'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania': 'Bad-ss' Michelle Pfeiffer with 30 years of secrets

We're officially entering Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (in theatres Feb. 17), starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas and Kathryn Newton.

At the outset of the new film we quickly discover there are some significant family secrets. We learn that Janet Van Dyne (Pfeiffer) hasn't been completely honest about her experience in the Quantum Realm for 30 years, while Hank Pym (Douglas), Hope (Lilly) and Cassie (Newton) have been working on something together. That leads to the family going deep into the Quantum Realm, and coming face-to-face with Kang The Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).

"I will say that yes, after finally being rescued from the Quantum Realm after 30 years and reunited with her lovely husband Hank and daughter Hope, she is just savouring this time together, and quite decidedly so, secretive about her time down there," Pfeiffer said during a press conference ahead of the film's premiere. "Of course, we all find ourselves down in the parallel universe and parallel world, and she is forced to come forth with the truth and in a place where she had hoped she would never see again."

"Thirty years is a long time. People have needs, and let's not be judgmental. So I think there are a lot of surprises for the family. For some more than others. Maybe some choices were questionable, but they're a very forgiving family. ... Of course her story is very much a part of the whole family secrets theme that runs through the film."

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, highlighted that Pfeiffer, who also famously starred as Catwoman in 1992's Batman Returns, was a dream to have on board.

"I have to say, in terms of the [Ant-Man trilogy], there is a flashback in the first film to the Wasp, the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne," Feige explained. "We don't see her face, she's wearing a mask."

"It was always our dream that someday we could make another movie, and then Michelle Pfeiffer could play that character. ... There's a large part of this movie where [director Peyton Reed] and the screenwriters just hand the movie over to Michelle, and it's amazing. I keep thinking back to those first scenes on the first Ant-Man film where it was just a dream and a possibility of who could play this part."

Even as such a pro, Pfeiffer still thinks she could have used even more preparation for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

"I kind of wish I had more preparation," Pfeiffer said. "We have amazing stunt people, there's just a whole department and you're incredibly supported."

"I just worked with them to exhaustion, really, on some of those more physical scenes. But it's a lot of fun. I like doing that sort of thing. That's fun for me. So, I like that Janet is kind of a bad-ss."

For Douglas, he said his preparation was, "look ma, I'm in a Marvel film!"

"Having a good time and staying in awe of my incredible wife Janet, and what she could accomplish, and what great shape she was in for those 30 years that she was down in the Quantum Realm," Douglas added.

"I enjoyed [the opportunities] to watch her and Evangeline in action and could not be more blessed to have two women action heroes supporting the old man."

Why is 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' the beginning of Phase 5 of the MCU?

As you're likely aware of at this point, the MCU is broken up into different phases, with Phase 4 having introduced a series of new characters, ending with the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

When it came to Phase 5 and what made Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania the right choice to start off this new phase, Feige highlighted the family element of the story.

"We want to kick off Phase 5 with a third film of characters that were already beloved," Feige said. "Who better to face off against one of, if not the biggest villain the MCU's ever faced than this family who you might think could not handle it?"

"Then we learn over the course of the movie that Janet has not only handled it, but has been dealing with it for decades."

When it came to the Quantum Realm, the president of Marvel Studios revealed that concept started even before we got the first Ant-Man film.

"I was sort of reminded recently that this was an idea that Paul had early on, before we started filming the first Ant-Man film, what if we explore ... quantum mechanics," Feige said. "Things act very differently at the quantum level, and Paul was talking about the amount of storytelling and imagination and fun that you could have there."

"It is a place that is on the subatomic level where space and time act differently, and that allowed us to time travel at Scott Lang’s suggestion in Endgame. ... There is an entire universe below the surface where we meet all sorts of fun, crazy characters."

'What the hell am I doing here? This makes no sense at all.'

Much of what stood out to fans of the previous Ant-Man films is the humour and more light-hearted elements of its lead character. Compared to other Avengers, Scott Lang still comes across as a relatively normal person, an everyman-type hero. It's that relatability that makes Paul Rudd enjoy portraying the character.

"I think what I like most about him is that he is a regular guy who has reservations about all of this, still, and that he's just a dad," Rudd said. "I like the fact that he is kind of a part of this group with some pretty impressive people, and superheroes, and that he would be the first guy to say, 'What the hell am I doing here? This makes no sense at all.'"

"He's a real person and so, you want to play, as an actor, somebody who is relatable and hopefully a sympathetic person. And somebody that, you understand maybe what they're going through."