Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania seems to be the start of MCU’s multiverse saga following in the footsteps of Rick and Morty. But after experiencing the threequel penned by Jeff Loveness, Many Marvel fans are concerned over the acclaimed Adult Swim series writers’ involvement in Phase 5’s storytelling and their responsibility over Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
Not even Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) or the VFX-heavy Quantum Realm sequences were enough to save Ant-man 3 from being shredded by critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The third installment has a 48% RT score as of this writing and is the second worst-rated MCU film after Eternals. In fact, It is a point away from taking the first spot from Chloé Zhao‘s Marvel feature. So what makes Quantumania a mess? According to fans, the Rick and Morty-fication of Ant-Man 3’s multiverse plot is a cause for concern.
Aside from finding success through Rick and Morty, the show’s writers are yet to find praise for their writings in MCU projects. Starting with Michael Waldron, who scribed the Loki series. While the Tom Hiddleston starrer show is among the few acclaimed Marvel Disney Plus shows, season 1’s story has only raised more puzzling queries related to the multiverse build-up through TVA rather than offering answers.
Waldron also penned Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness but even with its fan-service moments – the sequel was seen as another mediocre entry in the MCU. Similarly, Rick and Morty co-writer Jessica Gao served as the head writer for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which divided fans for its whacky adaptation of a legal drama. Now, Jeff Loveness has also fallen in the same category with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and his involvement as the writer for Avengers: Kang Dynasty has not sat well with fans. Readers can check it out in the reactions below.
PLEASE STOP HIRING RICK AND MORTY WRITERS @Kevfeige pic.twitter.com/volb2XLcYC
— َ (@WandasAttorney) February 14, 2023
Ok marvel really needs to stop hiring these rick and morty writers like this isnt even bad funny…pic.twitter.com/7hBU60eG9g
— ali ᗢ (@wandaslittleali) February 16, 2023
It sucks seeing Jeff Loveness being brought down to just "Rick and Morty writer" when he's written far more comics. pic.twitter.com/TxlVDNH5UN
— Bozzman (@B0zzman_) February 16, 2023
reminder that the quantumania writer is currently writing the kang dynasty and michael waldron is writing secret wars… pic.twitter.com/RtoYFXwBOd
— A | (@OFFTHATTABLE) February 14, 2023
yeah that's a bad sign. whole movie is written like a rick and morty episode. he's a talented sci-fi comedy writer but his script struggles in making the characters distinct or taking anything seriously. https://t.co/7M42t077Lx
— jeremy #ToLeslieSweep (@jeremylovesyall) February 17, 2023
Marvel needs to stop hiring Rick and Morty writers, cause this is not working out pic.twitter.com/iD4DdpmgJy
— Jak #JohnWick4 era (@Jak70760853) February 14, 2023
Let it be known that Rick and Morty cause the MCU's downfall https://t.co/Xec7RePHiE
— That One Weird Wolf Dude (@FrankSuarez91) February 14, 2023
After Multiverse of Madness, She Hulk and now the reaction to Quantumania, they need to fire these Rick and Morty writers asap.
— 🌍 (@GIobe_97) February 16, 2023
BRO THE MAN WHO WROTE QUANTUMANIA IS WRITING AVENGERS: KANG DYNASTY pic.twitter.com/ad2KylYlR9
— Keizi Cinema 🐜🍿 (@KeiziTV) February 17, 2023
Been saying since the first trailer dropped. Using the volume technology was a bad idea and after watching the film I can clearly say the MCU isn't rectifying its mistakes. VFX is getting worse so is the storytelling. Feige needs to fire those Rick and Morty writers immediately.
— Adarsh Mishra (@TheJamesGunnDCU) February 16, 2023
Jeff Loveness literally recycled jokes from Rick and Morty and put them in #AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania I know he was a writer for the show, but this just pathetic. Like come up with new jokes.
— Blinded/Jordan (@BlindedBraille) February 17, 2023
Quantumania is the Rick and Mortyfication of the MCU
— Tommy Stella (@tommy_stella) February 17, 2023
They hired two writers from Rick and Morty to form the multiverse arc.
It makes sense that the quality has dropped. What works for Rick and Morty doesn't work for the MCU
— Hardwired07 (@Hardwired07) February 16, 2023
Marvel needs to get rid of these Rick and Morty writers and they need to get rid of them fast. #AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania certainly has great aspects to it, but in the overall scope of things I would say there were more negatives than positives. pic.twitter.com/SVQa7xuyFN
— Brandon Siedlik (@BrandonSiedlik) February 17, 2023
bestie half the writers from rick and morty have written the last few movies and tv shows we’ve already been full rick and mortyfied
— klaudia amenábar (@kaludiasays) February 17, 2023
Kevin Feige doesn’t know what he’s doing, who the fuck is letting these awful Rick and Morty writers be in charge of AVENGERS MOVIES https://t.co/Fh4IvklQ6j
— a. (@KorraLarson) February 15, 2023
Say what you want about Grace but she said what we were all thinking…FIRE THE RICK AND MORTY WRITERS @Kevfeige pic.twitter.com/2JjPPPkElM
— َ (@WandasAttorney) February 15, 2023
Marvel keeps hiring Rick and Morty writers and it keeps blowing up in their face
— _hazzaaa_ (@eviljesus123) February 14, 2023
I will say Marvel Studios might need to pump the breaks on hiring Rick and Morty writers #AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania
— Bryant (@BryantkJohnson) February 16, 2023
Who the fuck showed Kevin Feige Rick and Morty?????
— The Den of Nerds (@TheDenofNerds) February 16, 2023
Just saw the first showing of #AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania 7/10. Imagine Rick and Morty making a movie and there you go. #Kang was amazing, #Modok uh… Yeah. Will talk more on the next episode of @ComicBookSaga. #Marvel took a swing for a homerun and ended up with a single🫤
— Andre' Dawson MCU (@TheHawkDawson) February 17, 2023
MCU’ifed Rick and morty humor oh man this might be bad https://t.co/yfO9fKIJqa
— DJ CR: one piece, JJK, SD, hunter hunter (@Prod1gy199) February 17, 2023
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has already expressed his desire for quality shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, promising that “people will see that as we get further into Phase 5 and 6,” said Feige speaking to EW. The MCU chief hinted at slowing down the release window for upcoming Disney Plus shows to prioritize each series’ success. But it’s unclear if it could also lead to replacing creatives for forthcoming projects.
It should be noted that Marvel has a track record of facing setbacks early on as it did with the Blade reboot which reportedly had Mahershala Ali frustrated due to a lackluster 90-page script. Fortunately, Marvel Studios quickly found a replacement in Michael Starrbury, who is handling the scripting duties and a new director in Yann Demange.
It remains to be seen if the backlash surrounding Rick and Morty’s writers handling the MCU could also lead to changes in the creatives penning Avengers: Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently out in theaters.
