Ant-Man was released this last Friday. And while it failed to impress at the US box-office (when compared to other Marvel movies), it actually made a heap of cash worldwide. In this way, the movie fell short of the estimates (which saw it released to around $60 million – $65 million) with $58 million in US, thus marking the lowest opening weekend for Marvel since The Incredible Hulk. Still, it won the weekend and made about $115 million worldwide. To be noted, it is also one of the cheapest Marvel movies, at around $130 million.
But this isn't the point. Even if it is a rather small superhero movie (there is a joke in here somewhere), Ant-Man connects the dots and easily installs itself in the larger MCU. Check out the most relevant Easter-Eggs below!
Of course, these are spoilers - so consider yourself warned! Oh, and here are also the credits scenes"¦ So, again: HUGE SPOILERS!
Ant-Man and Spider-Man
Ant-Man and Spider-Man
Let's get this out of the way: Ant-Man is the first Marvel movie to make a reference about the web-crawler. Which is exactly how Spider-Man is referred: the one that crawls. It is Michael Pena who mentions Peter Parker's alter-ego, in a scene in which Thor (the one that swings) and Hulk (the one that jumps) are also mentioned. So Age of Ultron was already wrapped and that is why they couldn't insert the Oscorp building in the New York skyline.
No problem for Ant-Man!
On the next page, more Avengers references!
Ant-Man and the Avengers
Don’t you see the Ant-Man suit?
Next, there is that big cameo showed in the trailers and clips, prior to Ant-Man's release. And that is Falcon making a special appearance. However, this isn't the only Avengers Easter-Egg. There is also the one in which Scott Lang tells Hank Pym that he should call the Avengers if the world is threatened.
When that happens, Hank Pym casually says that the superhero team is busy dropping cities from the sky. And this is a very clear Easter-Egg hinting at events depicted during Age of Ultron.
But there is more - how will Ant-Man appear in future movies? Well, there is this particular scene in which the miniature superhero enlarges a number of objects. Of course, we are talking about the hilarious Thomas the Tank Engine scene. However, this is the perfect setting for another set of powers to be used in future movies: Ant-Man becoming Giant Man.
On the next page, a throwback to the past!
The larger MCU and Ant-Man
One version of Howard Stark and the only version of Agent Carter
Of course, everybody knows now that Ant-Man is also set in the past. And it is in this time period that we see Howard Stark, as well as Peggy Carter. Sure enough, these are just simple cameos. However, because of the relationship between Stark and Pym, we can now assume on whose side Ant-Man will be in the Civil War. Take a wild guess!
And then there is HYDRA, who also appears, courtesy of Mitch Carson, and old adversary of Pym, who is also revealed to be an evil agents wanting the Ant-Man technology for himself.
Speaking of villains wanting the technology for themselves, the next Easter-Egg might introduce the one fan-favorite villain!
Ant-Man: The Ten Rings
No. Not this Mandarin.
The first Iron Man movie contained a clear reference to the Mandarin, with the kidnappers having the symbols of the 10 rings all over the place. The third Iron Man movie, no matter how disappointing it was, further developed the idea of Mandarin actually existing.
And then came the one-shot All Hail the King, which actually stated that there is indeed a Mandarin in the MCU. Well, Ant-Man comes and reminds us of this: one of the men who comes to bid on the Ant-Man technology has a tattoo on his neck, a tattoo with the 10 rings!
Obviously, a 4th Iron Man movie will not happen. However, the Mandarin can be used as a villain for other superheroes as well"¦ And maybe for teams of superheroes"¦ Who knows?
On the next page the mid-credits scene!
Introducing Wasp
Wasp
Sure enough, everybody wondered whether or not Wasp will be introduced in this film. And she wasn't - although we find out how the original one died. However, the mid-credits scene is pretty explicit as to what the future holds for the Ant-Man sequels (which will happen, of course - do you have any doubts?!?).
Thus, the mid-credits scene shows Hank Pym revealing a suit to Hope van Dyne. And it is the Wasp suit, a prototype as Hank calls it. Does it look good? We believe it does.
Next, the most obvious Civil War connection, from the end-credits scene!
Civil War - an actual shot from next year
How deep does the hole go?
The end credits scene for Ant-Man has Falcon and Captain America finally finding the Winter Soldier. The latter is weary and down on his luck, trapped - to say the least. And this is when Falcon asks whether they should call Tony Stark or not, an idea quickly brushed off by Captain America.
Sure enough, we all know that Winter Soldier killed Stark's parents. So having Iron Man brought in was not a bad idea, but actually a stupid one, knowing how volatile a personality Tony has. But Captain America mentions the accords, which means that the Registration Act is all in place, ready to be implemented, if it wasn't already. Furthermore, this might even suggest that Tony Stark is the mastermind behind the Registration Act"¦
And the Falcon says that he knows who they should call. And now it becomes pretty obvious on whose side Ant-Man will be during the Civil War"¦
