Ant-Man and the Wasp: The reason why Ant-Man wasn’t in Avengers: Infinity War
By Paul Zuniga
One of the biggest questions fans had after viewing Avengers: Infinity War was where Ant-Man was during the cataclysm. No one knows for sure but Ant-Man and The Wasp likely hold the answer.
(Warning! Spoilers for Ant-Man and the Wasp and Avengers 4 ahead…)
To quickly recap, neither Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) or Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) were in Avengers: Infinity War. An explanation was never given and fans have come up with all kinds of theories as to why. From being trapped in the Quantum Realm to fighting disasters in their own corner of the MCU have been thought up. Although, the answer may be simpler than we think.
With the MCU timeline being somewhat scattered, it’s difficult to line up where each film takes place. Most fans assume each film happens one after another but that hasn’t always been the case; see Doctor Strange and Thor: Ragnarok. And the same could feasibly be said of Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Does Ant-Man and the Wasp take place before Avengers: Infinity War?
Assuming the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp take place before Avengers: Infinity War, that would explain why Scott Lang aka Ant-Man wasn’t around for the fight. One might argue that he stayed home for his family’s sake but Lang isn’t one to back down from a challenge. Even if the United Nations or another government threatened his family, Lang would’ve found a way to help the Avengers. But since he didn’t, it’s probably because of Thanos’ attack happening at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp.
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More evidence of Ant-Man and the Wasp happening before Infinity War can be found in Wasp’s absence from Avengers 4. She hasn’t been seen on the Avengers 4 set, nor was she featured in the first piece of concept art. The reason Wasp hasn’t been seen alongside Ant-Man is up for debate but it’s possible she was erased during Thanos’ culling. Wasp being erased does make sense in the grand scheme of things, too.
Think about it, someone from Ant-Man’s corner of the MCU was bound to be erased and Wasp fits the bill. In the scenario of Hope Pym being erased, Ant-Man would definitely be concerned with bringing her back. The only problem is, Scott Lang might not know how.
While Lang is street-savvy and somewhat intelligent, it’s difficult to see him figuring out a solution to this problem. Fortunately, his mentor, Hank Pym, will. He won’t immediately know how but accessing the Quantum Realm will likely be his first choice
Will Ant-Man use the Quantum Realm to bring Wasp back from the dead?
Since the Quantum Realm exists outside of the normal timestream, Pym could create a device for Scott Lang to travel through it at his leisure. Pym can’t go himself because of the damage the Ant-Man suit caused to his body but Lang can. So, together, they have the potential to save Hope Pym. Keep in mind that there may be some hiccups in their plan — some of which may require Lang to ask the Avengers of another reality for help.
In the leaked Avengers 4 set photos, Ant-Man is seen talking with a different set of Avengers that consists of Captain America, Hulk, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Tony Stark. Yes, the Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) of this alternate reality is an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D — if not the Director himself. Stark is also how we know the images released take place in an alternate reality. Otherwise, why would Stark be geared up in a S.H.I.E.L.D tactical suit? This scene also takes place back at the Battle of New York in The Avengers, so that’s yet more proof of alternate realities in Avengers 4.
Next: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Is Ghost the key to accessing the Quantum Realm?
All things considered, Ant-Man and the Wasp ending with Hope’s erasure would be a perfect setup for Avengers 4. It would explain why Scott Lang wasn’t around for Avengers: Infinity War and give him a reason to seek the Avengers out. At the same time, Scott reteaming with Avengers would give them to access to the Quantum Realm. Of course, manipulating the Quantum Realm might have unintended side effects, potentially reshaping the universe in irreversible ways.
Ant-Man and the Wasp opens in theaters on July 6, 2018. Avengers 4 premieres on May 8, 2019.