Top 5 Things Ant-Man And The Wasp Changed In The MCU

The filmmakers put a fresh spin on this stealthy villain with a gender swap and tragic backstory. As a child, Ava is involved in an accident that takes her parents’ lives. Although she gains the ability to phase through objects, Ava’s left in a constant state of pain and is turned into a weapon under the alias of Ghost. Emerging as one of the MCU’s more sympathetic villains, Ava is thankfully given a happy ending with her ailments being cured. As Ava bids farewell to Bill Foster, it’s unclear where she’ll go next. Will she dedicate the rest of her life to fighting crime? If so, Ant-Man and the Wasp could always use another partner.

Those wanting to see more of the original Wasp might’ve been disappointed with her fate in “Ant-Man.” As explained in a flashback, Hope’s mother was forced to shrink down to sub-atomic size while on a mission with husband Hank. While her actions saved millions of lives, Janet became lost in the Quantum Realm. Presuming she’s been dead for nearly three decades, Janet’s family is given hope when Scott manages to return from the Quantum Realm alive. In this follow-up, Hank travels to the Quantum Realm and reunites with Janet, who not only survived, but also developed mysterious powers that take Ghost’s pain away. We wonder if Janet’s got any other tricks up her sleeve.

After siding with Captain America during Civil War, Scott Lang spends two years under house arrest. Just three days before his sentence is up, he’s compelled to suit up as Ant-Man again. Although Scott’s nearly caught on multiple occasions, he manages to pull a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and returns home just in time. His ankle bracelet is removed and Scott is free to leave, much to the chagrin of the wormy Agent Jimmy Woo. While Scott is still forbidden from vigilantism, that doesn’t stop him from shrinking down once more and venturing into the Quantum Realm. In doing so, however, Scott ironically trades in one prison for another. More on that in a minute.

Since making its debut in the original “Ant-Man,” the Quantum Realm has been referenced in movies like “Doctor Strange” and even shows like “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” “Ant-Man and the Wasp” delved much deeper into this alternate dimension, however, as Janet demonstrates its extraordinary side effects. In addition to Janet’s newfound abilities, the Quantum Realm also opens the door for numerous other possibilities. Seeing how time and space are irrelevant in this reality, it’s safe to say that the Quantum Realm will play a major role in “Captain Marvel,” which takes place in the 1990s. We also wouldn’t be surprised if the realm is revisited in “Avengers 4,” especially if time travel is involved.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp” takes place before Thanos’ big arrival, but the film caught up to the events of “Avengers: Infinity War” in its post-credits scene. What’s intended to be a brief trip to the Quantum Realm becomes an extended stay for Scott. Upon completing a mission, Scott messages his teammates to bring him back to their reality. On the receiving end, however, are nothing but three clouds of ash. Talk about bad timing. Now that Hope, Hank, and Janet have been snapped out of existence with the other half of the universe, Ant-Man’s fate hangs in the balance. On the plus side, the Quantum Realm just might be the key to reversing Thanos’ actions.