The Russos' Avengers: Infinity War has finally debuted in theaters, which raises one major question: how can the Marvel Cinematic Universe get any bigger? Well, the answer to that question is that it can't, at least not right now. So, with that in mind, Marvel Studios has instead decided to move in the opposite direction by following up Infinity War's historic opening with a new trailer for Peyton Reed's Ant-Man and The Wasp.
This preview is a fun and lighthearted romp in the spirit of the original, but it also leaves us with several notable questions about the film. On that note, we have put together a list of the biggest questions raised by this trailer that need answers ahead of its July 6 release date. We have a few major points to get to, so let's start things off by diving into the chronology of Ant-Man and The Wasp's narrative. Of course, you can take a look at the new trailer here. If you've already seen it, here are our thoughts.
When Is The Movie Set?
One of the biggest questions associated with Ant-Man and The Wasp is where it actually falls in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. We know that it will take place after the events of Captain America: Civil War (the film's marketing campaign has already directly acknowledged the 2016 blockbuster), but we do not know much else aside from the fact that Scott goes on house arrest ahead of Infinity War's story. With such a cataclysmic event taking place in Avengers: Infinity War (but more on that later), it seems unlikely that both films take place simultaneously. Nevertheless, as timelines have become such important elements in the overarching MCU stories, we need to know when Ant-Man and The Wasp's story is actually set so we can have a better understanding of where it fits in the greater Phase 3 plan.
How Will Infinity War Impact It?
On a similar note, we also need to know how or if the fallout of Avengers: Infinity War will directly affect the events of Ant-Man and The Wasp. Though he's a relatively new addition to The Avengers roster, Scott Lang is still among the ranks of Earth's mightiest heroes. Moreover, he (along with Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye) is acknowledged in Infinity War to explain his absence from duty in the Battle of Wakanda. With Infinity War ending on such a gloomy, apocalyptic note, we need to know how Thanos' game-changing arrival on Earth will influence the future of Scott's tenure as a hero. We already know that he's set to appear in Avengers 4, so something will have to happen to bring him back to the front line to help out folks like Captain America and Iron Man once more.
Where Is Michelle Pfeiffer?
Of course, one of the most exciting additions to the Ant-Man world is the inclusion of former Catwoman Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne among the ensemble of Ant-Man and The Wasp. Marvel has kept the character relatively hidden from most of the marketing lately, with the notable exception of a recent poster that prominently features her face. Nevertheless, this new trailer for Ant-Man and The Wasp has finally debuted, and Janet is still nowhere to be seen or found. Given the fact that we already know that she's part of the story, we're dying to know where she is, what she's doing, and what she will look like when she finally returns to the normal-sized world. Besides, we can only imagine how Hank will react when he finally sees his long-lost wife in the flesh.
How Big Can Giant Man Get?
Captain America: Civil War changed the game for Ant-Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole by establishing Scott Lang's ability to turn into Giant Man in a fight. Now, with Ant-Man and The Wasp on the horizon, it looks like he has continued to hone that power as he has become more and more comfortable in his hero role. That said, in Scott Lang's conversations with Dr. Bill Foster, he boasts about setting a record of 65 feet high as Giant Man, while the trailers have shown him grow considerably larger than that. It looks like Scott will continue to hone this power in Ant-Man and The Wasp, and we're dying to know exactly what the limits of this ability truly are. If he can go subatomic, then why should there be a limit to his ability to grow?
How Does Goliath Factor Into The Story?
One of the best things about the Ant-Man franchise is the fact that it can flesh out the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline by introducing older heroes who served in the years before Tony Stark first suited up in Iron Man. We saw that with Hank Pym in the first film, and we will soon see it again with the introduction of Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Bill Foster a.k.a Goliath. We only get brief glimpses at Foster in the trailer (and never in any hero shots), so we are dying to know how he will actually factor into the overarching conflict with Ghost and the journey to the Quantum Realm. Will he suit up again? Will we see a flashback? We need to know these things, Marvel.
Where Does Ghost Get Her Power?
For a thief, what's the one power that's more useful than the ability to grow or shrink in an instant? There are a few arguments to be made, but the power to phase through solid matter seems like a strong contender. Sadly for Ant-Man and The Wasp, it looks like that is exactly what the villainous Ghost can do in the film. She is on a mission to steal technology from Hank Pym, and while she looks like a formidable opponent who can easily hand Scott his own ass, we still don't know much about who she is, where she comes from, or where she acquired her powers in the first place. If we want to care about her, that's something that we will need to know when the movie premieres.
What Is Ghost's Motivation?
On a similar note, we also need to point out the fact that we still don't fully know what Ghost wants in Ant-Man and The Wasp. Though Luis makes a quick joke that she "wants to take over the world, or whatever," not much has actually been confirmed about the character's motivations. Based on the concerned look that we see on her face during her brief, unmasked scene in the preview, it looks like she's not immediately thrilled to be in the state that she finds herself in. Given the fact that she seems to be on a crusade to steal Hank Pym's advanced tech, it seems reasonable to assume that she has something smaller scale (literally) in mind than someone like Thanos and his quest to acquire all of the Infinity Stones.
Who Is Walton Goggins Playing?
In this trailer, we get a much better look at Ghost and her impact on the overall story, but there's another villain who shows up as well: Walton Goggins' Sonny Burch. The preview shows Scott Lang chasing after a group of crooks through the San Francisco streets, with Burch sitting in the passenger seat of the bad guys' vehicle. That said, we still don't know who he really is, or why Scott Lang is chasing him. Moreover, Burch seems to have Hank Pym's miniaturized building in his lap during the chase, suggesting a relatively significant impact over the direction of the story --rather than just a low-level thug that Scott has to take down at the beginning of the film. With the film only a few months away, we need to learn more about how Burch plays into the overall story.
How Will The Quantum Realm Factor In?
The first Ant-Man laid the groundwork for the full introduction of the Quantum Realm, and it looks like Ant-Man and The Wasp will make good on the promise of a more in-depth exploration of the microscopic universe. It's a realm where time and space don't function as they do in our own world, so there are no limits to the bizarre sci-fi adventures that can take place there. The trailers have shown us a Fantastic Voyage-esque journey to the Quantum Realm, but we still don't know how the bizarre landscape will shape the story. Moreover, recent reports have suggested that the Quantum Realm will impact the Captain Marvel corner of the MCU, so it's clear that it's an essential element that extends beyond Ant-Man and The Wasp.
If you have any more questions about the new trailer, let us know in the comments below. Or tune in when Ant-Man and the Wasp hits theaters later this summer.
