Paul Rudd says his latest Marvel film ‘may be the end of Ant-Man’

Published

2 years ago

February 17, 2023

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Paul Rudd says he has no idea if this Marvel film will be his last.

The third in the Ant-Man series, following 2015’s Ant-Man and 2018’s Ant-Man And The Wasp, it’s the first of the films he hasn’t also co-written.

“Maybe it is the end of Ant-Man,” Rudd told Sky News.

“I don’t really know. As far as what’s next, the only thing I can say for sure is that the Kang the Conqueror is going to be a very big part of whatever it is.”

The film’s director, Payton Reed, has previously referred to the film as the end of the Ant-Man trilogy.

But with 31 films in the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and counting, it’s not necessarily reason to believe Scott Lang’s time is at an end.

Being part of the Marvel films isn’t something Rudd has taken lightly: “They feel huge working on them because, you know, they are. And I think that [Marvel] have a way of making films that are different from other studios… Everyone who works at Marvel trusts in the machine a little bit. They’re good at making the things that they make.”

A big part of that, he says, is down to the people who work on the business-side of the enterprise, including the president of Marvel Studios.

Rudd’s unlikely comic book past

“Kevin Feige and some of the producers, they know what it is that they want to see because they’re comic book fans, they are Marvel fans. They’ve grown up reading the comics. They are fanboys and fangirls. And so, they really, I think, care about the product.”

But despite Rudd’s loyalty to the franchise, he wasn’t always so attentive.

Supplied by an English uncle (Rudd’s parents both hailed from London), the actor admits: “I read the Beano and Dandy more than I read any Marvel Comics, that’s for sure.”

Veteran stars return

Michael Douglas, who plays Dr Hank Pym – the character who invented Pym Particles, allowing Ant-Man to reduce and increase in size – is also a long-time member of the cast.

He says being back in the Marvel family is “like wearing an old coat”.

“It’s like the old film days, when actors did movies together all the time. It’s just comfortable.”

Much of his screen time is spent with fellow screen legend Michelle Pfeiffer, 64, who pays his wife Janet.

And far from being put off by all the technology involved in modern-day superhero films, the 78-year-old star says it was the tech that first lured him into the franchise.

“I’d never done a green screen before, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to do it, to see how it all works.”

But he admits that along with the highlights of Marvel come responsibilities: “Once you’re onboard, there is such secrecy about the whole process… You don’t see a script until maybe a couple of weeks before the picture starts, and then you don’t have much input.”

He also says it’s different to other films thanks to its source material – the “very strict Bible” of the Marvel comics.

‘You’re actually in the Quantum Realm’

Filmed at Pinewood Studios in the UK, the production had a whopping eight stages and 48 sets. And thanks to an excess of action and VFX, it’s a job that tends to demand more technical than emotional acting from its stars.

Kathryn Newton, who plays Ant-Man’s daughter, Cassie Lang, told Sky News: “It’s very much like you’re standing on your mark. OK, now you have to cry. And that is. That is hard.”

Evangelina Lilly, the Canadian actress behind Hope Van Dyne and describes one of the more technical stages – dubbed “The Volume” – as “overwhelming”.

She explained: “Instead of a green screen stage, The Volume is a stage that has thousands of small LED screens that cover the walls and the ceiling, and they project on to it. Everything you’re actually seeing in the Quantum Realm.

“So, the quantum landscape is all around you. And when they change the camera’s angle, it changes the landscape so that you see something different. It’s immersive. You’re actually in it. You’re in the Quantum Realm.”

Unlike the first two Ant-Man movies, which were set in San Francisco, this film is based almost entirely in the Quantum Realm – an alternative universe hidden within the multiverse, where time follows its own rules.

A place so-far unique to the Ant-Man films, director Payton Reed says it’s a location he was keen to explore: “It’s not outer space from Guardians Of The Galaxy or Asgard from the Thor movies. It’s a subatomic world.”

Partly inspired by electron microscope photography, he admits he genned up on Quantum Theory For Dummies ahead of his first Ant-Man film, exploring things like quantum entanglement in the last film, and Schrodinger’s cat in this one.

Plus, he describes the “balancing act” of being at the helm of one of the franchise’s many productions: “It has to sort of somehow fit into this larger architecture of this grand MCU story that’s being told but not be smothered by that.

“The way it tends to work is we make decisions and come up with ideas for our movie and all the movies and things that come after us have to deal with the ramifications. And of course, we inherit things too.”

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Indeed, this film kicks off Phase Five of the MCU, with two more films are scheduled this year alone – the third instalment of Guardians Of The Galaxy in May and The Marvels in July.

And as Rudd confirms, there’s one character who is guaranteed a return – time-travelling terrorist Kang. The villain, who has killed the Avengers so many times across different timelines he literally can’t keep track, is played by Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors.

In a universe with endless possibilities, alternate realities and super-charged powers, Kang’s oppressive presence is one sure-fire certainty in Marvel movies over the next few years.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is in cinemas now.

Entertainment

Glastonbury 2025 line-up revealed

Published

9 hours ago

March 6, 2025

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The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo will be among the stars headlining Glastonbury Festival this year, it has been announced.

Glastonbury organisers have revealed the line-up for this summer’s event, taking place between 25 June and 29 June, after months of speculation.

The 1975 will take to the iconic Pyramid Stage on the Friday to headline, then Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young will perform on Saturday and Olivia Rodrigo on the Sunday.

Other big names performing include British pop sensation Charli XCX, rapper Loyle Carner electronic group The Prodigy.

The announcement comes after Sir Rod Stewart was booked for the Sunday teatime legend slot and Young was confirmed as a headliner earlier this year.

Young’s announcement in January came amid some confusion, as he had days before told fans he was pulling out of the festival because the BBC’s involvement was a “corporate turn-off”.

The Canadian singer-songwriter later said this decision was down to “an error in the information I received”.

The 1975 will be headlining for the first time, having made their Glastonbury debut in 2014.

The Cheshire band, known for hits such as Somebody Else and Chocolate, have regularly made headlines due to the antics of frontman Matty Healy.

Glastonbury, which takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset in the summer, has worked closely with the BBC – its exclusive broadcast partner – since 1997.

Appetite for the esteemed festival saw standard tickets sell out in 35 minutes in November.

They cost £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee, up £18.50 from the price from the 2024 festival, and were sold exclusively through the See Tickets website.

The date for the resale – where tickets not fully paid for are put back up for purchase – is set for some time in spring.

The headliners last summer on the iconic Pyramid Stage were Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay, who made history as the first act to headline the festival five times.

2026 is likely to be a year off for Glastonbury, with the festival traditionally taking place four out of every five years, and the fifth year reserved for rehabilitation of the land.

Entertainment

Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2025

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Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Ofcom received 825 complaints over the Brit Awards, with the majority relating to Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy performance and Charli XCX’s outfit, the media watchdog says.

US pop star Carpenter, 25, sported a red sparkly military-style blazer dress for her performance at the awards show on Saturday night, paired with stockings and suspenders for a rendition of Espresso.

The song was mixed with a Rule Britannia mash-up, as dancers in military parade dress followed her.

She then switched to a red sparkly bra and shorts for her next song, Bad Chem, which she performed alongside dancers in bras and shorts while sitting suggestively on a large bed.

Carpenter later received the global success award at the ceremony, and was also nominated in the international artist and international song of the year categories.

But much of the buzz on social media surrounded her performance, which took place before the 9pm watershed.

Ofcom said some of the complaints were also aimed at British pop sensation Charli XCX, who dominated the night by winning five awards, including album of the year.

Some viewers took issue with her outfit – a black see-through dress.

The singer addressed the concerns during her acceptance speech for artist of the year, saying: “I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples. I feel like we’re in the era of ‘free the nipple’ though, right?”

Carpenter paid tribute to the UK in her acceptance speech, saying: “The Brits have given me this award, and this feels like such an insane honour in a very primarily tea-drinking country… you really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry. So I love y’all more than you even understand.”

Entertainment

Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2025

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Actor Noel Clarke begins his High Court libel case against The Guardian’s publisher today.

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles it published about him in April 2021.

They were based on the claims of 20 women Clarke knew “in a professional capacity” who allege his behaviour towards them amounted to sexual misconduct.

Clarke, known for his roles in the Kidulthood trilogy and Dr Who, “vehemently” denies “any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing”.

What will the trial cover?

Clarke is suing GNM for libel, sometimes also referred to as defamation.

It’s a civil tort – not a criminal offence – defined as false written statements that have damaged the person’s reputation. This means Clarke can seek redress or damages but no one will face charges or prison.

Clarke claims the articles The Guardian published in 2021 altered public opinion of him, damaged his reputation, and lost him work.

He said after the allegations emerged: “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me.

“If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise. I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations.”

The Guardian is defending the claim on the basis of truth and public interest.

It said in its statement: “Our reporting on Noel Clarke in 2021 was based on the accounts of 20 brave women. After we published our first article, more women came forward.

“At trial, 32 witnesses are set to testify against Mr Clarke under oath. We look forward to a judge hearing the evidence.”

The trial will only focus on liability – not the amount of damages to be paid if Clarke is successful.

The actor tried and failed to get the case struck out in January, with his legal team saying it had “overwhelming evidence” of “perversion of the course of justice”.

His lawyers told the High Court three of the journalists involved in the articles had “deliberately and permanently” deleted messages, which meant he could not get a fair trial.

Lawyers for GNM told the court there was “no adequate evidential basis” for Clarke’s application for a strike out and said it sought “to smear Guardian journalists and editors without any proper justification”.

The trial, which will be presided over by judge Mrs Justice Steyn, is expected to last between four and six weeks.

What has happened since the articles were published?

A month before the articles about him were published in April 2021, Clarke received BAFTA’s outstanding contribution to British cinema award.

However, once the allegations against him emerged, he was suspended by the organisation and the prize rescinded.

His management and production company 42M&P told Sky News they were no longer representing him and Sky cancelled its TV show Bulletproof, starring Clarke and Top Boy actor Ashley Walters as the lead roles.

ITV also decided to pull the finale of another of his dramas, Viewpoint, following the Guardian articles.

The Met Police looked into the allegations against Clarke for any potential criminal wrongdoing, but in March 2022 announced they “did not meet the threshold for criminal investigation”.

Clarke filed the libel claim the following month and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in person.

He says he has faced a “trial by media” – and that the ordeal has left him suicidal and in need of professional help.

‘Rising star’

Clarke made his TV debut in a revived version of Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 2002.

Soon after he played Mickey Smith in Dr Who and Kwame in the six-part Channel 4 series Metrosexuality.

He wrote and starred in the film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood, and Brotherhood, which were based in west London, where he grew up, and explored the lives of a group of teenagers given time off school after a bullied classmate takes their own life.

It was a box office success and eventually saw Clarke given BAFTA’s rising star prize in 2009.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.