Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Credits Scenes Explained
This post contains spoilers for "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quatumania."
"Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quatumania" has finally hit theaters, and Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has begun. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) has been resting on his laurels after saving the world with the help of a rat and a few other Avengers ... at least according to his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton), who wants him to use his powers to help the world. Sure, he's written a book (which you can actually purchase this September), but now all she sees is her dad doing book signings and getting free coffee in exchange for preserving existence.
Cassie hasn't been idle, however. While her dad is relaxing and his partner Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) is using Pym particles to help improve conditions in the world, Cassie has sent a signal down to the Quantum Realm, something she does in front of Scott, Hope, and Hope's parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). Janet, who spent 30 years in the Quantum Realm, is very upset because there was a whole lot about her time there that she didn't share with her family. Of course, they're all sucked down there, and we learn that Janet's past included meeting the also-trapped Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), befriending him, trying to get the right part for his ship, then learning his nefarious plans for the multiverse. She steals the part, and Kang is out for revenge once he realizes she's there.
"Quantumania" has both a mid-credits and a post-credits scene. Let's dive into what happened.
Mid-credits scene explained
In the mid-credits scene, we hear from three Kang variants: Immortus, Rama-Tut, and ... maybe a not-scarlet version of the Scarlet Centurion that appears to be somewhat robotic. He says that the exiled one is dead (meaning The Conqueror), though Rama-Tut asks if that's a sure thing. They seem to believe it is, but that doesn't mean it's true. The discussion is about how they're upset because they weren't the ones that took him down. They mention that it was done by others, which seems to mean Scott and friends. Immortus then says they have begun to touch the multiverse and that, "if we let them, they will take everything we built. So let's stop wasting time," and we see a shot of the timeline streams from "Loki." "They" likely means Scott and the rest of the Avengers of Earth-616. The centurion(?) asks how many were called, and Immortus says, "All of us."
We see a huge stadium full of Kang variants. Identifying them would be like doing a Where's Waldo hunt, but I saw a Skrull, a blue-skinned one, one with a cape, and one in a mask. They're laughing maniacally and cheering.
It's hard to explain all the Kang variants, but they all stem from Nathaniel Richards, born in the 30th century on Earth-6311. Earlier in that timeline, a time traveling-man with the same name from Earth-616 (the Avengers branch) appears, bringing peace to that future.
Later, a bored Nathaniel from Earth-6311 travels back to ancient Egypt on Earth-616 and rules as Pharaoh Rama-Tut. While trying to escape from the Fantastic Four, he ends up in modern Earth-616 and makes the Scarlet Centurion armor for himself. Immortus is the future version of Kang, who has fought against and alongside the Avengers at different points.
Post-credits scene explained
The post-credits scene is intriguing because it sets up "Loki" season 2. We're dropped into what appears to be some time around 1900 or perhaps a bit later. On the stage demonstrating some machinery is a man named Victor Timely (a Kang variant), played by, of course, Jonathan Majors. He tells us that time is everything and that it shapes our lives, but perhaps we can shape time instead. In the audience, in period costumes, are Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who looks horrified, and Mobius (Owen Wilson). Loki says "that's him" with fear in his voice. Mobius says, "You made him sound like a terrifying figure." Loki replies, "He is."
Obviously, this is implying that Loki has either made Mobius remember him after the events of the end of "Loki" season 1 or, more likely, recruited him to stop the Kang variants that He Who Remains (Majors) said would be coming when Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) stabbed him to death in the final episode.
If Victor Timely sounds familiar to you, it's because he's a Kang variant from the comics. Back in 1901, industrialist Timely founded the town of Timely, Wisconsin. No ego there, right? He uses his brilliance in tech and invention to make the town a marvel and serves as its mayor. However, the tech improving the town is actually from the future.
You see, in the year 3000 of Earth-6311, Kang Prime finds a time machine from one of his ancestors, beginning his travels across the multiverse. Timely is, in fact, Kang Prime in the comics, though it could certainly change here. Timely might look like a normal guy from the period with his comics-accurate mustache, but he has all the knowledge from the future. And oh the things he could do with it.
"Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" is in theaters now.