As of the release of Black Panther in the next few weeks, we will officially have eighteen Marvel films to enjoy. Um, wow, that’s a lot, especially considering 2018 still has two more Marvel movies after T’Challa’s tale. Not to mention what’s coming in 2019!
We’re currently in Phase 3 of Marvel’s cinematic universe, and with this year being the second three-film release year for Marvel Studios with Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Ant-Man and the Wasp, it almost feels like Marvel movies are more like episodes to one big show.
Today we’re going to look at the teaser trailer just released for Ant-Man and the Wasp and talk about how that acts as an almost-sequel for the last film in the MCU timeline, Captain America: Civil War.
Ant-Man and the Wasp Will Answer Civil War’s Cliffhanger
There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to picking out your favorite Marvel movie. SO MANY. For me, Captain America: Winter Soldier is probably my favorite, but I grapple with my love of Captain America: Civil War in taking the title for my #1 Marvel Flick. For now, however, let’s just say Civil War is at least my #2. If not my #1.5… if that existed.
If you recall the events of Civil War (because it’s amazeballs, for one), you’ll remember that it’s Iron Man v. Cap, with teams of heroes on either side of the argument. In the case of Scott Lang, he shows up in the most hilarious way possible in order to back up Steve. Unfortunately, this ends up with him back behind bars at the end of the film. (In this crazy super-security prison in the middle of the ocean, because, hey, if you’re imprisoning superheroes it’s, “Go big or go home,” apparently.)
Ending up in prison again is a bigger deal for Scott than it is for most of the others. Scott’s entire story arc that was presented in Ant-Man is about turning his life around. Sure, Cap shows up to free Scott and their other buddies at the end of Civil War, but this just makes them fugitives. And, considering all that Scott went through in the initial Ant-Man film to finally have a place in his daughter’s life? That’s a sad thing to face, and it is the cliffhanger we were left with at the end of Civil War.
Thus, this new Ant-Man and the Wasp teaser trailer’s beginning, which shows Hank, Hope, and Scott on the run (with an entire building being shrunk down to a suitcase to boot), utilizes this significant plot point in a way that tells you that Ant-Man and the Wasp isn’t just some filler movie.
While Civil War acted as an answer to Tony’s screw-ups from Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man and the Wasp seems to be the response that the MCU will have to the events of Civil War, more specifically to those parties involved with Cap’s more rebel-based side.
“Thanks to you, we had to run,” Hope comments in the trailer. “We’re still running.” This quote alone shows that the fodder that Civil War provided. And it’s potential as a pseudo-sequel is awesome.
Considering the presence of universe-changing plot points from the first film, like the quantum realm, in conjunction with Marvel’s strong ability to weave this wide set of films together in a way that’s cohesive to the larger story, Ant-Man and the Wasp has a chance to be a much bigger film that anyone is expecting.
The trailer itself is more light-hearted than anything, but considering it’s a teaser trailer, that makes sense. It gets you interested while not revealing too much–and trust me, I’m interested.
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