‘Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania’ Review: Paul Rudd Is Back In Action But Has He Met His Match In Jonathan Majors‘ Kang & What Does It Mean For MCU’s Phase 5 Start?

is not only the third in a trilogy of movies from director Peyton Reed but it also officially kicks off Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang formally introduces Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror and the film franchise's new big bad after he first made a surprise appearance in the season 1 finale of . Kang's presence is expected to be a major presence in the remaining projects of both Phase Five and Phase Six, with presumably being one of the final chapters in that saga.

Todd Gilchrist editor Though she’s 26, Kathryn Newton has been playing a teenager for a long time — perhaps because she does it so well: with early roles in “Bad Teacher” and “Paranormal Activity 4,” she proved she can bring depth and dimension to whatever her character is struggling with, be it a dyspeptic teacher or an otherworldly entity. But after doing comedy (“Blockers”), drama (HBO’s “Big Little Lies”) and sci-fi-tinged mystery, growing up on screen takes on new meaning in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” where — spoiler alert — she gets to participate in the series’ size-changing action as Cassie Lang, the daughter of Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) Ant-Man. Newton had previously auditioned for another role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and though she didn’t divulge which one, she tells Variety how that experience paved the way for her to play a character who could become part of the next generation of MCU superheroes.

The Ant-Man numbers are in!

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Disney’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” buzzed to $110 million at the domestic box office, beating expectations and scoring by far the biggest opening weekend in the pint-sized Marvel trilogy. The superhero adventure, starring Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as the titular Ant-Man and the Wasp, is expected to bring in $118 million or $120 million from 4,345 North American theaters by President’s Day on Monday. It’s the first $100 million domestic debut of 2023. The film added $121 million at the international box office, bringing its global tally to $225 million. “’Ant-Man’ is the first new Hollywood blockbuster out of the gate in 2023,” says Imax’s CEO Rich Gelfond, noting that $24 million came from the company’s premium-format screens.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment Writer SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot points, including the ending and the post-credits scenes, for “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” currently playing in theaters. At this point, even casual followers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are likely aware that “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” launches Phase 5 of the MCU. What that means is a bit fuzzier to define.  To start, there’s the whole idea of “Phase 5” as a discrete unit of measurement within the larger Multiverse Saga, especially since Phase 4 wound up feeling like the least cohesive the MCU has ever been. A few titles did link together — “Black Widow” flowed into “Hawkeye”; “WandaVision” set up “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” — but that feeling of a single, larger story coming together that made the MCU so thrilling in the Infinity Saga didn’t quite cohere in Phase 4. How can “Quantumania” start a new phase if what came before it didn’t really end more than it just kinda stopped?

Zack Sharf Evangeline Lilly said in a new interview with Esquire magazine that she was well aware she’d ignite controversy by posting photos on social media from an anti-vaccine mandates rally in Washington D.C. The “Lost” and Marvel star faced backlash in January 2022 after participating in the rally, which she joined in support of “bodily sovereignty.” “I believe nobody should ever be forced to inject their body with anything, against their will, under threat of violent attack, arrest or detention without trial, loss of employment, homelessness, starvation, loss of education, alienation from loved ones, excommunication from society…under any threat whatsoever,” Lilly wrote on Instagram at the time. “This is not the way. This is not safe. This is not healthy. This is not love. I understand the world is in fear, but I don’t believe that answering fear with force will fix our problems. I was pro choice before COVID and I am still pro choice today.”

The third movie in the Ant-Man and the Wasp franchise has been released and there are some fan-favorite stars missing from the movie, as well as some unexpected cameos.

marked the end of Phase Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was not the end of the MCU, or even the Multiverse Saga. In fact, the ever-expanding continues on as it explores the lives familiar characters and introduces new heroes (and major villains) both on film and television, with projects slated through 2025.In 2022, audiences were treated to  as well as  and the sequel in theaters, while , and  all debuted on Disney+.

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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently playing in theaters and there’s a new actress playing the role of Cassie Lang, the daughter of Paul Rudd‘s character Scott Lang.

Evangeline Lilly reprises her role as Hope Van Dyne/The Wasp in “Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania” this weekend. But the “Lost” actress wasn’t always so keen on starring in superhero movies.

The stars of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania are taking over London!

Back in December 2020, it was announced that Kathryn Newton would be taking on the role of Cassie Lang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

It’s a wonder that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (★★★☆☆) should work as well as it does, or feel half as transporting as it does, when, by the looks of it, the actors were planted inside a studio for the majority of the action, and it shows. For the size-shifting superhero’s third solo MCU outing, director Peyton Reed — also at the helm for Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp — filmed much of this journey to the sub-atomic fantasia known as the Quantum Realm using technology that surrounds the actors in an immersive digital environment. Rather than emoting towards blank green and blue screens, Paul Rudd, as thief-turned-Avenger Ant-Man a.k.a. Scott Lang, can gaze across a virtual Quantum Realm and perform face-to-face opposite whatever outlandish creatures the filmmakers might imagine.

Evangeline Lilly might be saving the day as The Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, she could have suited up as a hero much earlier.

*Warning: Loki season 1 spoilers*New Marvel supervillain actor Jonathan Majors has revealed he ‘built’ his character of Kang the Conqueror from the ground up for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, even though he made his MCU debut back in 2021.The latest Marvel blockbuster release sees hero Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) stuck in the Quantum Realm alongside his family, including daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton), partner Hope Van Dyne/Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), and her parents, Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer).Janet was rescued in the previous movie after being trapped there for 30 years, and Quantumania sheds light on what she was up to during that time – and who she met.In the role of Kang, Majors is being set up for a Phase Five story arc that will also include him in the next two Avengers movies as the latest big bad.However, with things as wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey as they already are thanks to the Marvel Multiverse, Majors previously appeared as Kang variant He Who Remains on the TV show Loki with Tom Hiddleston back in 2021.Asked if he took anything from his approach to his character to Loki over to Quantumania, the actor revealed it was all different.Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk at the UK gala screening, he said: ‘The thing is that for the missions of the Kangdom it’s important to build all the guys separately, build everything separately, and let them have their own life and their own understanding.

Evangeline Lilly stole the spotlight at the U.K. premiere of On Thursday, the 43-year-old actress was all smiles as she hit the red carpet at BFI IMAX Waterloo in London, England, wearing a fun silver sequin gown with plenty of tassels. The look was a perfect match for her gray hair and new buzz cut.At the premiere, Lilly twirled her tassel-adorned dress for photographers and posed with her  co-stars -- including Paul Rudd, Jonathan Majors, Michael Douglas and Kathryn Newton -- as well as the film's director, Peyton Reed. Lilly seemed to first show off her new buzz cut earlier this week on Instagram.

The stars were out in force for the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania premiere held at the BFI IMAX Waterloo on Thursday night. Catherine Zeta-Jones - whose husband Michael Douglas stars in the film - looked gorgeous in a pale blue busty gown while Evangeline Lilly looked very glamorous.The actress, 53, was the epitome of chic in the one-shoulder design which cinched her in at the waist and had a flattering floor length design.Catherine accessorised with simple silver bracelets and wore her brunette hair in loose waves while opting for bronzed makeup.Elsewhere Evangeline, 43, - who plays Hope van Dyne/Wasp - dazzled in a dramatic silver sequin dress which had glittery tassels all over it.   Event: The stars were out in force for the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania premiere held at the BFI IMAX Waterloo on Thursday night (left Catherine Zeta Jones and right Evangeline Lilly) Wow! Catherine Zeta Jones - whose husband Michael Douglas stars in the film - looked gorgeous in a pale blue busty gown while Evangeline Lilly looked very glamorousShe boosted her height with silver heels and wore her blonde tresses in her short style while completing the look with matching dangly earrings.Also at the premiere was Kathryn Newton - who plays Cassie Lang - who made sure all eyes were on her in a silk purple dress that had a corset-style neckline and thin straps.Her slim figure was on display in the figure hugging dress and she wore her red tresses in a chic top knot. Also at the star-studded premiere was Paul Rudd who wore a light grey suit, white shirt and black tie as he posed with Jonathan Majors.The third movie in the Ant-Man franchise is eyeing the biggest debut in franchise history with $280 million worldwide.Box office analysts