director Says Cassie Lang is Central to Film

    Cassie Lang has been among the biggest talking points of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania since it was first announced. The 2020 reveal that a third Ant-Man project was in development also brought the news that up-and-coming Freaky star Kathryn Newton would become the third actress to bring the character to life, following Abby Ryder Fortson‘s turn as the child version of Cassie in the first two films and Emma Fuhrmann‘s teenage take in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. This sudden recasting caused some controversy among those who hoped to see Fuhrmann continue in the role, but director Peyton Reed is confident Newton‘s performance will help carry Quantumania to new heights.

    Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker explained Cassie and the relationship she has to her family will be central to the story of the upcoming Ant-Man threequel. The film’s trailer hinted the youngest Lang would be largely responsible for the chaos that ensues throughout, and Reed all but confirms this in his exclusive interview, stating fans will be able to see Cassie in a brand new light:

    One of the single most intriguing things that I was excited to do in this movie was progress the Scott-Cassie relationship. It’s been central to all the Ant-Man movies, the big difference here being that, as a result of Endgame, Cassie is now a young woman. She has become a scientific mind in her own right. She’s been going through Hank Pym’s old journals and notebooks, and has really latched on to this idea of quantum science and quantum technology.

    Peyton Reed

    In the comics, Cassie grows up to become a size-changing superhero much like her father. Initially known as Stature, and later as Stinger, she is known as a founding member of the Young Avengers and an important figure in the Marvel mythos. Newton can be seen wearing a fairly comic-accurate suit in the promotion for Quantumania, indicating the movie might also portray her turn to superhuman status.

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters February 17th, 2023.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Peyton Reed Teases “Great” ‘Fantastic Four

    Peyton Reed Teases “Great” ‘Fantastic Four

    Long before Marvel Studios regained the live-action rights to Fantastic Four, director Peyton Reed pitched a version of the film to the execs at Fox. That film obviously was never made and Reed has since gone on to become the driving force behind Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man franchise. With the third film in the franchise, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, next up on Marvel Studios’ theatrical slate, it seems that the first round of press has begun and Reed found himself asked about his never-was Fantastic Four.

    In an interview with Somos Geeks, Reed quickly dismissed his take on Marvel Studios’ First Family in favor of hyping the upcoming film which is due to hit theaters on February 14th, 2025. Marvel Studios Fantastic Four was originally set to be directed by Jon Watts, who directed Marvel Studios and Sony’s Spider-Man trilogy; however, Watts had to depart the project and after a long search, Marvel Studios brought WandaVision director Matt Shakman on board. Though Shakman has only been on the project for a little less than four months, development on Fantastic Four has been ongoing for years, including an ongoing cycle of concept art. That art, it turns out, is something Reed has been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of while hanging out at Marvel Studios. “Matt Shakman is gonna do great,” said Reed, continuing on to say. “and I’ve seen initial artwork for the Fantastic Four…stuff around the Marvel offices…it’s gonna be great.”

    Concept art does not a movie make, of course, but Reed’s vote of confidence, which he volunteered on his own, should not be taken lightly. While there are some parts of the internet who don’t appreciate the Ant-Man films or believe Reed should be helming Marvel Studios projects, the perception of the director by those in charge of Marvel Studios couldn’t be any more different than that. Reed’s voice and passion for Marvel are valued and respected at the studio and he may even be a contender to direct the capstone of the Multiverse Saga, 2026’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Concept art isn’t just lying around everywhere at the studio, so Reed’s ability to take a peek could hint as his involvement in Secret Wars. Of course, it could also mean absolutely nothing. But as every day goes by without a director for the sixth Avengers film and the release of Quantumania (which is going to really surprise MCU fans) draws nearer, one does have to consider the very real possibility that Reed might be on the shortlist to helm the big saga-ending project.

    Source: YouTube

  • Fan-Favorite Character Confirmed to Return for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Fan-Favorite Character Confirmed to Return for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is set to kick off Marvel Studios Phase 5 when it releases in theaters in February. The third film in the Ant-Man franchise, Quantumania is set to take the Ant-family into the Quantum Realm where they’ll meet the big bad not only of their film but also of the Multiverse Saga: Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror. The first two films in the franchise were smaller in scale, which means Quantumania will take the family into uncharted territory as the film will have “a profound effect on the MCU“, according to returning director Peyton Reed. However, heading into uncharted territory doesn’t mean some familiar faces from the franchise won’t return for the adventure.

    A new theater standee shared on Twitter by user @charlestrotter has indicated that in addition to the main cast of Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas returning for the film, one other actor is set to return for his third MCU film.

    As can be seen just below Kang’s pinky finger, David Dastmalchian is credited with an appearance in the film. Dastmalchian has played Kurt Goreshter in the previous two Ant-Man films and along with Michael Pena’s Luis and T.I.’s Dave was a frequent source of comedic relief. At last check during the events of Ant-Man and The Wasp, the trio was now successfully running their business venture, X-Con Security Consultants. While Dastmalchian’s return for the third film may seem like it was a slam dunk, the actor did not believe he had a role in the film as recently as March of 2022.

    Just how big of a role Kurt will have in the third film remains to be seen but, at the moment, he’s the only one of the “Wombats” who looks to be in the film. Trade reports confirmed that T.I. would not be returning for Quantumania and Michael Pena refused to comment on whether or not he’d return. While Pena’s name does not appear on the standee, be cautious in taking that as confirmation that Luis will not be in the film.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is set to hit theaters on February 17th, 2023.

    Source: Twitter

  • Kang the Conqueror is Trapped in the Quantum Realm

    Kang the Conqueror is Trapped in the Quantum Realm

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is only a few months away, as it introduces us officially to our next major threat to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Kang the Conqueror. Jonathan Majors is taking on the iconic role after a brief introduction of his Variant in Loki, whose death leads to unlocking the many others from across the multiverse that has been kept hidden through the TVA’s ventures. While we don’t know if this is the same version we were teased by the Disney+ series’s final moments, a new article from Empire Magazine reveals how Kang ended up in the Quantum Realm.

    As it turns out, he is not there on purpose but is trapped. There are no details offered on what may have ended up leading to him getting stuck in the sub-atomic realm, but it does open up a rather interesting question. Perhaps an Ant-Man from across the multiverse is the cause of it, or his time in the Quantum Realm is what lead to his ability to time travel. The events from Avengers: Endgame could also be at play here, or with multiple Variants out there, a different version of himself may have led to it.

    We do see in the trailer that he made this place his home, and has seemingly built up an army. He also hints during the D23 footage that he’s actually killed an Avenger in the past. Perhaps this version of Kang has already defeated all the heroes that opposed him and they may have pushed him into this realm as a last-ditch effort. Whatever he may have planned for Ant-Man could also be a way to help him to find a way out.

    Source: Empire

  • ‘Quantumania’ Director Reveals Why Ant-Man and the Wasp are Facing Kang the Conqueror

    ‘Quantumania’ Director Reveals Why Ant-Man and the Wasp are Facing Kang the Conqueror

    When the announcement dropped that Jonathan Majors would play Kang the Conqueror in the Ant-Man and the Wasp sequel, many were a bit perplexed about why his first true arrival would be against that specific Marvel hero. It seemingly created the vision of an instant loss for the character, though the more we see of the project it seems like it won’t be as straightforward as one might expect. Still, the main antagonist of the Multiverse Saga as part of the third entry in the franchise the internet loves to call “filler” may have become one of the most important entries.

    Surprisingly, it seems that Quantumania‘s director Peyton Reed had the very same idea, as he had some joy in visiting this idea of the “weakest Avenger” taking on this villain that is more than just your typical villain but rather what he views as an “absolute force of nature.”

    That’s interesting to me: to take the tiniest, and in some people’s minds weakest Avenger, and put them up against this absolute force of nature.

    Peyton Reed

    With the reveal that the character is also trapped in the Quantum Realm, perhaps he could use Ant-Man’s unique ability to find a way to escape. It would definitely make him an antagonist but not the main threat to the character. It seems obvious that no one would take him on directly, but with the confirmation of MODOK as part of the film, we may see our favorite group of ant-themed heroes stuck between two sides vying to conquer the Quantum Realm.

    Source: Empire

  • ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Director Confirms Which Version of Kang Appears in the Film

    ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Director Confirms Which Version of Kang Appears in the Film

    When Jonathan Majors was first announced to be portraying the villainous Kang in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, it was revealed that his deal with Marvel Studios set the actor up for several appearances over the course of multiple projects. By the time Majors appeared as He Who Remains in the season finale of the first season of Loki, it started to become clear just how big of a factor Majors was set to be in what ultimately became known as the Multiverse Saga. The aloof He Who Remains, as it turns out, was just one of an infinite number of versions of Kang and, as he said himself, definitely not the worst one. Majors teased that He Who Remains was just one of “many iterations” of Kang that he’d be playing during his tenure in the MCU and now Ant-Man franchise director Peyton Reed has chimed in on which version audiences will see in Quantumania.

    “Kang The Conqueror in our movie is a very different character,” from Majors’ He Who Remains, teased Reed in an interview with Empire. “He’s someone who has dominion over time, and he’s a warrior and a strategist,” added Reed, whose description is in lockstep with how Majors has previously described this version of the character. Reed finished the thought by describing this version as, “an all-timer antagonist“, giving fans of the comics (and probably Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heros) a pretty good idea of what to expect.

    The third installment in the Ant-Man franchise has always been destined to break the mold of the first two films, which were small, palate-cleansing features that followed Avengers films into theaters. According to Reed, Quantumania “has a profound affect on the MCU” and teases a connection between it and 2025’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, both of which are written by Marvel Comics and Rick and Morty writer Jeff Loveness. “There’s been a lot of discussion about the impact that this appearance of Kang The Conqueror makes,” said Reed, adding “there are big things in store.”

    But what about Lang and his Ant-Family? Do they stand a chance against someone like Kang. Reed didn’t give anything away, but does make it clear that Lang is definitely the underdog. “That’s interesting to me: to take the tiniest, and in some people’s minds weakest, Avenger, and put them up against this absolute force of nature.”

    Audiences dont’ have to wait too long to find out exactly what happens as Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters in February.

    Source: Empire

  • New Funko Pop Offers First Look at ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s MODOK

    New Funko Pop Offers First Look at ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s MODOK

    While those that got a look at Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania during D23 teased the arrival of MODOK, which stands for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing. The character has long been hoped to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially because he is one of the more insane designs that would seem impossible in live-action. So, there was a lot of excitement to see him make his debut, though the first officially released trailer did not offer a glimpse at his design.

    Surprisingly, it seems our first look at the character won’t be int eh second trailer but rather a Funko Pop that has seemingly found its way into stores a bit earlier than expected. Influencer Cris Parker shared a poster on his Twitter account that includes a first look at the design, which would match with descriptions that found their way online during D23. It’s still only a rumor who is behind the mask but it’s insane to see this design hinting at a rather comic-accurate design making its way to the comics. The only addition is the mask giving him a very familiar grin but also hiding his identity.

    It’ll be interesting to see what this design looks like in action, but it definitely is promising. There’s always the danger that it goes a little too goofy, especially if that is in fact a faceplate. Though they could surprise us and make use of his silly design to build upon. Who knows how he also connects to the arrival of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU but perhaps there’s a conflict in the Quantum Realm that was just waiting to unravel beyond its dimension.

    Source: Twitter

  • Marvel Studios Releases Official Synopsis for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Marvel Studios Releases Official Synopsis for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Along with a first-look teaser and a poster for their upcoming 2023 film, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quatumania, Marvel Studios has released a synopsis for the Peyton Reed-helmed project.

    In the film, which officially kicks off phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the adventure as Kang. Director Peyton Reed returns to direct the film; Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard produce. 

    News of the development of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania was first broken in October 2019. COVID put the project on hold, but it has always been intended to be a MAJOR movie, as reported here.

  • D23: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel to Lead into ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    D23: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel to Lead into ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    We’ve all heard a while back that Jonathan Majors would become the next major villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he’ll take on the role of Kang the Conqueror. He also briefly appeared in Loki to excite his future villainous turn. Still, the team has revealed that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will also be the film to kick off Phase 5 and lead into Avengers. The Kang Dynasty as shown during the D23 panel.