Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania landed in theaters Friday, kicking off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by sending size-changing superhero Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and his household on an intense journey into the Quantum Realm. It’s the third solo Ant-Man outing, the thirty first MCU film total and has post-credits scenes that will blow your thoughts.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a variety of enjoyable, carried alongside by a captivating gang of goofball heroes dropped right into a extraordinary world to face a villain who’s large enough to alter all the franchise,” CNET’s Rich Knightwell wrote in his evaluation. “The plot may not be something progressive, however the trippy visuals and fascinating themes show that greater is not at all times higher.”
The quest places Scott Lang within the crosshairs of Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), a time-traveling supervillain from the distant future who’s been teased because the subsequent main hazard to the Avengers. Let’s attempt to unravel the extra scenes and what they imply for the MCU. Multiversal SPOILERS forward.
Mid-credits: Council of Kangs
In the wake of this film’s Kang getting sucked into the malfunctioning multiversal engine core, a trio of Kang Variants talk about gathering their multiversal counterparts. Two of those guys resemble the traditional Egypt-ruling Rama-Tut and timeline-pruning Immortus as they seem within the comics, whereas the cyborg-looking man could also be based mostly on the armored Scarlet Centurion.
They’re displeased that an Avenger killed Kang, whom they exiled to the Quantum Realm, and that the heroes are touching the multiverse — presumably a reference to the timeline tomfoolery of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange within the Multiverse of Madness and What If…?
“And if we allow them to, they may take the whole lot we have constructed,” says the raspy Immortus, who looks like the trio’s chief. “So let’s cease losing time. We’re late.”
He notes that he known as “all of us.” Their chamber opens as much as reveal an enormous enviornment filled with Variants — Kangs from branching timelines — of seemingly infinite temperaments and species, with much more arriving by means of time portals.
Seems Kang-tastic. What does this imply?
Our heroes will face a military of Kangs who need to dominate the multiverse. However, the Kang Variants we met within the Loki season 1 finale and this film recommended that these guys do not actually get alongside, possible because of their megalomaniacal tendencies, so any alliance is more likely to be shaky.
Kang’s goal, in a nutshell. Excellent supervillain pose too.
Marvel Comics
The similar is true of the comedian supply materials, the place one Kang — Kang Prime — labored with some Variants to remove their counterparts. He then killed these allies and changed them with robotic doppelgangers to make sure his management over all timelines. It did not actually work out for him although, as a result of schemes that contain ruling a number of realities are likely to spiral uncontrolled.
It’s possible the identical shall be true of the MCU, however the truth that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is scheduled for a May 2025 theatrical launch suggests he (or they) may have some success. This film’s Kang could return, for the reason that multiversal engine core might have spat him out someplace (or somewhen) else relatively than killing him.
Post-credits: Loki’s hunt
We leap to the early 1900s, to seek out our previous buddies Loki and Mobius (Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson) wanting dapper as they attend the stage present of 1 Victor Timely — a man who seems to be precisely like Kang.
“Time is the whole lot,” says Timely, with supervillainous gravitas. “It shapes our lives, however maybe we are able to form it.”
Loki appears transfixed by this man, however Mobius is lower than impressed.
“You made him sound like a terrifying determine,” the Time Variance Authority (TVA) agent says.
“He is,” Loki responds.
Loki, hurray! Why is he on this?
When we final noticed Loki in the season 1 finale of his self-titled Disney Plus present, his feminine Variant Sylvie threw him right into a time portal and killed He Who Remains, a Kang Variant who managed the circulate of time and prevented any branches.
He Who Remains wasn’t mendacity about being nicer than his Variants.
Marvel Studios
The timeline dictator’s demise restored the multiverse and He Who Remains’ personal Variants, which have been saved beneath management by his efforts, have been capable of run amok once more.
Loki ended up again within the drab workplaces of the TVA, the place he tried to warn Mobius about the specter of many Kangs.
“Someone is coming. Countless completely different variations of a really harmful particular person,” he tells Mobius and firm. “And they’re all set on battle. We want to organize.”
Loki has apparently satisfied Mobius to hitch him in chasing Kang.
Marvel
However, this model of Mobius cannot keep in mind Loki. There’s additionally a statue of Kang carrying his comedian costume towering over the TVA — it appears the God of Mischief was despatched to a timeline by which the company is managed by a Kang Variant that is cool with letting the timeline department.
This film’s post-credits scene means that he satisfied Mobius to hitch him in his hunt for Kang.
But why is Loki after Victor Timely?
It’s unclear why Loki is searching this specific Kang Variant, however it’s doable he is a model of the character from earlier in his profession. He may attempt to cease the villain’s profession earlier than it even will get began.
Once once more, the upcoming film Avengers: The Kang Dynasty suggests it will not go easily. We’ll possible discover out extra in Loki season 2, which is scheduled to hit Disney Plus this summer time.
Great go well with, however Kang nonetheless provides off main supervillain vibes in his Victory Timely persona. It’s in all probability the puppet grasp pose.
Marvel Comics
In the comics, Victor Timely is an identification adopted by Kang Prime after he traveled again to 1901 and established the city of Timely, Wisconsin, as a protected haven from which he might hatch his schemes. He additionally seeded his futuristic expertise into every kind of equipment, planning to grab management over it later within the timeline. It additionally gave him a foundational position within the improvement of the Marvel Universe.
The title can also be a bit meta for the reason that firm we all know as Marvel Comics was established as Timely Publications in 1939. It solely began going by Marvel within the ’60s.
It’s doable that the MCU Timely can also be this continuity’s Kang Prime and hidden in an period the place he can plan acts of villainy lengthy earlier than the Avengers exist to hassle him. That’d clarify why Loki is after him.
This man is also the identical Kang we met in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (the ultimate battle left his destiny unclear) — it might be extra narratively satisfying if the model of the character we hung out (ha) with turned out to be Kang Prime.
Another wrinkle is that comedian Kang could also be a descendant of the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic and archvillain Doctor Doom (in-universe information are fuzzy although). Since the superteam is scheduled to make its MCU debut in 2025, it would lean into this connection.
It’s kinda arduous to make sure what the cope with all these Kangs is after they all have the identical face. At least it retains the door open for Jonathan Majors’ MCU supremacy.