Marvel’s smallest hero hit the big screen in a thrilling, fun and funny adventure.
In a way Ant-Man reminded us of the humanity, humility and humor of superhero movies and reset the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the big ensemble and big stakes drama to come in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: The Infinity War.
Ant-Man delivered on extra love for longtime comic book readers with an homage to founding Avengers.
But that ending? We know Paul Rudd will return as Scott Lang in Captain America: Civil War but there are some big questions and exciting possibilites after the post-credits sequence.
Spoiler Warning!
If you have not seen Ant-Man yet stop reading now and go see it now.
Seriously.
Ok.
Here it comes.
After the credits rolled, we cut to Captain America (Chris Evans) and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) discovering a captured Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Bucky was Steve’s best friend who he thought was killed in action in World War II. Bucky was transformed by Hydra in their cyborg killing machine known as the Winter Soldier. In the final moments of the last Cap film, Bucky was remembering who he really was. Falcon has been on a mission to find him.
Back to the scene – Bucky’s arm is stuck in a vice. Steve and Sam need help but can’t call Iron Man or other Avengers saying it would have “been easier a week earlier” referring to something big happened and not to call Tony Stark because of “the accords.” Is this sequence set after the Superhero Registration Act going into effect?
Captain America: Civil War is be based on the epic in which the government passes the act forcing heroes to register, give up their secret identities and work as government agents. Tony aligns with the government. Steve resists. Both heroes resort to extreme measures in the superhero civil war that follows.
Back to the scene – Falcon says he “knows a guy” citing Scott Lang – who could easily shrink into a find a way to free Bucky from the restraint and help them out. Earlier in Ant-Man, Scott has a fight with Falcon while trying to get a key piece of technology for his mission for Hank Pym.
Does this mean Ant-Man will be on Cap’s side? Lang has been established as an anti-authority rebel because of the “crimes” he committed against his former employers that landed him in prison and on Pym’s radar.
Or will Lang try to stay on the side of the good guys to continue being a hero in the eyes of his daughter Cassie?
Hank Pym? Hopefully Michael Douglas signed up for Marvel movies because he brought depth, humanity and humor to Hank. We saw a flashback of Pym’s conflict with Howard Stark, Peggy Carter and the S.H.I.E.L.D. high command in flashback. Pym is the perfect ally to fund, arm and give refuge to Cap’s resistance.
Janet Van Dyne? We learned Janet did exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and she was just as bold, brainy and beautiful as her comic book counterpart. Janet vanished into the quantum realm on a mission with Hank. Scott Lang came back. Is it possible the original Wasp could find her way or be rescue from the quantum realm? In the comics, Janet escaped from the microverse after her team assumed she died in a big battle.
Wasp? Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) says “about damn time” upon seeing the prototype for a new Wasp suit her parents were working on before Janet’s disappearance. We can hope Hope will become the new Wasp. Lilly is not listed in the credits for Civil War but if she joins, which side will Wasp side with?
The Quantum Realm? Pym has been researching this phenomenon for years in order to possibly find his beloved Janet. With access to the genius of Tony Stark, Bruce Banner and the Vision, could Pym find allies to mount an expedition into the Realm? Could this alliance be a factor in Pym’s allegiance in Civil War? Thanos is collecting the Infinity Gems in his bid for ultimate power. Could the Time Gem be connected to this Quantum Realm – meaning Scott, Hank and Hope will be assembled for Avengers: The Infinity War?
Ant-Man definitely feels like the finale of Phase Two, resets, and sets the stage for Phase Three in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The cast and crew did it masterfully with style, action, humor, paying homage to the founding Avengers while giving hope and excitement for the future.
Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man returns in Captain America: Civil War opens May 6, 2016.
By Editor