Marvel’s Ant-Man Is Getting a Sequel

The superhero phase of Paul Rudd’s career may live to see another movie. Marvel Studios announced Thursday morning, as part of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that this summer’s Ant-Man will be followed up with a sequel. Though casting has not yet been announced, it would be far from surprising to see Rudd reprise a role that earned him accolades for transitioning from lovable rom-com lead to spandex-wearing action hero.

The sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, is slated for release on July 8, 2018, and marks the first time a Marvel film has been named for its heroine. The Wasp, in the Marvel Universe, refers to a superhero known in daily life as Hope van Dyne (played in Ant-Man by Evangeline Lilly), to whom the mantle of the Wasp was passed down by her mother, Janet van Dyne.

Marvel also announced two scheduling shifts and three new films. Black Panther will move up to a release date of Feb. 16, 2018, and Captain Marvel will premiere on March 8, 2019. The three new films, as yet untitled, will hit theaters in May, July and November of 2020.