Ant-Man 3 will reportedly begin filming in early 2021, according to actor Michael Douglas. Recently, it was announced that Ant-Man 3 is officially in the works with director Peyton Reed returning. When Marvel’s Phase 4 slate was announced at San Diego Comic-Con, the Ant-Man franchise was notably missing, and many began to speculate as to whether Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang would get another solo outing. Now it’s confirmed he will.

The Ant-Man movies are solid performers for the MCU, with last year’s sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp earning more at the box office than the first film. This says a lot in an age where sequels are more likely to earn less than their predecessors. Starring Rudd as the lovable former thief, the Ant-Man films have received critical praise for its more lighthearted antics and family-related themes. Last year saw the debut of Evangeline Lilly’s Wasp, and while her return is not confirmed, she is expected to be in the third film.

During an interview with Collider, Douglas (who plays Hank Pym in the films) revealed the tentative production start date for Ant-Man 3, saying, “We’re starting a third one… beginning January ‘21.” He was also asked how it feels to be a part of the highest-grossing movie of all time, Avengers: Endgame, jokingly replying with, “Let’s just say… if you saw [Endgame], you might catch me for a brief moment…”

A January 2021 start for production suggests the film will be released in 2022, as most Marvel movies are shot a year before their release. This would fit within the massive schedule for the MCU, as 2021 is heavily booked and 2022 so far only has Black Panther 2. The tidbit about production also confirms the return of Douglas as Hank Pym, who has been with the franchise since the beginning.

Right now, it is a mystery as to what Ant-Man 3 will be about, but there is a good chance it will be used as a chance to explore more of the Quantum Realm. The Quantum Realm was a big part of Ant-Man and the Wasp, and it played an important role in Endgame. There are still so many things to uncover about this mysterious, fascinating place, so expect that to factor into Ant-Man 3’s plot. There is also a chance characters like Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Ava Starr aka Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne) could reappear and join Scott and Hope in fighting whatever villain is chosen for the film. Audiences will likely also get to see how Scott copes with his daughter Cassie now being five years older than he last saw her as a result of his time stuck in the Quantum Realm. Clearly, there are plenty of elements to explore in Ant-Man 3, and hopefully an actual release date will be confirmed soon so people know how long they have to wait.

More: Ant-Man’s 5 Funniest (& 5 Saddest) Moments In The MCU

Source: Collider

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