Marvel’s Phase Five will be fully underway next week and the wave of first impressions forAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniawill have many MCU fans excited about a film where both Paul Rudd and Jonathan Majors seem to have nailed their respective assignments.Ant-Man 3will put Scott Lang onMarvel’smain stage for the first time as the movie will serve to introduce the massive multiversal threat that is Kang the Conqueror, and judging from early reactions Majors has the potential to be one of its most memorable villains. Even early on,Quantumanialooks destined to shatter pastAnt-Manfilms’ performance, and while some insiders had their share of qualms with it, the movie has mostly been met with positive feedback.RELATED:How Marvel Snap’s MODOK Could Break the MetaFor example, Fandango’sErik Davis went as far as to say thatAnt-Man 3has “BigSTAR WARSvibes meet the MCU at its freakiest & most inventive,” praising the movie’s ability to work as an individual story, rather than just a mere Phase Five setup; similarly, Conde Nast’sAdam LancesaidQuantumaniais “basically Peyton Reed’s unproducedStar Warsfilm,” despite confessing his own uncertainty over whether that’s good or bad. Yet, some, likeDempsey Pillotfrom The Disney Insider noted that “the real star of the film is Jeff Loveness’ script” and how it plays off Marvel’s more mysterious appeal.
Collider’sSteven Weintraubwas among the many critics who commended Majors’ performance, saying he is “excellent as Kang and cannot wait to see where this all goes,” while The Hollywood Reporter’sBrian Davidssays the actor “remains endlessly compelling” just like in every role he’s played. Indeed,The Kang Dynastydoes sound like an interestingplot line with Buzzfeed’sNora Dominickcalling it a “top notch performance. I love the complexity he brings to Kang with literally a single look,” however, some people were not too impressed with Marvel’s overall product inAnt-Man 3.
JournalistSimon Thompsonexpressed his disappointment by tweeting out thatQuantumaniais “a vivid but messy spectacle” that relies on style over substance, joining the love for Majors’ acting in a movie that “is sadly just… okay.”Courtney Howardargues that “emotional drive felt slight” but theAnt-Man 3does overcome a frustrating first act. Lastly, Geek Vibes Nation compares Majors’ Kang to the main course in a meal,whereas Thanos was more like an MCU appetizerwhen summing up the kind of potential this villain will have over the coming years.
Regardless of this early feedback and the criticism that appears to be rooted in MCU’s usual flaws, especially in recent times, Kang the Conqueror comes off as an undisputed win forAnt-Man 3, and considering he’ll be around for a while, Majors is already lined up to become one of the best Marvel villains. After all, eventhe greatest antagonists in the MCUtend to have a limited shelf life.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniawill release in theaters on July 15, 2025.
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