Marvel Studios has released a new TV spot for “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” with new action-centric footage of the showdown between the film’s villain Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) against Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and his allies, along with teasing Kang’s larger plans for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This third installment in the “Ant-Man” series is the start of Phase 5 with Kang to serve as the main villain throughout the ‘Multiverse Saga’ which stretches to the end of Phase 6.
Majors already made his MCU debut in the season finale of “Loki” last year as ‘He Who Remains,’ the TVA founder who has kept the other variants of himself (including Kang) in check – at least until his death which shattered the multiverse timeline.
Speaking with Total Film, Majors explains that he considers his “Loki” and “Ant-Man” characters two entirely different people even though they are technically the same person.
Majors says he sees them as separate, unique variants and has adjusted his performance to match – the energetic, high-strung, almost cheery ‘Remains’ is replaced by a much more stoic and cold Kang:
“I’m so radical about my language around it because I say, He Who Remains is He Who Remains. I don’t even call him Kang. He may or may not be a Kang variant. I leave my mind open to think that Kang the Conqueror may be a He Who Remains variant. It has to be that lucid for me to keep it going. But, no, there are no similarities between the two roles. I did play Kang the Conqueror second … I didn’t even look at the He Who Remains template regarding Kang. On purpose.”
Talking more about the differences between the two variants, Majors says Kang is all about efficiency and won’t waste any time on trivialities. He adds that much more serious and sinister approach impacts Rudd’s performance and the film in general:
“I mean, he’s hyper-intelligent – it’s one of the superpowers. His brain function is just greater than even the smart guys. He’s on that level. And the gravitas is a necessity. It’s Kang against the world, isn’t it? At least that’s his point of view. There’s no frivolity.
Kang himself is very economical. He understands energy, he understands time, he understands what is needed to survive. He doesn’t suffer fools.
Which is interesting because not to say anything pejorative about Ant-Man, but Ant-Man is a jokester. He’s a funny guy. And now you’ve got Scott Lang going up against Kang the Conqueror, who does not joke. He does have a sense of humor. And you’ll discover that. But he does not joke.”
The upcoming sequel will also introduce MCU newcomer Kathryn Newton taking over the role of Cassie Lang, whilst Bill Murray appears as Lord Krylar and William Jackson Harper is Quaz.
“Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” opens in cinemas on February 17th.
