Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Is Phase 5's Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has the same value for Marvel's Phase 5 as Avengers: Age of Ultron did for Phase 3. Featuring Ant-Man and his family who get pulled down to the subatomic universe beneath the primary Marvel Universe, the movie officially introduces the MCU's next big bad, Kang the Conqueror. Likewise, Quantumania sets up a dangerous and multiversal future, not unlike Age of Ultron, which set up the future of Phase 3.

As one of the final films in Marvel Studios' second phase of movies, Avengers: Age of Ultron set up multiple future arcs for Phase 3 while building upon the development seen in the prior two phases. However, the Marvel film was largely overstuffed in its attempt to tell a compelling Avengers sequel while still being original and setting up the MCU's future at the same time. As such, the dynamic future being set up arguably came at the cost of the present story being told. This is very much how Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has been viewed as well (but both still have value).

Quantumania Sets Up Phase 5 Like Age Of Ultron Set Up Phase 3

In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, a lot of time is devoted to introducing Kang the Conqueror. A master of time exiled by his variants to the Quantum Realm (which is outside of time and space), the true danger comes from the countless versions of Kang that exist who are putting the multiverse at risk through colliding realities known as incursions. Building upon preexisting multiversal projects such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and especially Loki, Quantumania takes what's been set up to lay a strong foundation for the future of the Multiverse Saga as the official start of Phase 5.

This is very similar to Avengers: Age of Ultron, which was similarly positioned to set up a new phase. Building off the first Avengers, Iron Man 3, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the second Avengers movie officially introduced the concept of the Infinity Stones along with the discovery of a mysterious figure searching the universe for them (Thanos). Likewise, Age of Ultron set up future films such as Captain America: Civil War with the Sokovia Accords and the division of the Avengers, Black Panther with a focus on vibranium, and Avengers: Infinity War with the heroes still divided and on the worst foot possible to face Thanos and his forces.

Quantumania & Age Of Ultron Are Both Divisive Because Of MCU Setup

Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

Considering the current criticisms of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it does seem as though it's in the same boat as Age of Ultron in that much of the future set-up came at the expense of the current narrative being told. However, one can imagine that Quantumania wasn't done any favors either due to the increased superhero fatigue that has begun to set following a fairly divisive Phase 4 for Marvel Studios. Although a dynamic future is being teased for the MCU in Phase 5 and beyond, Quantumania is not being seen as one of the MCU's top-tier movies, and the same sentiments were true for Age of Ultron.

It's worth noting the narrative construction of both movies is very unique, having stories that could only happen as part of a grander interconnected universe such as the MCU. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Age of Ultron are essential "bridge films" where their true value comes from building upon and setting up the past and future of the greater overarching narrative being told. Instead of Infinity Stones and Thanos, the MCU is now focused on the multiverse and Kang. Regardless of its overall quality as a standalone feature, Quantumania is an integral part of the MCU's future, just like Age of Ultron was for the previous Infinity Saga.

The MCU Still Needs Movies Like Quantumania & Age Of Ultron

"Bridge films" such as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Age of Ultron are crucial for the MCU, serving as key cogs that help tell the grander saga stories being told. As such, they have a harder time balancing what's going on in the present when so much of the screen time is dedicated to teasing and establishing what's to come. However, they still have a large amount of value to the MCU nonetheless, even if they might not achieve the same kind of success when looked at by themselves. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is in theaters now.

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