Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) was released earlier this month and received largely mixed reviews. It became only the second movie in the MCU franchise after Eternals (2021) to rank Rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, with a rating of 47%. In spite of good box office collections on the opening weekend, Ant-Man 3 has been accused of being mostly CGI and not posting enough stakes, what with it being the opener for Phase 5.
Director Peyton Reed feels the pressure. In a conversation with Newsweek, Reed had spoken about the pressures of working with an MCU film. He also remains largely upbeat, however, about directing a different kind of MCU movie – where the cosmic superhero Nova is introduced, for example.
Fans and followers of the MCU will be hoping, however, that Reed goes on to accept further projects from Marvel. His work with the Ant-Man series has been exemplary, as has been his other work in the industry including two episodes in the second season (2020) of The Mandalorian series, a part of the Star Wars franchise.
Quantumania wasn’t Peyton Reed’s first movie
The Paul Rudd-starring Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) wasn’t Reed’s first MCU rodeo. He has been largely successful in directing the previous Ant-Man movies, Ant-Man(2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). He is, therefore, no stranger to the pressures which go into making an MCU film, especially one like Quantumania, which has the responsibility of launching Phase 5, while introducing mega-villain Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors.
Peyton Reed feels X-Men is something not suited for him
In an interview with Collider, Reed was asked to share his views about the X-Men joining the MCU soon, to which he asserted that he felt it was “the right thing” to have the X-Men in the MCU. He went on to add that directing an X-Men movie, albeit within the MCU, is not something suited to him. That, he feels, will be better done by Quantumania screenwriter Jeff Loveness.
“…I mean it would have to be the right thing. I’m not an X-Men guy. [Quantumania screenwriter] Jeff Loveness, he’s an X-Men guy. I love the X-Men, I love watching X-Men movies. I don’t want to make an X-Men movie,” stated Reed.
Reed clarified, however, that he would like to work in the MCU, perhaps on a project on Nova, the intergalactic soldier who has been featured in animated series like The Ultimate Spider-Man.
Who is Nova, and does he have an MCU future?
Nova is an intergalactic police officer, one of the Nova Corps. His helmet allows him access to the Nova force, along with bestowing powers of superhuman strength, agility, flight, and other cosmic abilities. While the character of Nova hasn’t been introduced in the MCU yet, the Nova Corps has been featured in the Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), which was directed by James Gunn.
There have been talks about a Nova project since March 2022, although whether it will be a Disney+ special feature, web series, or movie, is yet to be clarified. Reed’s involvement with the project may only be speculated upon once the project itself is confirmed.
As for Peyton Reed, however, there remain potential talks with the MCU bigwigs and Reed about a possible Ant-Man 4 sometime in the future. Whether it’s the fourth Ant-Man movie or the Nova project, Reed seems certain to feature further in the MCU.
Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is playing in theatres now.
Source: CBR
