How Kathryn Newton discovered her true powers as an actor in 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'

With "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," the 15-year-old Marvel Cinematic Universe ushers in its fifth phase and 31st film.

The third installment in the "Ant-Man" franchise, "Quantumania" is the first in which actor Kathryn Newton assumes the role of Ant-Man/Scott Lang's daughter Cassie, formerly played by Abby Ryder Fortson in the first two stand-alone "Ant-Man" films and Emma Fuhrmann in "Avengers: Endgame." Now 17, Cassie is an outspoken advocate and quantum mechanics whiz who is beginning to follow in her father's footsteps in more ways than one.

But the way Newton talks about her character calls to mind a certain other bug-themed superhero. "She's using her power for good," said Newton of Cassie, whom she also describes as a "neighborhood hero." "What she doesn't realize [though] is that with great power comes great responsibility."

Expanding on the groundwork laid in the Disney+ series "Loki," the film fleshes out the sprawling multiverse's latest Big Bad, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), a time-traveling entity with immeasurable power (and innumerable variants). Working alongside Majors was like a crash course in acting, Newton says. "He's an incredible actor. He brought out so much in me that I didn't even know was possible."

Rounding out the cast are Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, the elder