It’s Kang world now, and were just living in it.

If you haven’t yet go check out the official trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (released January 9, 2023 at 10 PM) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WfTEZJnv_8&t=14s

Previous Articles

Go check out a previous Quantumania article titled, “Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Official Trailer Breakdown and Hidden Details”, which broke down the first official Quantumania trailer released in October. The trailer was to Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” as it did fit perfectly in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on a “thematic level”. https://talonnews.org/1509/entertainment/marvel-studios-ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania-official-trailer-breakdown-and-hidden-details/

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Marvel Studios released the teaser trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania at this year’s summer Comic Con convention. Though Marvel only released a few trailers to the public, Quantumania was one of the many that was kept hidden from the public and only shown to attendees at the Marvel Studios panel. Many clips and information from the Comic Con trailer have been leaked, even a full length video of the entire trailer (poorly shot of course). But on October 24th, Marvel officially released the two minute trailer and teaser poster for the third Ant-Man film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and just released a second one with new shots on January 9th. The entire Ant-Man trilogy has been directed by Peyton Reed starting with Ant-Man back in 2015 then with its sequel in 2018, Ant-Man and the Wasp. Reed is finishing out the trilogy with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. 

The returning cast includes Paul Rudd as the title character of Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man as well as Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne AKA The Wasp. Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer are reprising their roles as Hank Pym, who is the original Ant-Man, and Janet Van Dyne, who is also the original Wasp but during a fatal mission sacrificed herself for her husband, Hank, leaving her lost in the Quantum Realm for years up until Scott, Hank, and Hope were able to save her in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Jonathan Majors stunned fans with his unusual role in Loki as the man behind the curtain or just the man who revealed he has planned everything that has ever happened in the Infinity Saga, even scripted the story (meaning everything that has happened in any Marvel movie or project since 2008 was all part of his so-called plan). He Who Remains was just the start of Kang’s Dynasty, he even stated in Loki, “I’ll see you soon.” And guess what?? He’s back and badder than ever. The Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania trailer officially introduced us all to the new baddie of the MCU, Kang the Conqueror. Some new faces are joining the MCU with Kathryn Newton taking on the role as Cassie Lang after Emma Fuhrmann (actress who portrayed Cassie in Avengers: Endgame) was recast. As seen in Avengers: Endgame, during the five years of The Blip, Cassie grew up… and Scott missed most of her childhood being stuck in the Quantum Realm for five years (but for him it felt like five hours). The Quantumania trailer revealed the first look at Bill Murray’s MCU debut as an unknown character. However, fans are speculating that he will be playing Lord Krylar in the film. 

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS TIME SLOTS TO MATCH UP WITH THE TRAILER 

Hidden Details and Easter Eggs

• (0:03) The trailer starts off with a beautiful shot of the skyline of San Francisco, which is where Scott lives. This is used preferably just to establish that it isn’t located in New York, because that is where a majority of Marvel films have taken place in. With Jonathan Majors narrating, “You’re an interesting man, Scott Lang.” With a shot of Paul Rudd returning as the title character, Scott Lang/Ant-Man. The rumored plot of Quantumania is that Scott is becoming more and more famous due to the events that took place in Avengers: Endgame and his fame and success is spoiling his relationship with Cassie. This is subtly hinted at in the first couple of seconds as Scott is walking down the street while people are turning around to see the famed Avenger. 
• Fans are absolutely ecstatic to see Paul Rudd back on the big screen as the tiny Avenger, Ant-Man. Though his character was mentioned multiple times in Hawkeye, he hasn’t been seen since Avengers: Endgame. Scott Lang is mostly used as comic relief whether he’s fighting side by side with Captain America at an airport in Civil War or under house arrest yet still finds himself suiting up to help out Hope and Hank fight a phasing villain in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Scott has been described as a “little bag of sunshine” to most but this is making fans question the other two comedic Ant-Man films since from the looks of the trailer, Quantumania seems to have a more serious tone. 
• (0:06) Scott is officially a “celebrity” in the Quantumania trailer. Fans can see him and Hope at a red carpet event, which was seen in the previous trailer as well. Though we have seen bits and pieces of his so-called celebrity life in other MCU projects, most notably in Avengers: Endgame when Scott, Steve, and Natasha are having lunch with Bruce/Smart Hulk. After some fans take a picture with the Hulk, Scott asks, “Did you want to grab one with me? I’m Ant-Man. They’re Hulk fans. They don’t know Ant-Man. Nobody does.” As seen in the trailer much has changed in Scott’s life from Endgame to Quantumania. His budding stardom is possibly from his new career as a writer/autobiographer based on the teaser from Comic Con. In the teaser from Comic Con fans saw a clip of Scott reading an excerpt to an audience of his autobiography titled, “Look Out For the Little Guy”. 
• Scott and Hope have had a budding relationship since the beginning, starting with Ant-Man. Though it was teased by Luis that Hope broke things off of whatever they began during his illegal airport fight in Berlin leading to his house arrest in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Fans can’t help but wonder, what is his relationship with Hope Van Dyne at this point?? 
• (0:08) Fans had some questionable comments about Hope Van Dyne’s office bob haircut in the first Ant-Man (or as Luis likes to say, “Look at my hairdo. I’m all business”) which then turned to a long haired ponytail in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Most of her hair is chopped off into a pixie cut which is identical to Janet Van Dyne’s iconic comic hair. 
• (0:10) Scott, suited up as Ant-Man, can be seen falling in the Quantum Realm but at the last minute enlarges himself to Giant Man. This is actually discussed in Ant-Man and the Wasp between Scott and Dr. Bill Foster. Scott asks how big Bill Foster grew in the Ant-Man suit, his record is twenty-one feet. But Scott’s record is sixty-five feet, which is a nod to Captain America: Civil War. Hope of course swings in and says, “If you two are finished comparing sizes…”
• (0:09) Kang continues saying, “You’re an Avenger.” This is quite similar to the Comic Con teaser trailer released only for those at the convention, however, a full length video of the entire unreleased trailer (poorly shot of course) leaked and has been surfacing the internet as well as social media. The Comic Con trailer ends with a beat up Scott Lang saying, “But you’ve made a big mistake… I’m an Avenger.” Jonathan Majors, as Kang, then walks up to coldly reply, “You’re an Avenger? Have I killed you before? They all blur together after a while…” Fans can not wait for this scene specifically for Jonathan Majors but just based off of his small role in Loki and what has been released in the two trailers (three if you count the Comic Con leak), Jonathan Majors with his charismatic, villainous, charm will steal the show for sure. 
• (0:14) Fans get a glimpse of Scott picking up his phone while Cassie is calling, her caller ID image is of Abby Ryder Fortson’s Cassie back from Ant-Man (2015). This clip of Scott is of him in a bookstore, which is the most notable because of his new career as a writer/autobiographer based on the teaser from Comic Con, when he’s promoting his book, “Look Out For the Little Guy”. 
• (0:15) “… you have a daughter…” It seems that Cassie is following in her father’s footsteps and we’re not talking about becoming a hero just yet… It seems that she is living a life of crime. We get a clip of Kathryn Newton as Cassie being released from a jail cell, this scene will most likely take place at the beginning of the film since a majority of it will take place in the Quantum Realm. 
• Fans were first introduced to Cassie Lang back in 2015 along with the rest of the Ant-Man characters like Hope and Hank. But fans have literally seen her grow up, the character went from being played by Abby Ryder Fortson in Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp to growing up during The Blip in Avengers: Endgame where Cassie was portrayed by Emma Fuhrmann. Cassie has been officially recast (once again) being played by Kathryn Newton in Quantumania. Since each Marvel movie is connected, it is safe to say she will portray her in other future MCU projects like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning Scott will probably pass the torch to Cassie being the hero, which she goes by “Stature” in the comics. It is unknown if Scott will step down as Ant-Man, giving the title to Cassie, if he even survives the events of Quantumania because from the looks of it, he’ll have to put up a pretty big fight going hand to hand against Kang. 
• Once again all of Marvel projects in Phase Four have been setting up the new generation of Avengers and even teasing the Young Avengers with Kate Bishop (Hawkeye), Elijah Bradley/Patriot (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Tommy/Wiccan and Billy/Speed (WandaVision), America Chavez/Ms. America (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), Kid Loki (Loki), either Harley Keener (introduced in Iron Man 3 and was most recently cameoed in Avengers: Endgame at Tony Stark’s funeral) or Nathaniel Richards (will possibly be a Kang Variant who was introduced in Loki) can take the mantle of Iron Lad, Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Ms. Marvel), and Riri Williams/IronHeart (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). These are just some of the characters from the comics, Marvel fans know Kevin Feige doesn’t religiously follow comic storylines and just loosely uses them as inspiration. This being said, the Young Avengers can look completely different from the comic lineup as it is most likely they will be adding characters exclusively for the MCU. Morgan Stark was introduced back in Endgame, her story can still be developed, as well as Prince T’Challa who cameoed in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever credit scene.
• A rumor floating around is that Paul Bettany’s Vision will be getting his own solo series on Disney+, the title leaked so far is, Vision Quest. This rumor once again is just hinting at the Young Avengers since Vision has close ties to the teams in the comics, as he helped form the team and even mentored them before they disbanded. He even went as far to join the team as a reborn teenage hero known as Vision II. All of his data was stored within the Kang Variant, Nathaniel Richards’ Iron Lad armor. If all rumors are true and Vision Quest is green lit by Marvel, it will most likely release after the IronHeart series (set to premiere sometime in 2023) but before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars (both set to release in theaters in 2025). Vision Quest will reportedly introduce Vision’s daughter, Viv, to the Marvel scene, making it likely she will have a part of the Young Avengers like her father. 
• (0:17) “… but you’ve lost a lot of time, like me.” Kang is the master of timeline manipulation and Scott lost “a lot of time” with Cassie during The Blip. He tells Scott he can give him back lost time, if he does something for him in return. Based on the Summer Comic Con Convention leak, there is a good chance Kang is holding them hostage or withholding how he can get them out of the Quantum Realm. Kang is “bargaining” with Scott since something has been stolen from him and if Scott helps him get it back, he’ll send them all home. But it seems more like Scott is making a deal with the Devil. In the footage released to the public since Comic Con, Kang seems to be offering more… “more time…” This is of course an issue with Scott since he missed Cassie growing up… and Scott missed most of her childhood being stuck in the Quantum Realm for five years during The Blip. Kang continues to say, “We can help each other with that”, as everyone is sucked into the Quantum Realm. 
• (0:20) Fans get yet another look of Cassie’s invention which is obviously dangerous where she just thinks “it’s like a satellite for deep space, but Quantum!!” Though Michelle Pfeiffer made her Marvel debut as Janet back in Ant-Man and the Wasp, her story has not yet been fully developed, until now. Janet spent a considerable amount of time in the Quantum Realm from when Hope was a little girl up until the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp. There is a good chance that fans will learn about her time there, enemies she’s made (Kang being one of them), her relationship with Bill Murray’s unknown role, and how big of a role she’ll have navigating their way in such a strange world. This being said, Janet will be one of the most important characters in Quantumania. Cassie’s device is sending a message down the Quantum Realm, but who receives it?? 
• (0:27) The entire Pym/Lang family gets sucked down into the Quantum Realm, hence why they are seen stuck in the strange world for a majority of the trailer. 
• (0:31) While Kang is walking up to Scott, his reflection in the floor is seemingly his comic accurate form with the purple headpiece and blue skin. Scott, naively asks, “Who are you??” The master manipulator Kang is, replies, “I’m the man who can give you the one thing you want.” The first glimpse fans get of Kang is the trailer is quite intimidating. 
• As Gizmodo puts it, “A chance for more time from the time bending Kang the Conqueror?? What could go wrong??” 
• (0:37) Fans finally get their first good look at Kang’s comic accurate blue skin which he can apparently control, turning on and off. Jonathan Majors suited up as Kang with the long green tunic and purple armoring surrounding it as well as his purple head piece. What’s even more important is that his skin appears to be blue just like the comics. From the looks of it though, the blue just seems to be a shield which is a part of his head piece/helmet. “What’s that??” “Time.” 
• (0:44) Fans get a great look at Kang’s citadel and his army. Kang is Marvel’s big bad for the Multiverse Saga (Phase 4, Phase 5, and Phase 6). Thanos whipping out half of the population’s existence is going to be a tough act to beat. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame are some of the highest grossing films of all time. How can Kang compete against that?? Well, it’s time for a new dynasty, Loki as well as Quantumania are just a taste of how Kang really is. I mean He Who Remains even told audiences, “If you think I am evil, wait until you meet my variants.” The rumor is, every Marvel project leading up to Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, will just be another Kang variant including projects like Loki Season Two and IronHeart, which will hopefully introduce Nathaniel Richards. 
• (0:44) Kang’s stronghold, Chronopolis, has a bit of a different look from the comics. But what is Chronopolis?? Well, Chronopolis mainly appeared in comic issues that ran in the 90s (it made its first appearance in Captain America Annual #11 released in 1992). Kang is in fact ruler of this kingdom, which is located outside of time itself, which might sound similar to his role in Loki, as He Who Remains. Though very limited information has been released about the MCU’s Chronopolis, the city’s layout seems to be in ring type shapes, which is similar to its circular shape in the comics. Certain sections of the kingdom are differentiated with distinctive time periods, one may be Ancient Egypt or the Victorian Era. Only hidden portals in Chronopolis can move you from each part, but not everyone can move freely. However, this is not the case for Kang, he has the ability to do so thanks to the very powerful “Forever Crystal”. In the previous trailer, Kang’s masked hand can be seen placing an orb in a gold machine. Many believe this to be the MCU’s “Heart of Forever”, which is a device powered by an orb that gives Kang the ability to not only power and control Chronopolis but also travel across time which also explains why he has so many Variants. In the teaser shown at Comic Con it was revealed that something important has been stolen from Kang and if Scott helps him get it back, he’ll send them all home. 
• (0:46) Janet frighteningly says, “He can re-write existence… and shatter timelines.” It is safe to say that Janet will be the main source of information for the Quantum Realm, since she has spent the most time there. That being said, we can all assume she knows a thing or two about Kang and may have even come face to face with him in her decades in the Quantum Realm. 
• (0:48) This is probably the most important easter egg in the entire trailer since Shang Chi’s Ten Rings (from Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings) and Kamala Khan’s Bangles are going to be the largest part of the Multiverse Saga. In this specific shot of Kang’s home, Chronopolis (from the comics) which was actually revealed in episode six of Loki. Large rings can be seen formed around buildings. Visually the ring-like objects look very similar to the rings/bracelets used in The Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings, and Ms. Marvel. The Direct mentioned, “He Who Remains, explained how the Multiverse was discovered using rings to visualize the universes on top of one another.” In the credit scene of Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings, Shang says that his father, Wen-Wu, had the Rings for “about a thousand years.” Bruce then replies, “Their thermoluminescence indicates they’re older than that. By a lot.” It was then revealed that there is a beacon in the Rings sending a message. To where? That’s unknown… but not for long. 
• (0:51) Fans get a clear look of Jonathan Majors as Kang, the scars on his face replicate his blue skin in the comics. Which The Direct says, “brings a very intimidating presence to this already very intimidating character.” 
• (0:52) Marvel has been teasing just how powerful Kang truly is, though they showed just a touch of his unbeatable powers. They tease beyond comprehensible they are to not just Scott but to fans as well by splitting Scott into two variants right before his eyes. If you could not already tell, the Quantum Realm as well as Quantumania itself is going to explore themes and worlds not yet before seen in the MCU. So, prepare yourself for a very wild, weird, and intense ride. 
• (0:55) Janet, once again being the voice of reason, says, “You cannot trust!!” Probably speaking from personal experience. By this moment in the trailer (0:55), not a lot of Hope has been shown. Fans are quite curious about this, considering the movie is called, Ant-Man and THE WASP: Quantumania. 
• (0:56) We can see a wee little sneak peak of MODOK in the background about half way through the trailer. Though we get a masked version of him later in the trailer, the giant unmasked head confirms Corey Stoll will be reprising his role as Darren Cross AKA Yellowjacket. Fans first and last saw him back in 2015 in the first Ant-Man film, where he apparently “died” due to shrinking beyond subatomic levels. But fans are wondering if this is a variant of Darren Cross or Marvel is bringing in the comic AIM leader, George Tarleton but with a familiar (giant) face?? It is quite possible that Marvel will not take the comic route and just merge Tarleton’s story as a transformed version of Cross. Another possibility is that the MODOK in the trailer is the Cross Marvel fans saw in Ant-Man and got trapped in the Quantum Realm since his death has never been confirmed. This is the easiest storyline Marvel could follow since it would connect how Janet got trapped in the realm but also not need for them to introduce a whole new character and just continue his story with more depth and a new design.
• (0:59) Is the Quantum Realm breaking?? In the teaser shown at Comic Con it was revealed that something important has been stolen from Kang and if Scott helps him get it back, he’ll send them all home. Scott even narrates, “I don’t care who this guy is. I just lost so much.” Revealing that Scott will go to far lengths to get the time back he missed with Cassie, which even includes making a deal with the devil, Kang. Kang being the main villain of the movie, the deal will probably backfire and not go Scott’s way. It seems the Quantum Realm is slowly breaking due to the events of Loki, Cassie’s Quantum radio, or even Kang’s missing orb. 
• (1:00) A flashback from Ant-Man (2015) is shown of young Cassie running to Scott at her birthday party. “I want my daddy.” “I want your daddy, too.”
• (1:02) Young Cassie quickly switches to a shot of Kathryn Newton’s Cassise hugging Scott in the Quantum Realm, with Scott saying, “He can give us a second chance.” 
• (1:04-1:06) In this shot, Ant-Man can be seen downsizing way too many times. So, how small is he planning on going and why?? Is this part of his deal with Kang?? 
• (1:15) Are Janet, Hank, and Hope planning and leading a time heist?? In this shot, they are all covered up (possibly in disguises) but Janet’s look seems oddly familiar from when Hank first found in the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp. 
• (1:16) At first you think, why are there so many ants in the Quantum Realm?? But in the next shot (1:18) they appear to be all little Ant-Men!! Once again, if you could not already tell, the Quantum Realm as well as Quantumania itself is going to explore themes and worlds not yet before seen in the MCU. So, prepare yourself for a very wild, weird, and intense ride… which includes multiple versions and variants of Ant-Man apparently?! 
• (1:21) One of the only shots of Cassie in the trailer is of her, suited up in a purple Ant-Man suit, standing in front of a cracked portal. Is she getting out of the Quantum Realm?? Being that she created that little  quantum radio signal, did she figure out a way to move freely in and out of the Realm or Chronopolis??
• (1:23) Kang says, “Let me make this easy for you. You will bring me what I need… or everything you call a life… will end.” Scott and Hope seem to have a little moment in the trailer, though Wasp doesn’t appear much in the trailer, the emotional stakes seem to be pretty high… Kang being Kang, there is no way he will take it easy on Scott. So, there is a good chance a few fan favorites won’t make it out of Quantumania. 
• “Witness the Beginning of a New Dynasty.” This statement is obviously a nod to the upcoming Avengers film, The Kang Dynasty and to how Kang and his variants play the most pivotal role in Phase 4, Phase 5, and Phase 6 (The Multiverse Saga). 
• (1:31) Is this the end for Hank and Janet?? Fans wouldn’t be surprised if they were to kill some of these characters to make room for the new generation of heroes, the Young Avengers. 
• (1:32) Cassie says, “This is all my fault.” I mean, we don’t want to point fingers but it was Cassie’s quantum signal that got them sucked down to the Realm. 
• (1:33) Fans get a look at how reality bending the Quantum Realm can be with a shot of Giant Man unrevealing right before Scotts eyes. If this scene plays out to Mr. Fantastic’s small cameo in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, it doesn’t look too good for Scott. 
• (1:38) Kang says, “You may not want her to watch this.” In this shot, Cassie gets pulled away from Scott as he says, “We had a deal.” Oh, look at that, Scotts deal with a not so trusting villain backfired, who could have seen that coming?? 
• (1:41) This seems like an unfair match. Scott is getting beaten by Kang, with a shot of Ant-Man, unmasked, bruised, beaten, and bloody. 
• (1:45) Fans get a better look at masked MODOK, whose design is very different from the comic one as he is in the form of an armored shell that’s covering his face/body. 
• (1:46) There is no way Scott can beat Kang, just look at him in this shot. There is no mercy in his eyes. 
• (1:48) Wasp seems to be reaching for Ant-Man while an army of other smaller Wasps are chasing her… 
• (1:53) “You thought you could win?!” Kang begins to stomp on Scott as if he were an insect, like an ant or something… 
• (1:56) Scotts Ant-Man helmet rolls to the ground, missing the left half of it as he says, “I don’t have to win… we both just have to lose.” Fans have been saying that there is no way Scott can go hand to hand with someone as powerful as Kang on his own turf. But like Scott says, he doesn’t have to win, he can’t win, he just has to lose along with Kang. So is this the end of Paul Rudd’s long Marvel run?? Possibly. 
• (2:07) Once again, though Kang is the villain of the film, his design is beyond perfect. Marvel translated the comic design to live action without missing a thing.

Tickets for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania available now!! 

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is exclusively in theaters February 17th, 2023!!

“You’re an Avenger? Have I killed you before? They all blur together after a while…”