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Ant-Man and the Wasp

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a 2018 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics characters Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne / Wasp.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a 2018 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics characters Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope van Dyne / Wasp. It is a sequel to Ant-Man (2015) and the 20th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film follows Scott Lang as he teams with Hope and Hank Pym to rescue Janet van Dyne from the quantum realm while confronting Ghost.

Plot

Scott Lang is drawn into a new mission with Hope van Dyne and Hank Pym after the events of Captain America: Civil War. The story focuses on rescuing Janet van Dyne from the quantum realm and dealing with threats from Ghost and Sonny Burch.

Cast

The principal cast includes Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne, and Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr / Ghost.

Release

Ant-Man and the Wasp was released theatrically in the United States on July 6, 2018. Rotten Tomatoes also lists a streaming release date of October 2, 2018.

Franchise context

The film is a sequel to Ant-Man and is set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It continues plot threads involving the Pym family, the quantum realm, and Scott Lang’s time under house arrest after Captain America: Civil War.

Key facts

  • The film centres on Scott Lang balancing superhero duties and fatherhood while reuniting with Hope van Dyne and Hank Pym for a rescue mission.
  • Its main conflict involves recovering Janet van Dyne from the quantum realm.
  • Hope van Dyne appears as the Wasp, fighting alongside Ant-Man.
  • The film’s antagonist is Ghost, also identified as Ava Starr.
  • Theatrical release in the United States was on July 6, 2018.
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Canadian context

The film was widely released in Canada as part of the global Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise and is commonly covered by Canadian entertainment media as a major summer blockbuster.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ant-Man and the Wasp about?
It follows Scott Lang as he teams with Hope van Dyne and Hank Pym on a mission to rescue Janet van Dyne from the quantum realm, while facing Ghost and other obstacles.
Who stars in Ant-Man and the Wasp?
Principal cast members include Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, and Laurence Fishburne.
When was Ant-Man and the Wasp released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on July 6, 2018.
Is Ant-Man and the Wasp a sequel?
Yes. It is the sequel to Ant-Man (2015).
How does Ant-Man and the Wasp end?
The film ends with Janet van Dyne returning from the quantum realm, the family reunited, and Scott Lang’s house arrest effectively over; Ghost remains unstable but not an immediate threat.
Who is the villain in Ant-Man and the Wasp?
The main villain is Ava Starr / Ghost, although Sonny Burch also acts as an opposing force.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant-Man_and_the_Wasp
    Supports: Sequel status, MCU placement, basic film identification
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5095030/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary, main characters, antagonist, cast
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ant_man_and_the_wasp
    Supports: Synopsis and release date
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ant-Man-and-the-Wasp
    Supports: Source context for Ant-Man and the Wasp characters
  5. What's After the Movie? — https://www.whatsafterthemovie.com/summary/ant-man-and-the-wasp
    Supports: Ending summary and plot details
  6. Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki — https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Ant-Man_and_the_Wasp
    Supports: Plot context and character relationships