We have big, BIG news coming out of the Marvel camp today, as Ant-Man and the Wasp has officially entered production ahead of its release in 2018.
Word comes by way of the studio’s ever-active Twitter feed, along with an all-too-brief set video featuring two diminutive makeup chairs: one for Scott Lang; the other for Hope Pym. Brought to life by Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, respectively, the titular duo is poised to join forces in Peyton Reed’s forthcoming sequel – and not a moment too soon. Having spent much of the original wasting away on the sidelines, Marvel fans have longed for the moment when Lilly’s character suits up as the Wasp, adopting her father’s cutting-edge shrinking technology in the process.
Meanwhile, by the time Ant-Man and the Wasp opens in July, Scott Lang will have enjoyed (endured?) two dalliances with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes thanks to Captain America: Civil War and next year’s Avengers: Infinity War, which brings together all of the many costumed crusaders that have helped define the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far.
Currently in the midst of Phase 3, it’s understood the MCU will undergo a fairly significant overhaul once the untitled Avengers 4 graces theaters in 2019, after Kevin Feige pointed to Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 (also untitled) to usher in a new era for this most ambitious of cinematic universes.
But if there’s one reluctant hero that helps bring some levity to the MCU, it’s Scott Lang’s Ant-Man. Little is currently known about the narrative underpinning Ant-Man and the Wasp, but following the addition of Laurence Fishburne and Tomb Raider‘s Walton Goggins, not to mention the addition of Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, we fully expect to learn more about Peyton Reed’s follow-up sooner rather than later.
Until that time, here’s the official synopsis:
From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink: Ant-Man and The Wasp. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang (Rudd) grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne (Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas) with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from their past.
For the second year on the trot, 2018 will herald three marquee additions to the MCU: Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Ant-Man and the Wasp, which shoots for theaters on July 6th, 2018 and will no doubt serve as a welcome palette cleanser after the eye-popping spectacle of Infinity War.