ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA Concept Art Reveals A MUCH Better Design For M.O.D.O.K.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania didn’t exactly land the way Marvel hoped, and one of the loudest talking points was the movie’s take on M.O.D.O.K.
While some fans embraced the weirdness, many felt the cinematic version of the classic villain missed the mark. Now we’re getting a look at what might have been, thanks to early concept art that showcases a more interesting and intimidating design.
Concept artist Constantine Sekeris shared a batch of early M.O.D.O.K. explorations from his time working in Marvel Studios’ Visual Development team.
His message gives us a window into the creative process behind the scenes, and it’s clear he had a blast trying to bring this bizarre Marvel villain to life. He posted:
“Hello,Family and FriendsIm@posting today some very early design exploration on Modok from Antman and the Wasp Quantumania…..I was working at Marvel studios at that time in Vis Dev …..Andy Park lead this project and he very kind to bring on board his very talented team……
“Andy allowed me to do some early exploration designs on Modok and what a fun character to bring to life……u can see in these renders showing him with his weapons out in attack mode and also retracted back into his body ….everyone on board did stunning design work on him …..
“The talented @anthonyfrancisco ended up with final design in the film….always a pleasure to work on such amazing projects and humbled by all the great work by the team….they all push me to do better in so many ways and I’m grateful for the opportunity…:)…….kindly thanks”
The images he revealed show a version of M.O.D.O.K. that leans more into the mechanical creepiness of the character without losing the absurdity that makes him fun. Even in still form, this alternate design feels more menacing and less goofy than what ended up on screen.
In Quantumania, Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd, and the rest of the Ant-Family meet the so called Mental Organism Designed Only For Killing, which the characters jokingly rename “that’s really M.O.D.O.F.K.” once they reach the Quantum Realm.
It isn’t long before he unmasks and reveals himself as Darren Cross, the villain from the first Ant Man, complete with Corey Stoll’s enlarged CG face attached to tiny limbs.
Kang discovered Cross floating in the Quantum Realm after his defeat, outfits him with his advanced tech, and turns him into a loyal enforcer. Eventually, Cassie, played by Kathryn Newton, tells him to stop being a dick. He listens, chooses to switch sides, and dies helping save the day.
Adapting M.O.D.O.K. for live action was always going to be a challenge. He’s intentionally ridiculous in the comics, and any version of him was bound to stir debate. Still, many viewers felt the final design in Quantumania pushed things a little too far into cartoon territory.
Sekeris’ early renderings make it easy to imagine a take that kept the humor but added a more threatening presence.
Quantumania arrived during a tough period for Marvel Studios. The next movie to follow, The Marvels, became the lowest performing film in MCU history at the box office. Soon after, the studio announced its plan to slow down and focus on quality instead of releasing a constant stream of films and Disney Plus shows.
This concept art serves as another reminder that even during a rocky era, Marvel creatives were still experimenting with exciting ideas behind the scenes. And in this case, fans are pretty united that the unused M.O.D.O.K. design might have been the stronger choice.