Although the character was previously glimpsed on a promotional banner released late last year, EW today provides us with the first photographic look at Ant-Man‘s foe Yellowjacket! Click on the image above for an expanded look.
In the film, the man under the Yellowjacket suit is Corey Stoll’s Darren Cross. In the comics, Yellowjacket was initially an alternate superhero identity for Hank Pym, the costume having made its first appearance in “The Avengers” #59. Because of the severe mental stress he was under, Yellowjacket actually manifested itself as the darker side of Pym, leading to the character’s infamous turn to spousal abuse. Later on, a criminal named Rita DeMara stole the suit and became at first a supervillain and, later on, a sort of antihero, eventually traveling to the 30th century and teaming up with a very different Guardians of the Galaxy team.
“Hank Pym’s Ant-Man suit doesn’t have a single weapon,” director Peyton Reed tells EW, “whereas Yellowjacket is armed with plasma cannons.”
Ant-Man follows con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) who, armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Also starring Evangeline Lilly, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Abby Ryder Fortson, Judy Greer, David Dastmalchian, Wood Harris, John Slattery, Gregg Turkington and T.I., Ant-Man hits theaters on July 17, 2015.