Dead End of the Marvel Universe - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Rocky Road to German TV
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is set to premiere on German free TV on October 12, 2023. Nevertheless, the film's journey has been far from smooth, with production issues, poor box office performance, and a significant loss for Marvel Studios and Disney.
The film, which stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang (Ant-Man) and Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne (The Wasp), faced numerous hurdles. The character of Kang the Conqueror, initially praised, was later replaced by Robert Downey Jr. after Jonathan Majors' domestic violence conviction. The film's special effects, particularly those involving the character M.O.D.O.K., were criticized for being unclear in several scenes.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the film's exploration of the Quantum Realm, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was considered a step back from previous films in the series. Variety estimated that the film would have needed a worldwide gross of over 600 million US dollars to break even. However, it only managed to gross 476 million, with a production cost of approximately 330 million dollars, resulting in a loss of around 120 million dollars. This marks a significant setback for the once-renowned film series.
Evangeline Lilly, who plays Hope Van Dyne, announced her retirement from acting after the film's release. Meanwhile, Scott Lang, after defeating Thanos, is promoting his memoir and enjoying family time with his now 18-year-old daughter Cassie, who has become a scientist and plays a significant role in the film's plot.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, despite its troubled production and poor box office performance, will still be available for viewers to enjoy on German free TV. The film's legacy, however, is marked by significant losses and challenges that have raised questions about the future of the Ant-Man series in the MCU.
