Kevin Feige: Ant-Man has earned the right to launch Phase Five

In one month, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will launch Phase Five with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It’s a coveted spot on the release calendar, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is confident that Scott Lang and company are the right superheroes for the job.

In a new interview with Empire, Kevin Feige said of the next Ant-Man, “We wanted to kick off Phase Five with Ant-Man because he’d earned that position…To not simply be the back-up or the comic relief, but to take his position at the front of the podium of the MCU.”

Considering Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the third in the Ant-Man series and the character has been a notable presence since his 2015 MCU debut, the movie does seem like a worthy choice to begin Phase Five. Phase Five will also include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels from this year, as well as Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts and Blade next year, in addition to numerous TV series.

In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Cassie, and more will take on Kang the Conqueror. While Thanos has proven to be the quintessential MCU villain up to this point, Jonathan Majors says he dug deep to figure out how Kang can stand out. “I talked to people, I look at my child, talk to my partner. What is it we’re afraid of in this time? What is it that’s scaring us? Because Kang has to be…any big bad is a manifestation of our deepest insecurities as a society.” Judging by the trailer, his presence is most certainly the biggest threat in the Multiverse Saga so far.

On kicking off Phase Five, director Peyton Reed said fans should expect the unexpected in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. “We’re not running around the streets of San Francisco anymore. We’re fighting one of the most powerful villains in Marvel history, and maybe these are the most unlikely Avengers to be the first to go up against this guy.”

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania comes to theaters on February 17th.

How do you feel about Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania kicking off Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Is the character big enough (no pun intended) to handle it? Let us know your thoughts and your hopes for Phase 5 in the comments section below!