For any hero, the chance to take the field as an Avenger — even when you’re battling other Avengers — is a moment you won’t soon forget, or let others forget, as Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) does in this new TV spot from the upcoming Ant-Man & the Wasp. The film is set to open on the big July 4th holiday weekend, with the intent of proving Marvel can successfully shift gears from the MCU-altering Infinity War and send in a second-string, comedic hero to bat cleanup as the third release from the studio in 2018. It’s a tall order, especially considering the cliffhanger the third Avengers film left audiences to deal with, but those chomping at the bit to know what’s in store for Earth’s Mightiest may still find the humorous change of pace to be a welcome one.
That seems to be the intent behind Marvel’s marketing of Ant-Man & the Wasp, as every trailer and TV spot has focused on the chemistry Scott shares with his arguably more capable partner, Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who finally gets to suit up as the Wasp. The marketing has split the difference between Scott and Hope’s banter, as well as the size-changing action that gives the improbable Ant-Man franchise its most distinctive and appealing visual feature. And in the new ‘Powers’ TV spot, the back-and-forth between the two is practically treated as a superpower on its own.
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So far, aside from a few brief glimpses, not a whole lot has been revealed about the Quantum Realm, though it’s still safe to assume the microscopic destination will play a major role in the story. Keeping the Quantum Realm and Hope’s mother, Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) on the margins of the film’s marketing means plenty of “big” reveals are in store for moviegoers, and it also means that the advertisements leading up to the film’s release will likely focus even more on Scott and Hope's dynamic.
That seems to be working in the film’s favor, so there’s no reason to switch horses midstream, as it were. In addition to Scott’s semi-obnoxious behavior and Hope’s clear finesse when it comes to putting her father’s technology to imaginative use and showing the bad guys who’s boss, most of the advertisements haven’t shied away from showcasing the look and powers of the film’s antagonist, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), though what her motivations are remain (mercifully) undisclosed.
The film is set to open up next month, and while it’s unlikely that any other Avengers will make an appearance or that the movie will address the events of Infinity War in any way — since it apparently takes place before Thor should have aimed for Thanos’ head — it should make for a fun interlude before the big build up to Captain Marvel and The Avengers 4.