Lessons Leaders Can Learn From Why Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Isn’t “Landing” (Minor Spoilers)

I’m a HUGE nerd and have LOVED watching Marvel films since the 2000 X-Men movie (Non-MCU).

I grew up watching these films! The characters, the heroism, the lessons! When the MCU came along, I was a major fanboy.

However, recent MCU movies, including Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, haven’t left the same impact as their predecessors.

While there were good parts, the movie didn’t align with the values and vision that made Ant-Man films such a success.

From a Leadership Perspective, there is much to learn.

Who is “The Little Guy”?

One of the big concepts of the film was sticking up for “The Little Guy”.

From an Ant-Man perspective, it makes sense. Ant-Man has always been the Little Guy among Giants and Gods! The movies focus on “Little Guy” problems with “Little Guy Stakes”.

However, Quantumania was different.

Sure, they were literally “small”, but the characters and stakes weren’t.

The entire “Quantum” realm felt huge. The villain was a GIGANTIC threat. The movie was a rebellion against all odds rather than a fight for “The Little Guy”.

This gets to the Leadership Lesson and problem with the film.

It doesn’t align with the Vision and Values that made Ant-Man successful.

In the first movie, Ant-Man’s goal is to provide for his daughter, and Hank Pym is protecting his daughter. In the second movie, Hank wants to find his long-lost wife, Scott wants to be a good father, and the villain was created from an unresolved accident from Hank’s past. Everything is about the “little people”.

Quantumania however is a civil war, started by a major mistake that was created from a desire to avoid the problem.

The “smallest” people in the film were freedom fighters… or maybe MODOK… or maybe Cassie…

None of them are “little guys”. The freedom fighters are overthrowing a dictator. MODOK was wronged and lost, but not a “little guy”. Cassie is a rebel-without-a-cause figure whose goal is to “do what’s right”.

These are a disconnect from what made Ant-Man movies popular.

Stick to the Values that Made You Successful

Here’s the takeaway for all Leaders.

➼ Understand and stick to your Values

➼ They will help you stay true to your Goals

➼ They allow you to Connect with your Team and Customers

When you lose those values, you lose the most important connections.