A new ‘Ant-Man’ movie opens Friday. Here’s a sneak peek behind-the scenes
The introduction of a new character starts a new phase of the Marvel Comics Universe.
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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, opening Friday in theaters, is the third installment in the Ant-Man series.
After grossing a combined $1.1 billion worldwide from the first two films, part 3 is back with all the key players; Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror and Kathryn Newton, as Ant-Man’s teenage daughter, Cassie Lang, are new additions.
In a virtual news conference, Marvel Movie Overlord Kevin Feige explained that the new Ant-Man kicks off phase five of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), in large part due to the introduction of Kang, which Feige said begins a storyline “heading towards some Avengers films down the line.”
So what can one expect from ‘Quantumania?’
“The Ant-Man movies have really always been about family,” director Peyton Reed said. “It is a generational story about a family of heroes, with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), who is not a billionaire or super scientist or anything, getting sucked into this world with Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who is the legacy daughter of two superheroes, Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer. Now we add young Cassie Lang.”
“Scott wants to be a hero, obviously,” Reed added. “He’s an Avenger, but it’s really about work-life balance and spending time with his daughter. I think in Quantumania, one of the things we’ve done is really broaden the story and start talking about the secrets family members keep from each other, the things they don’t tell each other.”
And what about the Quantum realm?
“It is a place on the subatomic level where space and time act differently,” Feige said. “We talked about parallels to The Wizard of Oz in terms of taking and meeting a family down there. But the visuals, was all Peyton and his team.”
To create the Quantum world, Reed said they “looked at everything from electron microscope photography to things like Heavy Metal magazines from the ‘70s and ‘80s … We wanted to assemble a team of artists and create this very vivid world that has its own internal history and internal logic.”
“Will Htay, our production designer, assembled this insane group of visual artists and we said just bring some of your most fantastic ideas to the table and let’s figure out what it can be,” he said.
Michelle Pfeiffer (Janet van Dyne) was asked if she approached these Marvel movies in the same way she’s approached other roles.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” Pfeiffer replied.
“None of us do, really,” echoed Newton.
“I actually marvel at these guys because I feel like they just get it,” Pfeiffer added. “And I just copy what they do.”
As for Newton, she said she saw Iron Man when she was 8, “and I told myself that I wanted to be the biggest Marvel superhero of all time. So, I think it’s ironic that Cassie Lang grows 40 feet.”
“I’m proof that your dreams come true.”
(Rated PG-13. Premieres Friday, Feb. 17, in theaters.)
‘Of an Age’
Gay romance about a young ballroom dancer who bonds with his missing dancing partner’s older brother as the two men search for her. Starring Thom Green and Elias Anton. Written and directed by Goran Stolevski. In English and Serbian. (Rated R. Premieres Friday, Feb. 17, in theaters.)
‘Sharper’
Drama about New York billionaires dealing with a con artist. With Justice Smith, Brianna Middleton, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Moore, and John Lithgow. Directed by Benjamin Caron (The Crown). Grammy-winning Best New Artist Samara Joy appears as a singer. (Rated R. Premieres Friday, Feb. 17, in theaters and on Apple+.)
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (reissue)
Ang Lee’s magical, mystical, romantic kung fu adventure returns to big screens in a 4K remastered version. Nominated for 10 Oscars and winner of four, the film stars Michelle Yeoh (Oscar-nominated this year for Everything Everywhere All at Once), Chow Yun-Fat, and a young Ziyi Zhang. Treat yourself. (Rated PG-13. Premieres Friday, Feb. 17, in theaters.)