We don't need Ant-Man 4, but we deserve to see these 5 characters back in the MCU

Before Avengers: Endgame premiered, audiences knew most MCU projects were guaranteed to be a fun time even in the worst-case scenario. Perhaps not every movie in the interconnected universe of heroes was mind-blowing, but they were all worth the watch. However, that has changed in recent years. Marvel is now on the ropes after increasing the amount of content released while simultaneously decreasing its quality. Fans noticed this and decided to be more cautious when buying movie tickets for the next MCU movie.

What was once a gold mine for Disney is now seen as a financial risk, and this provoked unfortunate side effects. Insider Daniel Richtman recently reported three sequels to beloved superhero franchises are no longer in the works. Captain Marvel 3, Eternals 2, and - more shockingly - Ant-Man 4 appear to be canceled at Marvel since they were likely to be a flop.

Now the fate of popular heroes such as Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne is left hanging in the air. There's a high chance that their stories won't continue in a follow-up to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. However, that doesn't mean they can't appear in future MCU crossovers alongside their beloved sidekicks and supporting cast. So with that in mind, here's every Ant-Man character we want to see in future Marvel projects, even if a fourth movie in Scott Lang's franchise is no longer in the works.

1. Scott Lang

Okay, okay. I know this one is kind of a no-brainer, but it also needs to be said. If Ant-Man 4 never sees the light of day, we need its titular hero to appear in other projects such as Avengers: Secret Wars or Avengers 5 (formerly called The Kang Dynasty). Let's face it: Marvel can't just outcast one of its most popular characters because of one bad movie. If that were the case, then Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Thor would've had their stories cut short a long time ago.

Maybe there isn't a need for Scott Lang to have another stand-alone adventure within the MCU. But just because Quantumania didn't meet expectations, it doesn't mean that audiences wouldn't jump out of their seats in excitement if they saw Ant-Man on the big screen once again. After all, he's more beloved than most other Marvel heroes by a long shot. His charm and positive attitude make him a standout among literal gods and aliens.

We want to see more of Scott. He can't just become as small as an atom out of the camera and disappear forever. At the very least, he deserves a proper send-off; one that puts another hero in a spot to follow his legacy.

2. Cassandra Lang

Time goes by so fast it's hard to believe the MCU is almost sixteen years old (at the time of writing this). Back in 2008, it was impossible to foresee how much the interconnected universe of heroes would grow over the years. Actors who were hired to portray a character for a few movies got their contracts extended over and over again as new movies were added to the slate. However, there's no denying those actors can't go on playing the same roles forever. As a result, Marvel is in a position where they are now passing the torch to a new generation of heroes meant to take over the last. And wouldn't you know it, but that's where Cassandra Lang comes in.

Cassie has been a prominent figure ever since the first Ant-Man movie but it wasn't until 2023's Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania that she got to wear the size-altering costume and save the day alongside her family. It would be a shame if Marvel set her up as a key figure moving forward only to use her character in that one bad film. Fortunately, it seems that won't be the case.

The Marvel's ending revealed Kamala Khan is recruiting a group of Young Avengers with Kate Bishop set to be one of the members. It wouldn't be surprising in the slightest if Cassie joins this roster of superpowered beings to fight for a good cause. And who knows? Maybe she could star in her own stand-alone movie as audiences get to know her more over time.

3. Hope Van Dyne

Evangeline Lilly's Hope Pym is no stranger to big MCU crossovers. It can be said she even became a member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes during the events of Avengers: Endgame. So if we've seen her share the spotlight alongside other key Marvel characters once, then why stop there?

Hope Pym has been an important member of the Ant-Man family ever since the events of Ant-Man 1 back in 2015. We've seen her grow from wanting her father's approval to wearing The Wasp costume and fighting alongside Captain Marvel and Wanda Maximoff. She's smart, strong, and one of Scott Lang's greatest allies. Together, they are like two faces of the same coin, meaning we can't have one without the other. So if Ant-Man returns in any future MCU project (which chances are he will) then The Wasp should be there with him as well. After all, the Ant-Man franchise does not belong only to Scott anymore. Hence why the "Ant-Man and The Wasp" tag is on the title of their latest two films.

There's a reason why Marvel decided to go all in with Quantumania and introduce Kang as the big bad of that movie. They know Hope and Scott are popular characters loved by audiences worldwide. If the two of them appear in any other project with a better script, then we'll be there seated in the movie theater on day one without a doubt.

4. Hank Pym

Hank Pym is now in a pretty interesting position in the MCU. When we first got to know him, his character had two main problems that needed to be solved. The first of them was finding a successor to wear the size-altering costume and take his place as a superhero. And not only did Scott Lang was up for the task, but her daughter Hope and granddaughter Cassie also filled that role perfectly as well. Counting Hank in, there have been three generations of heroes defending the world from the unknown by modifying the space between their atoms. With this in mind, it can be said that Hank's first major conflict in the MCU has already been resolved.

As for the second problem; Hank was searching for her long-missing wife Janet Van Dyne after she got lost in the Quantum Realm. Fortunately, the pair was reunited again after the events of Ant-Man and The Wasp and even joined forces to defeat Kang in Quantumania. So now that both of his main conflicts in the MCU have been solved, we need to ask ourselves: Is it really necessary for him to appear in another movie?

The answer may very well be a "no". But the fact that his arc has been completed doesn't mean we've seen a proper resolution for the original Ant-Man yet. If anything, he still deserves a proper send-off. While we'd love to see Scott, Cassie, and Hope appear in the most MCU projects they can, maybe Hank just needs one more go. One final ride for audiences to say goodbye to his character once and for all. After all, he's one of the oldest heroes to ever appear in the MCU (chronologically) besides Captain Marvel, Captain America, and The Eternals. Additionally, he's too important of a member of the Ant-Man family to just disappear out of camera.

Come on, Marvel, you know we need to see Hank one more time in the MCU.

5. Ghost

Out of all the characters we've talked about so far, Ghost may well be the very least popular and beloved. Let's face it: she joined the list of forgettable MCU villains that we saw once and never thought of again (looking at you as well, Whiplash). However, that doesn't mean that's how her story needs to end.

At this point, it's very well known that Ava Starr - better known as Ghost - will make a comeback in Marvel's Thunderbolts. So now it's the perfect time for her to surprise us in the best way possible. After all, she already has an interesting back story that could be exploited more than it has. Trying to do everything you can to put an end to the superpowers that are torturing you? That sounds like an arc worthy of Hulk himself. Unfortunately, Ant-Man and The Wasp failed to execute this idea to perfection. But that doesn't mean that arc can't take over in Thunderbolts.

There's a reason why Marvel wants Ghost back alongside heavy-hitter names such as Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes. They see the potential in her to become a great character that could take over our hearts. Even if Marvel's track record has been shaky lately, we still have faith in them to make unknown characters and misfits complete standouts just like they did with the Guardians of the Galaxy. With a good script and a solid amount of screen time, Ghost has every right to become one of the most memorable villains in MCU history.