Written by Edwin Francisco
The latest MCU casting in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania sets the stage for the Fantastic Four reboot.
Back in April 19, 2021, we reported that Iron Lad has been cast with newcomer, Alex A. J. Gardner to play the role. But at the time, we weren’t sure where he will show up.
According to Small Screen, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania presents Iron Lad’s debut.
In the comics, Iron Lad is Nathaniel Richards from a far distant future from Earth-6311.
If the last name is somewhat familiar, it should be.
Richards is the time-traveling father of Reed Richards, the Fantastic Four’s leader.
Moreover, he is a young variant of Kang the Conqueror.
Tellingly, Peyton Reed once pitched a Fantastic Four movie to Fox.
Marvel Studios selected Jon Watts to direct the new Fantastic Four.
Kang is set to be the main villain of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
A variant of Nathaniel Richards appeared in the Disney Plus series Loki.
MCU Casting Sets Up Fantastic Four in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Image: Disney Plus
Jonathan Majors played the variant in the episode “For All Time, Always.”
He was the remaining variant of Richards; in addition, he was also called “He Who Remains.”
This incarnation of Kang protected the timeline so that no other variant of himself will try to rule the flow of time.
Thus, since the events of Loki, the multiverse has opened up. Consequently, that gave way for multiple variants of Richards to control the multiverse.
Majors returns as an evil Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Kang debuted as Rama-Tut in Fantastic Four No. 19 (1963).
Since Iron Lad is a young version of Kang, we presume that his character time-traveled to the current MCU timeline to stop his future variant of himself.
Indeed, this is generally what happened in the comics.
While he defeats this variant of himself, he hopes that he can escape his fate as an evil time-traveling conqueror.
Meanwhile, Marvel Studios assembles the Young Avengers, piece by piece.
MCU Casting Sets Up Fantastic Four in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Image: Marvel Studios
Hailee Steinfeld’s Hawkeye, Xochitl Gomez’ Miss America, and Kathryn Newton’s Stature await their YA membership cards.
With Alex A. J. Gardner’s Iron Lad added to the mix, it seems that it already has a full team, if not close to it.
Eventually, Elijah Richardson’s Eli Bradley becomes Patriot in the second season of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Afterward, Young Avengers blast into full gear on Disney Plus.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has been getting more traction lately with the new, confusing logo.
Likewise, Bill Murray’s participation in the pic ignited social media.
With all that is developing for the movie, it does seem that the film is so much bigger than any previous Ant-Man movie.
While Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) seemed more like standalone movies from the rest of the MCU , this will have a larger impact on the overall MCU.
So what do you think of Alex A. J. Gardner as Iron Lad in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is scheduled to be released on July 18, 2023.
Related: Disney Has 31 MCU Projects In Development
