One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most endearing heroes is Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. He was introduced to us in the 2015 solo origin film, Ant-Man and went on to play an increasingly important role in the MCU thereafter. However, the superhero may not have a long story ahead of him in the coming era of mainstream events after a recently leaked image has set off fan speculations about his battered down state in Quantumania.
Also read: How Loki Connects to Ant-Man 3 Plot
Ant-Man’s Worrying State in the Phase 5 Film, Quantumania
Paul Rudd‘s superhero character has been integral to the Marvel storyline for a varied number of reasons. He started off by being a reformed criminal who rose to the occasion by donning the Ant-Man suit. The character also became an essential part of the Avengers’ winning in Endgame by setting them on the path to building a time portal. In his solo endeavors, the hero helped unite the Pym family and contributed to the redemptive arc of the now reformed villain, Ghost, who is set to appear in Thunderbolts.
After being built up as a happy-go-lucky man who loves his family as much as he loves saving the world, the quick-witted Scott Lang might just serve as the perfect pawn in the next roster of sacrifices that Marvel has planned for the Kang arc. As has been obvious in every tragic epic, literary or cinematic, there can be no true uprising of heroes until the death of a beloved character. This theory worked toward the formation of the Avengers after the death of Phil Coulson. The dusting of half the universe also served as a catalyst for the climactic battle of Endgame.
For the next big bad of MCU aka Kang the Conqueror, a similar plot is needed in order to throw the Avengers for a loop in their journey toward the climactic battle. If Scott Lang becomes the first victim at the hands of Kang, his death might start the chain of events that give the Avengers the impetus for hunting down Kang. And so far, the bruised and battered state of Scott Lang in the leaked image doesn’t leave much to the imagination as to his probable gloomy fate.
Ant-Man’s Sacrifice Could Make or Break the MCU
In the comics, the death of Ant-Man sparked the formation of Young Avengers, with Cassie Lang being an integral part of the team in order to avenge her father. We already know Quantumania introduces us to Kathryn Newton‘s Cassie and coupled with the fact that mainstream MCU has been subtly injecting the possible Young Avenger candidates throughout Phase 4, the theory further holds up as to what Ant-Man’s fate holds going forward.
But, if Paul Rudd’s character really is fated to end with his third solo outing, the Marvel fandom may as well erupt in flames of protest for making the heartwarming character expendable right at the beginning of the Kang arc.
Scott Lang is such a sweet little guy that this image is like genuinely uncomfortable to look at
It’s like winnie the pooh’s getting water boarded pic.twitter.com/Wy7fWOLzLT
— Cum Doner (@BorkEternal) September 24, 2022
I know people like stakes and all that crap but please don’t kill him
— Elmirage2 (@jwo409) September 24, 2022
I pray to god, Cassie better throw Hank in the way of Scott so Scott can live. I am not losing that Precious Teddy Bear of a man
— QueutreMcRib(He/Him) pls rt Pinned📌 (@DBR71304) September 24, 2022
They better not kill my boy Scott
— soul saber 123 (@soulsaber123) September 24, 2022
He’s the one character you’re not supposed to kill off pic.twitter.com/djfxx4HqOB
— Bruh (@basedbot52) September 24, 2022
As Michelle Pfeiffer had claimed, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is set up to be much darker than what Marvel is usually accustomed to. Whether that was an indication of Kang the Conqueror’s arrival or Ant-Man’s death remains to be seen.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania premieres on 17 February 2023.
Source: Twitter
