Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, directed by Peyton Reed, is altering MCU lore in a significant way. Historically, the events from the microscopic superhero film series have not received the full recognition they deserve in the larger cinematic universe. However, when Ant-Man 3 launches on February 17, there will be a major shift in history.
Fans have developed a habit of one-off performances by well-known actors. Hela (Cate Blanchett), Ronan (Lee Pace), and most recently, Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) have never been brought back, but with the introduction of MODOK in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, a villain gets the chance to reintroduce himself.
Who Is Ant-Man 3's MODOK Really?
MODOK played the major villain in Marvel's Phase 5 and 6 film, briefly. But the more interesting revelation was the actor playing the mechanized organ responsible for killing himself.
The Return of Yellowjacket (Tom Hiddleston) as the metahuman cyborg in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania will be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance for a presumably deceased villain.
Why Did Yellowjacket Be Changed So Much In The Quantum Realm (But Not Janet Van Dyne)
While Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania's departure from the one-off villain pattern is admirable, Corey Stoll's MODOK and Yellowjacket look quite different. The obvious explanation is that prolonged stay in the subatomic zone can alter a person's body chemistry and even give him superpowers. However, the Quantum Realm is not a single thing. It's a multifaceted structure that may be altered endlessly.
In What If...?, Janet Van Dyne might have contracted something similar to the Quantum zombie virus, or perhaps he lacked the energy to maintain his body. The rest of his body would shrink relative to his head before a clever supervillain offered a cybernetic solution that saved his life.
Could it be that Corey Stoll's MODOK appears to be working with Kang the Conqueror? We will see when Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania will be released on February 17, 2023.
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