Well here’s some fANTastic news! Last night Marvel officially updated their current Phase 3 plans to now include an Ant-Man sequel that will be titled Ant-Man and the Wasp! While Ant-Man may have had a production schedule rockier than Ben Grimm’s butt, I really enjoyed what director Peyton Reed and star/co-writer Paul Rudd eventually delivered. I certainly wasn’t alone in my praise for the formic hero’s first cinematic adventure, but while Ant-Man was mostly a hit critically, it didn’t exactly set the box office on fire.
Luckily though, that was really just domestically as the film made a tidy sum globally of just over $400 million, which is still nowhere close to the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy, but is still enough. So now we get to see Rudd’s Scott Lang teaming up with Wasp, who will of course be none other than Evangeline Lily’s Hope Van Dyne, was seen getting her Wasp suit in one of the film’s end-credits scenes.
With the criticism leveled at Marvel in the past about their lack of equality, the studio is quick to also point out that this is their first movie “named after its heroine”, but let’s be real here: Ant-Man still has lead billing and Wasp is definitely no Black Widow. Still, Lily handled herself very well in the few action beats she got in Ant-Man so I’m really keen to see her upgraded to proper superhero status. There’s no word yet on who will be directing the sequel.
Along with Ant-Man and the Wasp though, we also get word of three new untitled films that is also getting slot into Marvel’s lineup, all releasing in 2020. That’s actually after The Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2 and Inhumans, which should technically make it part of Phase 4. Since everything Marvel’s done until now has essentially been building towards the culmination of Phase 3, just what these new movies could be is anybody’s guess. Personally, I’m still holding out hope for that Nova movie. C’mon, Marvel. Make a fanboy happy.
Here’s the official press release of the announcement.
Now that Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has officially reached its conclusion with the release of Marvel’s “Ant-Man,” we have new details on what to expect in Phase 3!
Following our hero’s debut adventure in this summer’s “Ant-Man,” Scott Lang will return alongside Hope Van Dyne on July 6, 2018 with Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” The sequel will mark the first Marvel Studios film named after its heroine.
Additionally, Ant-Man’s second adventure will lead to a couple of other films shifting their dates, with Marvel’s “Black Panther” moving up to February 16, 2018 and Marvel’s “Captain Marvel” landing on March 8, 2019.
Finally, three untitled Marvel Studios films will premiere on May 1, 2020, July 10, 2020, and November 6, 2020.
The announcement of “Ant-Man and the Wasp” follows the success of “Ant-Man,” which has earned $178.5M domestically and $231.3M internationally for a global total of $409.8M. It’s the #9 film of the year domestically, and opens in its final international market, China, on October 16.
“Ant-Man” followed one of this year’s biggest blockbusters, Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” which has earned $458.9M domestically and $946M internationally for a global total of $1,404.9M, making it the #2 film of the year domestically and the #6 film of all time globally.
Last Updated: October 9, 2015
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 9, 2015 at 10:48
We need some NOVA-caine for the soul. #amirite
Kervyn Cloete
October 9, 2015 at 11:31
#damrite
ElNicko
October 9, 2015 at 23:22
World War Hulk and the formation of the Illuminati.