A new theater standee for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania reveals the primary cast that will be billed in the movie. The cast for Ant-Man has always felt different from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The original comic book version of the character never had as large or memorable a cast as that of fellow heroes, like Spider-Man or Iron Man, so Marvel Studios had to get creative and invent new characters and different variations to round out Ant-Man's supporting cast. Now, characters such as Luis (Michael Peña) and a reinvented version of Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) are fondly seen as those associated with the size-altering hero.In preparation for the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, theaters are already setting up displays for the movie. In a photo from Twitter user Verified Chuckmark, a new standee confirms the top billed cast of the movie as Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Katheryn Newton, Bill Murray, with Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas. However, the bottom poster credits confirm three additional cast members: William Jackson Harper, Katy O'Brian and David Dastmalchian, seeming to confirm his return as Kurt. Unfortunately, the billing lacks any mention of Peña, implying that his character Luis might not be returning for the threequel. Check out the image of the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania theater display, below.Related: Kang’s Quantumania Appearance Has A Silly Villain Problem To Avoid

What Ant-Man 3's Returning (& Not Returning) Cast Means For the Movie

Casting for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has been a hectic journey. Lilly was criticized online for her comments on COVID vaccines, which led to calls for her removal, but director Peyton Reed refused. Rapper T.I., who played Dave in the first two Ant-Man films, announced that he was not returning, which was believed to be due to abuse allegations against him, but this was denied as he was never set to return. Dastmalchian's apparent casting in Ant-Man 3 is the most interesting, though, since he had initially claimed that he was not going to be in the movie. Him appearing could be due to rewrites, the actor initially being unaware that he was going to be involved, or some of Marvel's patented secrecy.

However, the biggest and most disappointting absence from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's cast is that of Peña's Luis, who has been seen as a staple of the Ant-Man franchise since the beginning. Luis' humor and especially his fast-paced diatribes are among the most memorable moments in the Ant-Man movies, and certainly make up part of the franchise's unique appeal. Peña's absence but Dastmalchian's return is something of a mystery, implying that Kurt might play a bigger role in the third film than he previously did. With the majority of the film Ant-Man 3 set to take place in the Quantum Realm, it is understandable that Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale's characters are also not listed. While disappointing that Ant-Man's third entry will see the loss of certain characters, it is understandable why certain cuts need to be made to tell a cohesive story.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania still has numerous casting secrets. There is still no word on who is to play MODOK, even though it has been confirmed the iconic Marvel character will appear, and Harper and O'Brian's roles remain a mystery. The final casting also lends to the tonal shift the movie has and by the time of its release, it will no doubt leave an impact on the audience. Despite the loss of certain actors, it can be said that it is a necessary sacrifice to help continue the Multiverse Saga. ​

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Source: Verified Chuckmark

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