Did Paul Rudd Just Make That Ant-Man And Thanos Meme MCU Canon?
Who doesn't love Paul Rudd, the beloved actor who broke big in the teen rom-com "Clueless," moved on to cringe-comedy films like "Knocked Up" and "Role Models," and eventually became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man? Talk about your four-quadrant entertainers. And his always amusing segments on talk shows (e.g, that running "Mac and Me" gag with Conan O'Brien) and YouTube series make him a favorite of many. Now he's struck again in a seemingly official video from Disney that makes some fans think a much-talked-about meme is an actual part of MCU canon.
Almost a year before 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War" came out, according to Know Your Meme, some Redditors put forward a theory that Ant-Man could defeat Thanos — the horrible Big Bad who turns half the world's population into dust — simply by shrinking down to ant-size, entering Thanos' body, and expanding to his full size, thus destroying him in the process. Many conversations erupted around whether that was actually possible, and many a hilarious meme was shared. Some fans used the theory to explain why Scott Lang isn't in "Infinity War." They even got Paul Rudd, Josh Brolin, and directors Anthony and Joe Russo on board the Thanus Theory, per Vox.
Well, fans are now rejoicing, because Disney itself has employed Rudd in an official reference to the theory, perhaps adding it to MCU canon.
Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly address the meme in an official Disney video
Cruise ship Disney Wish features a show called "Avengers: Quantum Encounter" that has some fans excited that the Thanus Theory has become canon because it stars Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, aka the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly). In the video, shared on Instagram by Marvel Cinematic Universe News, Scott chooses to tackle the theory head-on. "I've heard a lot of chatter out there asking why I didn't shrink down, go in, and uh ... kill Thanos in a really creative way," Scott says, couching the explanation in family-friendly language. "First of all, gross. Secondly, it's much more complicated than that. Allow me to explain." Hope then cuts him off, saying, "If only we had the time."
But don't get too excited, fans. As awesome as it is to see Ant-Man and the Wasp together again before they reunite for 2023's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," Disney has already declared, per ComicBook.com, that events that happen in its live adventures happen in the real world and thus are not canon. Sorry to burst your bubble. Still, it's fun to dream.