Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania finally confirmed a surprise villain appearance in the MCU film. But his debut adds a much more complex mystery.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the first film of Phase Five and has proven that the Multiverse Saga is officially in full swing with the appearance of Kang the Conqueror and his utter ruthlessness. Now, Scott Lang will have to protect those he loves while simultaneously protecting the larger multiverse from the menace of Kang, and it may cost him everything, including his life. But there are even more surprises in his newest trip to the Quantum Realm.
The film follows Scott Lang and his family after they were accidentally transported into the Quantum Realm and seemingly trapped. On their journey to find a way to escape, they run into Kang, who gives Scott an ultimatum that will allow him to go home or risk harm to his loved ones. But as Quantumania’s latest trailer shows, Kang wasn’t the only villain present, as MODOK also appeared in all his glory. But with the confirmation of his debut, there’s a greater question of who he is and what he’s doing in the Quantum Realm.
MODOK Is Likely a Familiar Face in Ant-Man 3
There are many theories about MODOK’s identity — and perhaps the most engaging has tied the villain directly to the first Ant-Man film. In the comics, MODOK was a creation of AIM that fought against Captain America and The Avengers, and his murderous intent was legendary. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version may not be tied to AIM at all.
The prevailing idea is that MODOK is none other than Darren Cross following his defeat in the first Ant-Man, and a shot in the trailer may confirm this. After Scott short-circuited his shrinking technology, Darren was shrunk from the inside and seemingly killed while in his Yellowjacket suit. However, if he is MODOK, that would mean that he survived and ventured to the Quantum Realm, and his deformed body was sustained by his new chair, which is both a transportation tool and a dangerous weapon. But even though this theory has legs, there are other possibilities.
MODOK May Be a Brand New Creation in the MCU
Though utilizing a past villain in a new way could work well for MODOK and the Ant-Man continuity, it’s not a dealbreaker if that’s not the case. In fact, being a totally new creation could open a new world of possibilities for the character. For example, this MODOK could be a creation of the Quantum Realm that allied himself with Kang and is used to control his army and any plans he has in store for the multiverse. Considering its defensive capabilities, he could also double as a security droid and be the first line of defense should anyone try to kill Kang.
Another concept could be that MODOK was an entity that served as a multiversal supercomputer, whether created in another reality or given the knowledge. With knowledge of the multiverse in its system, it could be an encyclopedia for Kang and a great way for him to keep tabs on different timelines. For now, there are many secrets tied to this unlikely villain, and whatever MODOK’s origin may be, there’s no doubt he will be as deadly as he is comical.