Ant-Man was a crucial player in the epic conclusion of the MCU Infinity Saga, stumbling out of the Quantum Realm by chance and bringing time travel to the Avengers’ front door. Sure, Stark brought the concept to life, but Scott Lang supplied the blueprints. Lang saved the day as the engineer of the reverse snap, even though his two very good movies have been considered MCU “filler.” Not anymore.

Ant-Man is going big for his third go around, with huge effects and story, as well as the introduction of the next big bad, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). Based on the comic lore, we’re talking about a villain who could make Thanos look like a rank-and-file henchman. The tiniest (or largest) Avenger looks to be facing down not only the end of the world but the fate of reality itself in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The previous two Ant-Man installments didn’t carry this kind of gravitas or expectations, so it will be cool to see Paul Rudd’s Lang get a solo outing with real, Avengers film-level heft. Here’s a breakdown of the latest trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Life is Good for Lang

     Marvel Studios

The trailer begins on a severe note of music but a sunny glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge and Kang the Conqueror menacingly calling Scott Lang “an interesting man.” He goes on to recap Lang’s career as both an Avenger and a dad, taunting him with the time he lost, presumably the span spent floating adrift in the Quantum Realm for the five years between Infinity Stone snaps. Kang goes on to say that he has also lost much time. Lang is then seen bailing his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) out of jail with Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym visible in the background.

A hand presses a button on a device that produces a sharp blue glow and prompts concerned looks from Lang and company as it envelops the room in light, and pulls everyone into it. The Quantum Realm? Or some bizarre alternate version of it, since we are dealing with the Multiverse Saga now.

Enter Kang with Promises

Lang and Kang finally meet face to face, with the latter saying he can give Scott the one thing he wants: time. A sprawling landscape of gear-like structures appears, with Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) saying that Kang can “re-write existence and shatter timelines.” Lang splitting into two selves flashes across the screen, both with dumbfounded looks on their faces. Janet goes on to say that Lang cannot trust the Conqueror. But Lang is focused only on getting back the lost five years, deprived of seeing his daughter grow up. “He can give us a second chance,” Lang says of the eventual antagonist.

Ant-Man is seen falling into a vast cave of grotesque tentacles, followed by the trio of characters riding on the back of a creature resembling a dragon. The threats then come from Kang, as he implores Lang to bring him what he needs, or everything will end for him. Hope, Cassie, all of it. The trailer text teases the beginning of a new dynasty, a direct reference to the upcoming fifth Avengers film The Kang Dynasty.

Kang himself is seen overseeing the horizon as troops organize and deploy as sleek silver ships take off, and immediately are seen bombarding the ground as Lang and Cassie sprint for cover. Cassie says “this is all my fault” to her father as a screen full of Ant-Men scramble and one larger one spins apart into yarn-like matter and falls away.

“We had a deal,” laments Lang as shots of Kang striking him with energy beams flash across the screen. Other general action shots are utilized just before a big split-second reveal of classic Marvel villain MODOK. Kang is seen striking Ant-Man in the face, and he falls to the floor, followed by a shot of him falling further, only to be caught and rescued by Wasp. “You thought you could win,” says a grinning Kang just before delivering a vicious stomping kick to Lang’s face, shattering his helmet’s lenses. “I don’t have to win,” says Lang, “We both just have to lose.”

A rising mountain of duplicate Ant-Men is seen collapsing with Lang falling from the top under a massive spinning globe of gears. Kang makes a landing on an iridescent floating disc, pausing and unleashing a massive two-handed energy beam while belting out a loud scream, eyes glowing blue.

Ant-Man Moving Forward

The MCU clearly wanted Ant-Man’s trilogy to be capped off with a bang, creating a monstrous, glowing CGI world and introducing a massive, major character into the mix. Director Peyton Reed promised us a “force of nature” Kang the Conqueror from actor Jonathan Majors, and from the first few interdimensional glances, that claim is panning out. With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wrapping up the MCU’s Phase 4, the phase and dynasty of Kang are being ushered in with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Will Scott sacrifice himself to forestall Kang’s plan leading up to The Kang Dynasty? Or will he survive this encounter and join the next fight? Either way, the MCU is certainly looking to reestablish itself after what some fans called a lackluster fourth phase.