WARNING: Spoilers for Ant-Man 3!Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania featured the surprising return of Corey Stoll to the MCU a MODOK, and an even more surprising ‘reveal’ that Stoll argued to keep in the film. Dubbed by many as the MCU’s Star Wars, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania is one of Marvel’s most visually ambitious films yet, with swings taken in regard to everything from character designs to visual gags. One of the biggest discussion points of the film is the character MODOK and the unique look of this take on the classic Marvel Comics character.
MODOK’s MCU introduction has been rather controversial; much has been made about the look of the iconic character’s mask, the stretched face of Corey Stoll’s character Darren Cross beneath the mask, MODOK’s apparent death, and a moments-long bare-bottom shot. Played for a quick laugh in the film, that shot was one of many moments that took aim at how far the character of Darren Cross had fallen since he was last seen in the original Ant-Man film. Regardless of how some viewers have felt about the rearview shot, Corey Stoll was one of its staunch advocates, as he revealed in an interview with Screen Rant:
Yeah, my schedule was such that I could only be there for a really limited time. And so I showed up right before they started principal photography. They showed me all this animatics and concept art, which I thought was hilarious and amazing.
That shot with the claw picking came up naked from behind? I just thought that was the most amazing. I couldn't believe that they were going to have that in the movie. And then I heard later that they were going to cut it, and I was like, "No, you can't cut the butt. It's just too good." I don't know if it was my influence that made them put it back in, but I'm really glad.
MODOK's Changes In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Make Him More Memorable
One thing is for sure about this take on MODOK; the character is likely to be one of the more enduring aspects of Quantumania. Whether that is a good or bad thing is destined to be a matter of opinion, but this rewritten MODOK is a key player in the events of the film and integral to a number of its funniest moments. Almost every time MODOK is on the screen in Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, something unexpected and memorable happens either visually or through dialogue, whether it is the bare-bottom shot or the hilarious late-game “don’t be a d***” moment.
However, the most memorable thing about MODOK is that the character brought Corey Stoll back into the fold. Stoll stole many scenes thanks to his charismatic take on the villainous Darren Cross in the first Ant-Man movie, and it’s a joy to see him show up as MODOK in Quantumania as a comedic foil to the intensity and presence of Jonathan Majors' Kang. Whether or not Stoll and MODOK will return after Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, of course, remains to be seen.
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania is in theaters now.