Quantumania Teases The Death Of Every Ant-Man (Except Cassie) In Phase 5
This article contains major spoilers for "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania"
"Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" features two major character deaths, and they're both villains. MODOK (Corey Stoll) uses the last of his strength to turn against his master, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). A little bit later, Kang himself finds out why you don't take fists to a stinger fight, as the Wasp's (Evangeline Lilly) signature energy blasts force the villain in fatal contact with his time engine.
Considering the forces they're up against, it's actually quite surprising that Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and his allies all survive the movie. However, this might not be the case for long. In fact, the events of "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" are peppered with hints that we may soon see the last of the titular couple, as well as Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer). Here's why Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) may be the last Pym particle-powered superhero left standing after the MCU's Phase 5 is over.
The Kangs know about the events of the movie, and they're not happy
In the first post-credits scene of "Quantumania," the Kang variants who banished the movie's main Kang in the Quantum Realm are holding a very intense-looking meeting. They're clearly aware of the events of the movie, and know who's responsible. They're also legitimately worried-slash-angry that members of an opposing entity that's heavily implied to be the Avengers have started snooping around in different realms.
This is a huge problem for Ant-Man and company. Since the Quantum Realm Kang is well aware of both the Avengers and Scott Lang, the others likely are too — and since Scott's squad defeated this Kang, the others definitely consider them a threat at this point. We also learn that Kangs don't particularly care to be crossed, and like getting their point across.
All of this seems to be heading toward a moment in time when Scott, Hope, Janet, and Hank find a few dozen extremely unhappy Kangs knocking on their door. Since avenging a dead variant will likely rank quite high on the collective Kang to-do list, this will likely happen sooner rather than later. It would also be just the right kind of plot development to re-establish Kang's dangerous nature after a lukewarm "Quantumania" showing ... as well as a handy way to make Cassie stand out on her own.
Even Scott seems to realize that the other shoe is about to drop, based on his unnerving freakout halfway through the end monologue. He just doesn't comprehend just how big that shoe will be ... yet.
Cassie's story is just beginning, while everyone else has had their arcs
The "Ant-Man" trilogy is now complete, and "Quantumania" makes a point of continuing the "passing of the torch" project the MCU started with its legacy heroes in Phase 4. Cassie has now mastered shrinking and giant powers, knows how to fight with them, and her science skills seem to be at least on par with Hank Pym. Meanwhile, the older "Quantumania" heroes have all completed their arcs. Scott's life is in order, and he's reconnected with his daughter. Hope's doing good in the world, and maintaining an optimal work-life balance. Hank's out-heroed by the aforementioned, out-scienced by Cassie, and reunited with his wife. Janet has finally managed to deal with her Quantum Realm past.
From a practical behind-the-scenes standpoint, Pfeiffer and Douglas aren't going to stick around the MCU sidelines forever. As for Scott, there's no way a future Major Event MCU film is going to give Ant-Man the kind of hyper-important role "Avengers: Endgame" did, especially now that Scott has been playing the "savior of the world" card ever since. If anything, he'll be a sacrificial lamb — after all, what better way to raise the stakes than to show the guy who prevented the last apocalypse falling in the face of the impeding one?
Put all this together, and with the possible exception of the Wasp, all adult heroes of the Ant-family are liable to meet a brutal, Kang-themed end in what will no doubt be one of the most horrifying MCU moments in history. Cassie, meanwhile, will escape the carnage, as we've just seen her heroic origin story in "Quantumania." While she currently seems to be more interested in grassroots activism and science than superheroing, it may very well be that the doom that'll likely befall on her family is more than enough to give her something to ... avenge.