Paul Rudd is set to return as the charismatic Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, next year in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Besides the casting of Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, and Bill Murray in a yet-undisclosed antagonistic role, there is still very little known about the film. Nevertheless, from the information available, it will likely center on Ant-Man and the Wasp returning to the Quantum Realm and possibly traversing the multiverse along the way. As such, the opportunity is ripe to introduce some popular and important characters from Ant-Man’s ripe past, whether as allies or adversaries.
10 Ant-Man (Eric O’Grady)
As in the comics, Scott Lang is the second person to become Ant-Man in Ant-Man following Hank Pym’s run while working with S.H.I.E.LD. While it is unlikely fans will see Hank in action as Ant-Man, they could be introduced to his other successor, Eric O’Grady. Like Scott, Eric is also a thief, but with more immoral sensibilities – hence his origin’s title, The Irredeemable Ant-Man.
Eric is a S.H.I.E.LD. agent who overtime as Ant-Man joins both the Secret Avengers and Thunderbolts. Should he appear in the MCU, whether in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania or beyond, he could alternatively go by a different moniker, Black Ant to avoid confusion and complication.
9 Wasp (Nadia van Dyne)
Like Ant-Man, Wasp is a name that has been used by many a hero. The most important in the comics is Janet van Dyne – played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the MCU – and in 2016 Marvel introduced her successor and step-daughter, Nadia van Dyne as the Unstoppable Wasp. She is the daughter of Hank Pym and Maria Trovaya, his first wife, and was trained as an assassin at the Red Room.
Interestingly, she was created as a sort of comic version of Evangaline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne. That might limit her joining the MCU since Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will hopefully feature Cassie’s transformation into the superhero, Stature/Stinger.
8 Jocasta
Unlike the comics, Hank Pym played no role in creating Ultron, who is by far his greatest enemy. Ultron sought a wife of his own, like what Hank has with Janet, so he created one with Jocasta. At first, she was simply a metal husk housing Janet’s mind, but she gained her own consciousness and sentience.
She rebelled against her maker and even became an Avenger for some time. She was already teased in an easter egg in Avengers: Age of Ultron when Tony was deciding on a new AI, before settling on F.R.I.D.A.Y. Many fans think that Ultron is still out there somewhere in the MCU, waiting to come back, and Jocasta might be there with him.
7 Fantastic Four
The question from fans relentlessly surrounding nearly every project in Phase Four is whether this will introduce the Fantastic Four. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness effectively did that, but for a different Earth. John Krasinski briefly cameoed as Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic on Earth-838 and even teased his family, – Sue Storm aka the Invisible Woman, and their two kids, Franklin and Valeria – though not by name.
Marvel’s first family is intrinsically linked to Scott Lang’s Ant-Man as he was briefly a member of the team. There are some theories that the Earth-616 or the main MCU continuity’s Fantastic Four will be introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania as people trapped in the Quantum Zone.
6 Doctor Doom
With the Fantastic Four will likely come their most iconic adversary, Doctor Doom. He is one of the smartest characters in the comics and has also been a common enemy to the Avengers throughout time. Fans have been eagerly anticipating his arrival, looking for every little clue as to when he’ll arrive.
Some have pointed to the European village in the first episode of Moon Knight as possibly being in Doctor Doom’s home country of Latveria. Others have recognized the city in the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp as where the Fantastic Four and even Doctor Doom could be. Regardless, with incursions incoming, it seems guaranteed that Doctor Doom will play an important role in the future of the MCU.
5 Atlas
Following Scott Lang’s arrival and his taking up the mantle as Ant-Man, Hank Pym operated under several different monikers, including Goliath. Audiences might remember the name as the project that Lawrence Fishbourne’s Bill Foster used to work with Hank on in, focusing on growing in size rather than shrinking.
Another prominent character who used that title is Erik Josten aka Atlas. He was a mercenary who was empowered by Baron Zemo and later by Dr. Malus – seen in Jessica Jones – with Pym Particles. He became an adversary for the Avengers and joined the Masters of Evil and Thunderbolts. With theories about who could make up this team, perhaps Atlas will be incorporated in the future.
4 Goliath (Tom Foster)
Bill Foster is not the only person to serve as Goliath, even in his own family. Following his uncle’s death during Civil War, Tom Foster became embittered with the Avengers. He ingested Pym Particles, became superpowered, and joined the Revengers with Atlas to avenge his uncle against the Avengers.
He is an interesting case for a character as he is inherently heroic with a good heart, but he is deemed antagonistic simply because he goes against the Avengers. Bill’s fate in the MCU is still unknown following the events of Avengers: Endgame, so perhaps Tom’s Goliath will soon be part of future Ant-Man or Avengers films.
3 Giant-Man (Raz Malhotra)
Hank Pym, besides Ant-Man, will likely be best recognized as Giant-Man. Currently in the comics, the title is used by Raz Malhotra, who was first introduced in 2015. He has since remained a steady supporting character and even joined Ant-Man’s Security Solutions – who could be in need of a new employee with T.I. not returning in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Raz would make for a welcome entry in the MCU since no one has technically used the name, Giant-Man and supplementing much-needed queer representation as a gay superhero. Furthermore, his expertise in AI could help bring back Ultron and/or introduce Jocasta.
2 Crossfire
Unfortunately for Marvel’s superheroes, Darren Cross aka Yellowjacket is not the only supervillain in his family. His cousin, William Cross goes by Crossfire and is more deeply connected to Hawkeye as one of his greatest enemies. While it would seem unlikely for Crossfire to appear in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quatumania, it is not entirely out of the question.
Corey Stoll, who played Yellowjacket in Ant-Man is supposedly reprising the role in the third film – though the extent to which is still unknown – so this could be a way to introduce Crossfire. He would make for an interesting antagonist to either Hawkeye or Moon Knight should either get a second season.
1 Whirlwind
Ant-Man’s villains are not very well-known to the casual audience, but there are still some interesting prospects. One of his more classic enemies has been around in the comics nearly as long as him. David Cannon aka Whirlwind is a mutant capable of spinning at extreme speeds, whirling up intense gusts and twisters while doing so.
While he might lack the gravitas as a leading antagonist like Killmonger in Black Panther or the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Whirlwind could still have a role to play in MCU. He could be featured as an old adversary of Hank Pym’s Ant-Man, possibly played by Bill Murray.
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