Ant-Man 3 Is Bringing MODOK to the MCU In a Big Way (Exclusive)
While many are preoccupied with waiting for Spider-Man: No Way Home, two other arthropod-themed superheroes are getting a brand new Marvel Cinematic Universe entry soon. Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are set to reunite for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, a threequel that is expected to explore more of the weird and wacky avenues of the Quantum Realm.
Several fresh faces will be joining Ant-Man’s next installment, in addition to some familiar foes. After rumors hinted at his inclusion, Bill Murray confirmed his appearance in Quantumania, though he indicated that he won't be reprising this role in MCU projects.
Kathryn Newton will also join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, replacing Emma Fuhrman as Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang.
Off the back of Loki’s finale, MCU newcomer Jonathan Majors is set to star as Kang the Conqueror. Darren Cross actor Corey Stoll is also reported to return for Quantumania after being absent from the franchise since 2015’s Ant-Man.
Now, another big-headed bad guy joins Ant-Man’s third solo outing.
MODOK to Debut in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
According to The Direct's sources, MODOK will be introduced to the MCU in a major role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. MODOK's rumored presence in the sequel has yet to be confirmed by Marvel Studios.
Although Jim Carrey was previously rumored to take on the villain role in the MCU, The Direct can confirm that the actor is not playing MODOK in the Ant-Man threequel.
MODOK Joins the MCU
For those unfamiliar with the character of MODOK, the villain started off as the character of Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) employee George Tarleton in the comics.
Following an experiment gone wrong, Tarleton was transformed into the Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing (or MODOK for short), a freakish lifeform that subsequently takes over AIM to enact all of his villainous whims. Due to his overdeveloped and overgrown head, MODOK has a genius-level intellect and is able to use psionic powers.
MODOK was reportedly included in a previous script draft for Quantumania written by Paul Rudd himself, so it seems that the villain managed to survive rewrites long enough to make it to the final film. Given that AIM was also a part of this past version and the group’s association with the villain, it’s likely that the organization will also make an appearance alongside MODOK too.
With MODOK already starring in his own Hulu series separate from the MCU, it will be interesting to see how Marvel Studios differentiates their adaptation from Patton Oswalt’s family man version. Oswalt may have missed out on portraying the villain on the big screen, but at least he’s been given a shot at another MCU role.
So what could MODOK’s role in Quantumania be? Considering that the villain is known for his brains, MODOK will almost certainly be of interest to a smart cookie like Jonathan Majors’ Kang. MODOK could be an intellectual rival for Majors’ villain, with the two’s plans getting in the way of each other.
Alternatively, MODOK may act as a useful asset for Kang, with the latter potentially enlisting the floating head’s help to find a streamlined way to destroy his Variants. After all, MODOK was designed only for killing.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania releases in theaters on July 28, 2023.
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