The Ant-Man films have generally taken a more grounded and family-oriented approach during the first two installments, but it looks like this theme will gradually change in the threequel. Directed by Peyton Reed, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is expected to do a deep dive into the mysterious Quantum Realm, with Paul Rudd's Scott Lang and Evangeline Lilly's Hope van Dyne leading the charge.
Aside from the two lead stars, Quantumania will also showcase the MCU returns of Michael Douglas' Hank Pym and Michelle Pfeiffer's Janet van Dyne to help the titular pair in their Quantum Realm-sized mission. Kathryn Newton will also make her Marvel debut as the franchise's new Cassie Lang, with her casting seemingly teasing the arrival of Young Avengers-member Stature into the fold.
Plot details are still being kept under wraps, but Team Ant-Man has been confirmed to face off with an iconic Marvel villain in the form of Jonathan Majors' Kang.
Production will soon begin for Quantumania, but it seems that work is now being done due to the recent tease of the film's director.
PEYTON REED TEASES PREP FOR ANT-MAN THREEQUEL
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania director Peyton Reed shared via Twitter the first behind-the-scenes look at the MCU threequel alongside a confirmation that the film will use The Mandalorian's The Volume technology for production.
Welcome to The Volume.
— Peyton Reed (@MrPeytonReed) May 17, 2021
QUANTUMANIA Prep
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath
May 2021 pic.twitter.com/ih2c55MbWD
The image shows Reed taking a picture of The Volume infused with a virtual backdrop of snowy mountains.
THE VOLUME IN MCU PRODUCTIONS
The confirmation that The Volume will be used for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania should serve as a piece of good news for fans, especially after how this filming technology helped The Mandalorian in a huge way.
Given that Peyton Reed served as a director in multiple episodes of the hit Star Wars series, it's safe to say that his familiarity with The Volume will also help his vision for Quantumania.
The Ant-Man threequel will not be the only MCU project that will use The Volume since it was confirmed in a report (and set photos) that Taika Waititi will also incorporate the technology for Thor: Love and Thunder. It's also quite fitting that the first two directors who will use the technology are former filmmakers who helmed episodes of The Mandalorian.
This virtual production technique appears to be the ongoing trend for big-budget productions, and this could largely be due to the ongoing pandemic. This approach allows the cast and crew to essentially change the background of a certain environment, thus eliminating the prospect of shooting on location.
The Mandalorian producer Jon Favreau also revealed that The Volume utilizes a “much more contained set” since “you can limit the number of people” during production. By limiting the number of crew members on set, it gives a sense of a much safer working environment, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic is still looming.
The Volume can prove useful for scenes that will be set within the Quantum Realm as well. It's possible that this technique can allow the cast and crew to film sequences much easier, giving them more time to craft more thrilling moments for the threequel along the way.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will premiere in theaters on February 17, 2023.
