If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the past few weeks you’re probably aware of a very specific Avengers: Endgame “theory” that’s been floating around about Ant-Man’s role in the upcoming movie. The meme posits that Paul Rudd’s character could defeat Thanos by shrinking down, jumping into the Mad Titan’s butt, expanding, and … well … you get where this is going. However, a new Avengers: Endgame theory from none other than Jimmy Kimmel takes this popular joke and turns it into something that could actually happen.
Until now, this Avengers: Endgame joke has mostly been relegated to the Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube (we regret to inform you that there’s a fan-made music video), but on Monday night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, it officially crossed over into the mainstream conversation. During an interview with Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johanson, Chris Hemsworth, and Paul Rudd, Kimmel brought up the so-called “Thanus Theory,” but not before offering his own take on how it could work.
Here’s Kimmel’s full quote:
“Last night, in my haze as I was drifting in and out of sleep, I thought, what if Ant-Man just shrunk down to a microscopic size and went and went into the veins of Thanos and then messed up Thanos’ brain. And then today, I read that there is actually a theory that Ant-Man will shrink down and go into Thanos’ butt. Seems less effective.”
In response, Paul Rudd simply said: “Look these lips are sealed. Seems similar to your dream, one slight difference.”
If you’re disappointed by that response, you’ll be pleased to know that Rudd has commented on this same theory in the past. In a press interview tied to Ant-Man and the Wasp he was asked to read the original tweet and respond. Here’s what he said:
“I don’t know. I don’t know … I almost think it’s a question for Thanos, because if there’s one thing we learned from Infinity War it’s that Thanos can take a lot of punishment, and so, you know, now my mind is racing … it’s an interesting tweet, and well, who knows. I don’t even think that made it into any of the drafts.”
Look, we seriously doubt that Ant-Man is going to crawl up Thanos’ butt in Avengers: Endgame, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that his ability to shrink could come into play during the final fight. In Civil War, Scott Lang shrunk down so he could get inside Iron Man’s suit and cause mayhem, so why not do something similar to Thanos? Even if he doesn’t actually enter the Mad Titan’s blood stream, Scott still could shrink down and cause trouble inside the Infinity Gauntlet, right?
Then again, when it comes to Ant-Man’s role in Avengers: Endgame, the hero’s knowledge of the Quantum Realm is expected to play a much bigger role than his size-related powers. Ant-Man could be the key to how the Avengers will travel back in time, presumably to collect the Infinity Stones before Thanos can ever use them to wipe out half the universe.
In that scenario, he won’t have to shrink down to go inside Thanos at all.
Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26, 2019.
