If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Marvel has a formula, and they’re sticking to it because audiences seem to love it. The studio seems to always know the right balance of action, heart and comedy – never quite too serious (‘Infinity War‘ aside), and never too silly unless the story demands it (“Guardians Of The Galaxy“). And it appears that the company has created yet another winner with their latest sequel and second Marvel film of 2018, “Ant-Man And The Wasp.” The film stars Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, who finally gets her time to shine as the diminutive superheroine. This fact also means that all of the original Avengers — Thor, Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Wasp and Captain America — have finally made it to the screen.
READ MORE: ‘Ant-Man And The Wasp’ Trailer: A Hero Needs Someone Watching Their Back
However, if you’re wondering about connections to “Avengers: Infinity War,” it sounds like you’ve come to the wrong place. Excited reactions to “Ant-Man And The Wasp” promise a stand-alone film with fairly few or no connections. And no one’s outright confirmed it, but it seems that the Peyton Reed-directed film takes place before the Thanos’ massacre. Though Kevin Feige recently hinted at it hard saying, “Ant-Man and The Wasp also directly connects to ‘Avengers 4.’ These characters are going to be very important going forward” (this quote comes from one of the featurettes below).
But if you want something more, it sounds like the post-credit scene – which many are already hinting at as significant and wowsa – does connect to ‘Infinity War’ and might further shock audiences (more deaths from someone on the Ant-Man squad?).
“Ant-Man And The Wasp” features a rather large cast including scene-stealer Michael Peña, plus Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip “T.I.” Harris, David Dastmalchian, Hannah John-Kamen, Abby Ryder Fortson, Randall Park, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Douglas.
Check out the reactions from the film, the first clip, and some featurettes below.
A tiny take: #AntManAndTheWasp was a total blast. Romantic, energetic and a lot of fun. @MrPeytonReed left unchained and left to his own devices is glorious and totally bonkers and brilliant. pic.twitter.com/QZ8okR76eG
— Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored) June 23, 2018
I hate to spoil it for everybody but I’m just gonna say it: #AntManAndTheWasp is pretty good!
— Todd Gilchrist (@mtgilchrist) June 23, 2018
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP is for sure an upgrade from the first film (I didn’t love the first Ant-Man). Lilly’s Wasp has at least the same, or probably more, action scenes than Rudd’s Ant-Man.
Also: Michael Peña has a scene halfway through that brings the house down.
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) June 23, 2018
Yes. Hi. Hello. #AntManAndTheWasp is a god damn delight.
— Conner Schwerdtfeger (@ConnerWS) June 23, 2018
What a year for Marvel! Absolutely loved #AntManAndTheWasp. Stellar ensemble and the humor is spot on. (Laughed myself to tears during one sequence!) The tech is used to great effect yet again. Unique, highly entertaining ride I can’t wait to go on again.
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) June 23, 2018
I loved #AntManAndTheWasp. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in a Marvel movie, though Ragnarok is up there. Nice change of pace from Infinity War. The emsemble is perfect!
— Joseph Deckelmeier (@ThatHashtagJoe) June 23, 2018
I thought @realmichaelpena stole the show. @Tip was great. They need to give the X-Cons their own movie. ? ? is my second favorite franchise.
— The Extraordinary Xilla (@BlogXilla) June 23, 2018
When I say "sequel," I mean second movie in a hero's franchise.
— Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) June 23, 2018
Ant-Man & The Wasp is crazy fun. Very self-contained, but brimming with energy, and full of cool and creative surprises. Super funny, and the entire cast is wonderful. I had a blast! pic.twitter.com/2lCeUGvzHW
— Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) June 23, 2018
Ten minutes into #AntManAndTheWasp Paul Rudd sings karaoke so yeah you better believe it’s my favorite movie of the year
— Rachel Paige (@rachmeetsworld) June 23, 2018
THANK YOU #AntManAndTheWasp FOR RECOGNIZING HOPE VAN DYNE IS THE ONE WHO GETS IT DONE ? ? ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/lPe49nyoWt
— Remake Ash Crossan (@AshCrossan) June 23, 2018
Had a blast watching #AntManandtheWasp. It’s super funny, which is its greatest charm. Very personal, small scale story (again) and definitely focused on being light and family friendly. Evangeline Lilly is a badass, and Scott’s daughter Cassie steals the show. Also, ants ? pic.twitter.com/PMAZf94gGa
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) June 23, 2018
Ten minutes into #AntManAndTheWasp Paul Rudd sings karaoke so yeah you better believe it’s my favorite movie of the year
— Rachel Paige (@rachmeetsworld) June 23, 2018
Had a blast watching #AntManandtheWasp. It’s super funny, which is its greatest charm. Very personal, small scale story (again) and definitely focused on being light and family friendly. Evangeline Lilly is a badass, and Scott’s daughter Cassie steals the show. Also, ants ? pic.twitter.com/PMAZf94gGa
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) June 23, 2018
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP is probably the closest Marvel will ever get to #nicecore. there’s no villain! just… mild impediments. And teamwork! I love teamwork.
everyone says “quantum” a lot, and then they joke *about* how everyone says “quantum” a lot. fun, funny, and forgettable.
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) June 23, 2018
Ant-Man and The Wasp is a lot of fun. At its best when it’s almost an over the top silly comedy, less so when it’s about the comic booky villain driven moments. Some fantastic miniature/maxature action sequences. @realmichaelpena steals the show again.
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) June 23, 2018
…Don’t go in expecting to get answers to questions from Infinity War. The movie is mostly a stand alone film, even more so than the first one. That said, you’re stupid if you don’t stay in your seat for the credits, more so than a lot of Marvel films.
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) June 23, 2018
Sooo… #AntmanAndTheWasp is the perfect comic chaser to the doom and gloom of Infinity War. Also, Evangeline Lilly rocks as The Wasp. pic.twitter.com/NrXxy53xHZ
— ReBecca Theodore-Vachon @ #NALIPMediaSummit (@FilmFatale_NYC) June 23, 2018
#AntManAndTheWasp is a freaking blast! Absolutely hysterical and the effects a incredible!!! Definitely see it in 3D! Also, my fav Stan Lee cameo ever! pic.twitter.com/C0oadNWz6M
— Jenna Busch (@JennaBusch) June 23, 2018
the post-credits scenes… #AntManAndTheWasp pic.twitter.com/yGtCk43Dqp
— GOOD ?? (@Hellkr1) June 23, 2018