Exclusive: William Jackson Harper on playing Quaz in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Currently in theaters is the latest film from Marvel Studios, Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the third installment in the franchise and helmed again by Peyton Reed. The film stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang and Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne alongside Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, David Dastmalchian as Veb, Katy O'Brian as Jentorra, William Jackson Harper as Quaz and Bill Murray as Lord Krylar.
Super Heroes Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and The Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the first film of Phase Five of the MCU. Besides the Ant-Man films, Reed also directed two episodes from the second season of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, part of the Star Wars franchise.
For Harper, who plays a alien member of freedom fighters in the Quantum Realm named Quaz in the film, this is his first entry in the MCU world. Most recently seen with Cristin Milioti in Peacock’s comedy thriller The Resort, Harper is best known for starring as Chidi Anagonye in NBC’s comedy series The Good Place. The series role earned him an Emmy nomination for supporting comedy actor. His TV and film credits include a lead role in the second season of HBO’s Love Life and a supporting role in Barry Jenkins’ TV series The Underground Railroad.
Blackfilmandtv.com caught up with Harper as he spoke about his experience on the third Ant-Man film.
What led you to say yes to taking this particular project?
William Jackson Harper: Well, they asked. I love these movies. I've watched them all repeatedly, I get a big kick out of it. And these are all characters that I've known about since childhood. I've had action figures of a lot of these characters. So for me, it was a no brainer. I really just wanted to be a part of it in any way that I could. I just wanted to see how these things are made. Because I think they're done really well, especially in comparison to the versions that were around when I was a little kid, which were like the 1970s versions of all these movies. They were they were they were tough to watch. We just didn't have the capabilities that we do now to render these things in a way that looks and feels like the comics.
How much of a deep dive did you do for the role? Did you have to go back to watch the first two films? Or at least or rewatch them? Did they send you a set of comic books?
William Jackson Harper: Oh, I actually I took the opportunity once I got this job to watch everything since the first Iron Man in order of release to get that whole story. So I watched every single one of those movies again, which I had ordered. I'd seen all of them at least twice that point. But I but I just went back and watched every single one of those movies again.
Can you talk about the process of doing this film? When you do a film like this, with a big budget, you're dealing with CGI and costumes.
William Jackson Harper: Honestly, a lot of it was there. We were in a soundstage covered in dirt with these huge structures built inside. And it's this entire camp that was on a soundstage and came Kang's base was an entire base on a soundstage. There's parts of it that are rendered later. But for the most part, a lot of that stuff is there. I get to interact with it in real time, which I think is easier than just talking to a tennis ball. I wonder if that would that would provide a difference.
You've worked with ensembles before, whether it be on film or TV, but what this one this is an ensemble that has been together for at least two films. What was it like coming in and joining the cast who have been with each other for the last five, six years now?
William Jackson Harper: It was fine. Everybody was really nice. and really laid back and fun and chill and easy. I been a fan of their movies. I honestly just tried not to be starstruck. That was sort of the biggest hurdle for me. But everyone was so so kind. But the biggest challenge honestly on any project that I'm in is I'm a fan of a lot of people that I'm getting to work with now and trying to just chill and be normal and settle down and do my job. It takes a second for me to drop in. But if the folks are cool like they were on this one, then it's actually a hell of a lot easier to do that.
What goes into saying yes to the projects you take? Is it the role? Is it the script? Or is it the timeframe of when you can do it?
William Jackson Harper: It's a little bit of all of that. I feel like the role is number one. I try not to repeat stuff too much. I try to mix it up as best I can. If the story is interesting, if it's saying something that I'm either really excited that, well, maybe. It's more about the questions than the things I’m asking. That weighs a lot into what I what I decide to do. And also, the availability. Does it fit? Can I do it? Am I available? I don't want to ever be in a position where I'm breaking my word or dishonoring a process by leaving it too early, or splitting my focus too much. I want to just work on the thing that I'm working on and then move to the next thing if it's if it's there. So, yeah, that's it, but I think the role is number one, the story next and then the schedule. That dictates everything. The schedule really dictates what I can even think about.