Does Ant-Man Die In Quantumania?

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

After theories speculated Paul Rudd's hero would perish in the trilogy capper, we reveal whether Ant-Man dies in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantmania. The latest entry in the Ant-Man series is the third in the Marvel Cinematic Universe sub-franchise and, since it's unclear whether Rudd will return for a potential Ant-Man 4, it's potentially the last. Many of the MCU sub-franchises have ended with a third movie, so it's possible Ant-Man will as well. There are, of course, some exceptions - namely Thor, which received a fourth entry in Thor: Love and Thunder, and Spider-Man, which has an upcoming fourth film in the works.

In preparation of the hero's possible final solo film, there were theories Ant-Man would die in Quantumania as a way of sending off Rudd's Scott Lang - and making way for Cassie Lang to take the lead. After all, the MCU's Phase 4 spent a great deal of time introducing a new generation of heroes who will one day, presumably, become some of the biggest faces of the franchise. Aside from Iron Man and Black Widow, though, none of the original generation of Avengers have died to pave the way for their successors. In Quantumania, that remains true.

Ant-Man Does Not Die In Quantumania

Despite those theories Ant-Man would die in Quantumania, he survives until the end and can return to fight another day. The theories largely hinged on the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania trailers, which seemed to show Scott Lang making a sacrifice play to defeat Kang. However, that sequence arrives roughly mid-way through the movie, and though possible versions of Ant-Man do meet their end, technically no one dies. Then, in the climactic moments of Quantumania, Kang does come close to defeating and potentially killing Ant-Man, but Scott is saved by the Wasp and they ultimately defeat the villain.

Who Dies In Quantumania

Modok flying in the air in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

In terms of who does die in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, perhaps the biggest is Kang the Conqueror. The villain is blasted into the exploding multiversal engine core by the Wasp and is swallowed up. Though the scene itself may leave some uncertainty, the Council of Kangs confirms he's dead in the mid-credits scene. Aside from the conqueror, MODOK also sacrifices himself to help defeat Kang, as well as one of the main Freedom Fighters Scott and Cassie met when they first arrived in the Quantum Realm.

When Ant-Man Can Return In The MCU

Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang in the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

Since Ant-Man survives Quantumania, he can return in a future MCU movie. Based on the confirmed upcoming slate for Phase 5, the most likely entries where Ant-Man could return are Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. Since Ant-Man has already faced and defeated a variant of Kang once, it makes sense for him to play a key role in the Avengers team that assembles for Kang Dynasty. If Rudd's hero survives that film, he could then return for Secret Wars. Of course, even if he died, Rudd could return for Secret Wars, but as a Skrull version of Scott Lang.

Aside from the Avengers movies, it's unclear when or if Ant-Man will return. Since Scott Lang fought alongside Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in Captain America: Civil War - after Sam made a cameo in the first Ant-Man movie - there's a very loose possibility Rudd could show up in either Captain America: New World Order or Thunderbolts. But, since Scott only has a tenuous connection to those characters (despite still name-dropping Captain America), it's unlikely he'll appear. Instead, Ant-Man is most likely to return in the upcoming Avengers movies after surviving Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

More: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania Ending Explained (In Detail)