After the recent unexpected scheduling adjustment from Disney and Marvel Studios, the last Phase 4 movie that currently has a release date is 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Thanks to Scott Lang’s pivotal role helping save half of all life in the universe in Avengers: Endgame, the miniature hero will be back for his third, and likely biggest, solo adventure to date.
Paul Rudd’s Avenger will have quite the team of returning players backing him up, highlighted by Evangeline Lilly’s Hope Van Dyne and Kathryn Newton’s Cassie Lang. The movie boasts as star-studded of a cast as nearly any in Phase 4, particularly as it introduces Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror on the big screen, although rumors are pointing to new additions still possibly on the way.
One of those rumors pointed to acting legend Bill Murray joining this blockbuster threequel after a photo double was included on a production listing in early October. Now, it appears that those rumors are moving into the confirmed category.
Bill Murray Confirms MCU Role On The Way
In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, via The Cosmic Circus, acting veteran Bill Murray confirmed that he's joined the cast of Marvel Studios' Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
When asked how important it is to work with people he knows and likes, Murray reminisced on how he "recently...made a Marvel movie" after getting to know director Peyton Reed, who he only referred to as the director of Bring It On. He agreed to do the movie even though he admitted to not being "interested in these huge comic book adaptations" under other circumstances (Editor's note: Murray's response has been translated from German):
“You know, recently I made a Marvel movie. I probably won’t tell you, but never mind. In any case, some people were quite surprised why I decided on such a project. But for me the thing was quite clear: I got to know the director – and really liked him very much. He was funny, humble, everything you want from a director. And with the cheerleader story “Bring It On – Girls United” he made a movie years ago, which I think is damn good. So I agreed, although I’m not interested in these huge comic book adaptations as an actor otherwise.”
Murray also confirmed that this role will be a one-time experience, even though he praised Reed as "a good guy:"
“Let’s put it this way: the director is a good guy, and now I’ve at least tried out what it’s like to shoot a Marvel movie. But I don’t think I need that experience a second time. And to come back to your previous question: I have mostly had a pretty good knack for avoiding the nasties of this industry. Fortunately, most good artists are also good people. At least that’s how I experience it with my friends.”
Dr. Peter Venkman, Meet Dr. Hank Pym
The MCU has made a name for itself as a superstar magnet for more than a decade, a title that only strengthens with the confirmed addition of Bill Murray.
Boasting a career of nearly 50 years to date, Murray is iconic in the world of pop culture thanks to roles like Peter Venkman in the first two Ghostbusters movies, which he will reprise alongside Paul Rudd in 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Now, he and Rudd are set to team up once again for the MCU's second threequel of 2023 as he takes on a rare superhero movie appearance.
Now, the big question remaining is what exactly his role will be, especially since he just about confirmed that this will be his only movie within the MCU. No matter what that role turns out to be, adding someone of Murray's caliber to an already excellent cast should only serve to boost the film to further heights in MCU lore.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently filming and will release in theaters on July 28, 2023.
