The original script for Ant-Man was very different from the final movie and would have completely scuppered the MCU’s Infinity War Saga and The Multiverse Saga. Ant-Man introduced some surprisingly key elements to the MCU’s future, with one aspect in particular greatly shaping the franchise’s trajectory, which was glaringly omitted from the original movie’s script.
Director Edgar Wright was originally involved during the early stages of Ant-Man, even producing the movie’s first script. Wright and Marvel eventually parted ways and Peyton Reed was brought on to direct, and an updated script was penned by star Paul Rudd and writer Adam McKay. This rendition included a feature essential to the unfolding MCU timeline, which was missing from Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man script.
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Ant-Man’s Original Script Didn’t Involve The Quantum Realm
Edgar Wright’s Original Script Was Very Different
In Edgar Wright’s original conception, Ant-Man did not feature the MCU’s Quantum Realm at all. Wright’s script focused on a heist narrative, weaving together elements of humor, action, and character-driven storytelling. However, without the Quantum Realm, a crucial emotional thread would have been absent, particularly regarding Janet Van Dyne. Janet’s disappearance into the Quantum Realm served as a poignant catalyst for the movie’s central conflict and the strained relationship between Hank Pym and Hope Van Dyne.
Janet’s absence infused the storyline with emotional stakes, driving Hank and Hope’s motivations throughout the movie. Without this aspect, the familial dynamics and personal struggles would have lacked depth, potentially diminishing audience investment in the characters’ journeys. Additionally, the importance of the Quantum Realm would later become even more evident in subsequent MCU plots, necessitating its introduction in some form.
If the Quantum Realm were omitted from Ant-Man, a later movie would need to introduce the concept, as several vital plots hinged on the miniature environment’s existence. Its significance in unlocking new dimensions, alternate realities, and time-travel capabilities became essential in expanding the MCU’s narrative scope. While Ant-Man‘s original script may have eschewed the Quantum Realm, its eventual inclusion became indispensable for the MCU’s interconnected stories.
How Ant-Man Not Introducing The Quantum Realm Could’ve Changed The Infinity Saga
The Quantum Realm Was Vital To Avengers: Endgame
The Infinity Saga would have taken a drastically different turn had the Quantum Realm not been introduced in the first Ant-Man movie. The microscopic dimension became a pivotal element in the Ant-Man movies and Avengers: Endgame. Without the Quantum Realm, the Avengers would have faced a far more challenging task in their quest to reverse the effects of Thanos’s snap.
Time travel, the linchpin of the Avengers’ plan, relied heavily on the Quantum Realm’s unique properties. Its time vortex provided means for the Avengers to travel to different time periods, allowing them to gather the Infinity Stones. Had the Quantum Realm not been introduced in Ant-Man, the Avengers might have had to resort to alternative, perhaps less plausible, methods to confront Thanos and restore balance to the universe.
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An entirely different strategy may have been required, meaning that the shocking cliffhanger in Avengers: Infinity War may have been too difficult to surmount in Endgame. As such, Thanos may not have been allowed to succeed in Infinity War, as Marvel wouldn’t have its narrative resolution readily available in Endgame. The absence of this crucial element would have significantly altered the narrative trajectory of the Infinity Saga, potentially leading to a less satisfying resolution and limiting the MCU’s narrative landscape in subsequent phases.
How Ant-Man Not Introducing The Quantum Realm Could’ve Changed The Multiverse Saga
The Multiverse Saga Needs The Quantum Realm
Had the Quantum Realm not been introduced in Ant-Man, The Multiverse Saga would also have taken a drastically different direction. The Quantum Realm was the pivotal gateway to Kang the Conqueror’s introduction and, by extension, the Multiverse narrative. Though Kang’s future in the MCU is unconfirmed following Jonathon Majors’ exit from the franchise, Kang was officially introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The Multiverse Saga is set to culminate in Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, which will presumably further explore the MCU’s multiverse and Kang.
Furthermore, without this justification for the multiverse narrative, several key MCU plotlines would not have worked. Loki’s “Glorious Purpose” in Loki season 2 required a multiverse precedent, and the lack of a multiverse would render Loki unable to interact with his variants and explore the notion of branching timelines. Additionally, it’s possible future projects like Marvel’s X-Men movie and The Fantastic Four reboot could explore different realities.
However, thanks to the Quantum Realm and the resultant multiverse plot, all of this is possible. The Quantum Realm is evidently essential to the Multiverse Saga, hosting Kang’s official introduction into the franchise and connecting in some way to the multiverse. The consequential and interconnected narratives that have made the MCU such a compelling franchise, with Ant-Man‘s Quantum Realm blossoming from a minor plot point into the franchise’s most important locale.
Ant-Man
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- Director
- Peyton Reed
- Release Date
- July 14, 2015
- Writers
- Edgar Wright , Joe Cornish , Adam McKay , Paul Rudd , Stan Lee , Larry Lieber
- Cast
- Paul Rudd , Michael Douglas , Corey Stoll , Evangeline Lilly , Bobby Cannavale , Anthony Mackie
- Runtime
- 117 minutes
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