There’s no denying that Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a disappointment. Most of the new wave of superhero flicks didn’t seize the enjoyable, depth, and pleasure of earlier phases and lacked a clear-cut route or objective past opening weekend field workplace receipts. Thankfully, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania seems to amend that downside in an enormous method and would possibly kick Phase Five off on the proper word.
Yeah, the film seems very very like a by-the-numbers Marvel sequel replete with a number of inexperienced display screen, non-spectacular particular results, goofy humor (good day, Bill Murray), and much too many characters. Yet, I can abdomen the lesser MCU entries, supplied they serve a bigger story. Admittedly, that’s the solely method I may get by way of Phase One. I tolerated Thor and Iron Man 2 as a result of I knew they had been constructing in the direction of one thing grander in The Avengers.
Recent MCU efforts like Eternals obeyed the similar rudimentary method established in earlier phases however failed to attach the dots satisfyingly. Without one other Thanos looming in the distance, these adventures felt like half-baked concepts tossed at audiences by producers hoping one or two would yield the similar hype as Guardians of the Galaxy.
Ant-Man 3 would possibly rectify the problems with Phase Four by presenting an enormous unhealthy for our Avengers to battle, specifically, Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. The first teaser for Ant-Man 3 didn’t do a lot for me, however the full-length trailer piqued my curiosity, if solely due to the shot beneath. That picture gave me chills. It seems like one thing out of a comic book e-book and teases a villain who’s each highly effective and a bit unhinged.
Setting up a villain at the begin of Phase Five accomplishes two issues: First, we now have a narrative for future movies to construct round. Even in the event that they enterprise into solo territory, you may tie plot components into the bigger narrative and tease the finish sport, so to talk. Second, since Kang hails from the Quantum Realm and may manipulate time and area, Feige has a transparent path to introduce mutants and/or the Fantastic Four into the MCU. Ant-Man can do what we anticipated Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness to perform final yr and open up portals to new dimensions and timelines.
Hell, Feige may feasibly deliver again Tony Stark and Steve Rogers in some capability ought to the scenario name for it. Most importantly, Kang offers the MCU a path to observe and varied choices to construct round. That would gauge my curiosity and lure me to theaters for the subsequent two or three movies. I could tune in to extra of these Disney+ TV exhibits to make sure I don’t miss any important particulars.
For higher or worse, the MCU is a shared universe that guarantees interconnected storylines. Few of the stand-alone Marvel movies work independently. However, all of them perform as vital steps to get to the film that issues — Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and so forth. This method made the earlier phases particular and set the Marvel franchise up in a method no different studio has been in a position to duplicate.
Kang can proper the ship and reestablish the MCU as must-see leisure — as long as Feige doesn’t use the villain as one other punchline.
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