Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is set to break a record for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, much to the inevitable dismay of some Marvel fans. Last month, Marvel Studios announced that the third installment of the Ant-Man franchise was to receive an early digital and physical release, which outlined a lengthy window for the film’s eventual premiere on Disney Plus. Now, it has been confirmed (via The Direct) that the Ant-Man threequel will arrive on the streaming service on May 17 — a date which might disappoint some Marvel fans.
Arriving on Disney Plus 89 days after its cinematic release on February 17, Quantumania breaks the MCU record for the longest theatrical-to-streaming release window for a Marvel title since the launch of Disney Plus in 2019. The 89-day period supersedes the previous record holder of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever by about a week, with that movie arriving on the streaming service 82 days after its theatrical release.
That a divisive Marvel entry like Qunatamania usurped a largely beloved film like Wakanda Forever is sure to ruffle a few feathers, but the record also sets a precedent for streaming windows of future Marvel movies. According to The Direct, many of the films within the later stages of Marvel’s Phase 4 and early stages of Phase Five have arrived on Disney Plus well past the mandated period of 45 days since theatrical release.
This could spell a pattern for upcoming and new Marvel movies like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels, which could premiere on streaming many months after they appear in cinemas. As previously reported, the imminent Disney Plus premiere of Quantamania could signal either a renewed popularity for the film, or reinforce why audiences found it so lacklustre to begin with.
In any case, the unfolding scandal involving Jonothan Majors — the actor who portrayed the MCU’s post-Thanos big bad in Quantamania — is doing little to revive hope for the film’s Disney Plus debut.