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After the super-sized spectacle of Avengers: Infinity War, which left many of our heroes in the Marvel Universe in dire straits, Marvel Studios has shifted its focus back to its smallest hero franchise - Ant-Man .

This time, however, he is not alone.

Paul Rudd's hero will be joined by his leading lady from the first film, Evangeline Lilly's Hope van Dyne, but now in full superheroine mode as the Wasp.

The film is already released in US cinemas, leading many to wonder just when exactly UK fans will be able to see the super duo in action.

No fear, the Mirror Online has all you need to know and will avoid major spoilers for the film...

When is the film's UK release date?

Ant-Man and the Wasp will be released in the UK on August 3, 2018. This is one month after the US release on July 6. This was done in order to avoid competition with the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but does mean that full spoilers for the film are already online.

Who is directing?

Peyton Reed is back in the directing chair this time around and is working on the film from the get-go, unlike the previous film where he took over from Edgar Wright after creative differences saw him leave the project.

The Cast

Paul Rudd as Ant-Man/Scott Lang

Rudd is back as the size=shifting hero and ex-con. Scott is under house arrest after his behaviour in Captain America: Civil War, but Hope and Pym will find a way to get his help in their quest to rescue Janet from the Quantum Realm.

Evangeline Lilly as Wasp/Hope van Dyne

(Image: MARVEL STUDIOS)

Now finally a superhero herself, Hope is on a quest to find her long-lost mother Janet and she'll need to team up with Scott to find her - despite some anger at his imprisonment and its impact on their crime-fighting and relationship.

It's great to see Lost star Lilly kicking some butt this time around.

Michael Pena as Luis

(Image: Marvel)

Lang's old cellmate and member of the X-Con Security team is back to help his friend when he needs it.

Walton Goggins as Sonny Burch

The Tomb Raider villain is an antagonist once more as a shady black market dealer.

Bobby Cannavale as Jim Paxton

(Image: Marvel)

The Emmy award-winner returns as the police officer and new husband of Scott's ex-wife.

Judy Greer as Maggie Paxton

Scott's ex-wife is back to deal with the awkwardness of having a superhero to co-parent with.

Tip "T.I." Harris as Dave

(Image: Marvel)

The rapper returns to his role as another member of Lang's X-Con crew.

David Dastmalchian as Kurt

The Twin Peaks star rounds out the rest of the X-Con Crew from the first film.

Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost/Ava Starr

(Image: Marvel)

The Black Mirror and Ready Player One star plays the film's antagonist, whose mysterious motives clash with Lang and van Dyne's.

The character is typically a male in the comics but was gender-swapped here to allow more room for creativity.

Abby Ryder Forston as Cassie Lang

(Image: Marvel)

Lang's cute daughter continues to show much love for her father.

Will Cassie eventually be a superhero like in the comics?

Randall Park as Jimmy Woo

Park, who will also star in DC's Aquaman film later this year, plays the FBI agent tasked with keeping Lang under house arrest.

In the comics, Woo eventually becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne

(Image: Marvel)

The iconic actress, who took much wooing for the part, plays Pym's wife and Hope's mother, Janet van Dyne, who was the original Wasp that was lost in the Quantum Realm way back in 1987. Their attempts to find Janet drive the plot of the film.

In the comics, Janet is the primary Wasp character and an Avengers co-founder, meaning this film debut is much anticipated.

Laurence Fishbure as Dr. Bill Foster

(Image: Marvel)

The Matrix star plays Pym's old friend and assistant on Project Goliath - the ability to increase a person's size and strength. In the comics, Foster was the superhero known as Goliath.

Fishburne is another actor to cross the DC/Marvel barrier, also portraying Clark Kent's editor Perry White in the DC Expanded Universe films.

Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym

(Image: Marvel)

Douglas returns as the original Ant-Man and Hope's scientist father and is more focused than ever on being reunited with his wife, Janet.

Plot

At this stage we know the entire plot as the film has been released in the US. However, here's a nice short premise to tease what's in store for UK fans...

Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang is under house-arrest. However, Hope van Dyne and father Hank Pym need his help to rescue her mother, Janet, from the miniaturised Quantum Realm, and so will be looking to break him out. Once Ant-Man and the Wasp are back in business, however, they find their mission in direct conflict with the mysterious villainess known as Ghost.

How does this tie into Infinity War?

The film is set after the events of Captain America: Civil War but before the events of Avengers: Infinity War, meaning the fallout of Thanos' behaviour isn't felt in the film's main plot.

However, a mid-credits scene brings the film up to date with Infinity War and leaves our heroes in an interesting place for the much anticipated Avengers 4.

What are critics saying?

The response to the film has been positive, but lukewarm in some quarters.

Variety said it was "faster, funnier, and more cunningly confident than the original" and wrote, and felt Reed was able to give the film enough personality to overcome its two-hour runtime and effects-heavy climax."

The New York Times said it was "fast, bright and breezy" and an improvement on the first film, with particular praise for Lilly's Wasp.

RogerEbert.com was less enthusiastic, describing it as "good enough" and was "messy" despite being "satisfying".

The film currently holds 87% on Rotten Tomatoes , based on 164 reviews.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is released in the UK on August 3 2018.

Will you be finding out what is in store for our miniature heroes? Let us know in the comments below.