Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN may have been a bit of a gamble in the same way GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was, but audiences embraced the shrinking hero and Paul Rudd as the leading man. After a CIVIL WAR appearance, the character is back with a partner by his side, and already the buzz is it’s better than the first. We don’t know much about what’s next for Ant-Man and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), but director Peyton Reed is still very hopeful about the characters' futures.
Reed was talking with The Hollywood Reporter in promotion for ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, and at the end was asked about any plans there may be for ANT-MAN 3. The director seems to know as much as we all do about Marvel’s upcoming projects, but that’s just the way the studio works, and Reed believes there are plenty of stories left to tell with the micro heroes.
I'll answer that question really honestly. Who knows, because I suspect, I don't know this, but I think any further announcement of the slate — the rest of this year is going to be about the next Avengers movie and the tee up to that stuff. And then I think we are all hopeful. Just the same as last time. We didn't have any idea there would be a second Ant-Man until maybe month or so after the first one came out. This was a giant question mark. With the first one, there was obviously behind the scenes drama that preceded me, but also, it's Ant-Man. There was a question of, are people going to go see this movie? It was not a fait accompli. It could have gone either way. I think we are all interested in doing one. There is story to tell there. Definitely. There is story we've talked about potentially. I'm very, very hopeful.
Ant-Man and Wasp did not show up in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR earlier this year, but they could in the upcoming AVENGERS 4 (we will learn more about that when the movie comes out Friday). Other than that, the only movies we know are slated for Phase 4 are SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3, with Kevin Feige saying they have plans for DOCTOR STRANGE 2. Everything else is sort of up in the air.
That being said, we will likely see more adventures with the tiny-but-mighty Ant-Man and the Wasp. Their new movie is tracking quite well and is earning great reviews, and those reasons alone are strong enough to get a new movie planned. Marvel has a tendency to wait a bit to announce any sequels they have planned, even if we all know one is inevitable. The desire for more female heroes also means the Wasp isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so I’d say we have plenty of pint-sized adventures left to see.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP arrives this Friday!