MODOK's Future In The MCU After Ant-Man 3 (It Was Set Up 10 Years Ago)

MODOK's future in the MCU was actually set up 10 years before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. From the looks of things, Marvel's plan for the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing involves a surprising twist tied to Ant-Man's ending. Corey Stoll's face on the giant head in the Ant-Man 3 trailer provides a huge tease for the character's highly anticipated big-screen debut.

Although MODOK was only glimpsed twice in the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania trailer, the movie has already provided a big clue as to what to expect from its interpretation of the classic Marvel Comics villain. Darren Cross actor Corey Stoll playing MODOK means the MCU's Yellowjacket survived his "death" in Ant-Man's ending. As many have long suspected, Yellowjacket wound up in the Quantum Realm. For reasons that haven't been explained, Cross was presumably transformed into MODOK ahead of Quantumania.

MODOK's Role In Marvel Comics Explained

Introduced in a Captain America story told in the pages of Tales of Suspense in 1967, MODOK was depicted as the hideous, cyborg mastermind of a terrorist group called AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics.) Distinguished by their willingness to cross any moral lines in the pursuit of science, AIM develops highly advanced weapons and sells them to the higher bidder, all in the interest of gaining enough power to one day plunge the world into anarchy.

Founded by Baron Wolfang von Strucker, AIM engineered the experiment that turned one of their workers - a man named George Tarleton - into the monstrously deformed creature now known as MODOK. But while he was created to be a weapon of AIM, things didn't end up that way. Before long, MODOK was able to take control of the organization. Their scientists and high-ranking members aren't always on board with his plans and have occasionally attempted to go against him, but MODOK typically finds a way to bring them under his heel.

Under MODOK's direction, AIM has orchestrated dozens of evil schemes in Marvel Comics. Arguably the hero who's clashed with MODOK the most over the years is Captain America. Since the 1960s, Steve Rogers has thwarted more than his fare share of MODOK's criminal operations. However, he's not strictly a Captain America villain. He's also a classic foe of both Iron Man and the Hulk, who have gone up against him on numerous occasions in their own comic book titles. As for what his plans actually entail, MODOK has led AIM in abducting people for experiments (such as the time he turned Betty Ross into the Harpy), creating deadly viruses, and stealing valuable resources. All of these are stepping stones toward MODOK's goal of world domination.

Iron Man 3 Introduced The MCU's AIM

Curiously, MODOK's organization already exists in the MCU thanks to Iron Man 3. The third installment in the Iron Man trilogy saw Tony Stark fight Aldrich Killian, who founded the MCU version of AIM and created the Extremis virus. With Killian's defeat at the end of the movie, the threat AIM posed seemingly ended. That being said, there's no reason why AIM can't live on after Killian's downfall. Other characters could have kept the spirit of AIM alive after Iron Man 3. They could be active in the present day or lying low somewhere on Earth under different leadership.

With the Ant-Man 3 trailer implying that MODOK will be created in the Quantum Realm, it's become apparent that AIM won't be a part of his MCU origin. That takes an important part of his comic story off the table, but doesn't necessarily rule out MODOK leading AIM. He can't be utilized as the experiment that gets out of hand and takes over, of course, but he would be a still candidate for AIM's leader if they get brought back in the Multiverse Saga.

Ant-Man 3's Ending Can Set Up MODOK Taking Over AIM

Kang looking stoic in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

Yellowjacket has obviously been stuck in the Quantum Realm for years, but Ant-Man 3's story could conclude with his stay coming to an end. After all, an escape from the Quantum Realm for at least some of the movie's characters is all but guaranteed. Even if Scott Lang doesn't survive, some (if not all) of his allies should find a way out by the end of the movie. And unless Avengers: The Kang Dynasty's villain is a separate Kang variant, Jonathan Majors' character should be escaping as well. If so, MODOK could piggyback off Kang or Ant-Man 3's heroes in order to leave the Quantum Realm behind.

If MODOK succeeds in leaving the Quantum Realm at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, he'll be in a position to embark down the same path as the comic book character. He doesn't have existing ties to AIM, but Cross' backstory and link to Hydra (an organization with a similar modus operandi) indicate that leading AIM would be of interest of him. If Hydra hasn't been revived in the MCU timeline, MODOK could find what's left of the terrorist group and make them into his new minions.

Where MODOK & AIM Can Appear After Ant-Man 3

Captain America in his new costume in TFATWS

Given MODOK's comic history, he'd be an ideal choice for a villain role in a future MCU film. By transforming Yellowjacket into MODOK and turning him loose in the MCU, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania can lay the groundwork for AIM to become a massive threat in Phase 5 or beyond. In fact, multiple known projects could have room for MODOK as a secondary antagonist or even as the main villain.

Captain America: New World Order stands out as a movie that could benefit greatly from MODOK's inclusion. Captain America 4 already has a villain in the Leader, but Tim Blake Nelson's character could turn to MODOK and AIM for help in fulfilling his plans. Using a character who has a reputation as a villain of both Captain America and the Hulk would make a lot of sense for the movie, especially since the sequel clearly has deep Incredible Hulk connections as it is.

Alternatively, Thunderbolts or Armor Wars could boast MODOK's first MCU appearance after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Since the MCU's AIM has its roots in Iron Man 3, it would be fitting for them to be the villains of Armor Wars, a movie tied directly to Iron Man's legacy. Another option involves AIM's illegal operations attracting the attention of Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who could send the Thunderbolts to end AIM's activities for good. Thunderbolts doesn't have a confirmed villain yet, who may or not stand revealed as Corey Stoll's MODOK.

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