- Why 'Ant-Man' Director Edgar Wright Exited Marvel's Superhero Movie

After the abrupt May 23 exit of Edgar Wright, the geek-favorite filmmaker behind Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, from Marvel Studios' long-gestating Ant-Man movie, the studio has insisted the Paul Rudd film will be finished in time to make its July 17, 2015, release date.

But while a source close to the studio says a search for a new director is underway, some observers believe Marvel president Kevin Feige will have a hard time pulling together the risky film in such a short time frame.

The challenges are clear in finding a director who can pick up a project infused with Wright's vision for years. In addition, sources say the film's key crew -- its heads of departments -- departed when it became clear production would not begin as scheduled July 28. Rudd's reps say he's still in, and a source close to the production says all key crew positions will be filled shortly.

Wright, 40, is an irreverent British filmmaker, and sources say Marvel had been unhappy with his take on Ant-Man for weeks. Originally set to begin shooting June 2, the production had been put on hiatus while Feige ordered revisions of the script that was co-written by Wright and Joe Cornish. According to sources, Wright had been willing to make revisions earlier in the process. But the new rewrites took place without Wright's input, and when he received Marvel's new version early during the week of May 19, he walked, prompting a joint statement announcing his exit "due to differences in their visions of the film."

Certainly the kind of story I was expecting to hear.

- 'Ant-Man' Director Contenders Include Adam McKay, Ruben Fleischer

Marvel Studios is moving fast to make good on its promise to keep its July 17, 2015, release date for Ant-Man.

Sources say Rawson Marshall Thurber, Adam McKay and Ruben Fleischer are among a group of directors that are meeting with the studio to replace Edgar Wright, who abruptly exited the long-gestating project last week over creative differences.

The shortlisting of this trio offers a glimpse into the mind-set of Marvel president Kevin Feige as he looks to fill the hole left by Wright, a favorite among the fanboy community. Thurber (We're the Millers, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) and McKay (the Anchorman movies) are known for their bawdy comedies. Fleischer, whose credits include Zombieland and Gangster Squad, has moved deftly between genres with comedic elements. Wright, a Brit with a more quirky sensibility, clashed with Marvel over the tone of the film.

- Adam McKay In ‘Advanced Talks’ To Direct Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’

As reported May 30, Marvel was rumored to have the directing choice for their upcoming movie “Ant-Man” down to a list of three. And now, as broken by Ain’t It Cool News, and confirmed by Variety, your new “Ant-Man” director is Adam McKay.

- Adam McKay Pulls Out of 'Ant-Man' Director Negotiations

Scratch Adam McKay off the list of replacements for Ant-Man helmer Edgar Wright.

Negotiations began with McKay in earnest on Friday but the Anchorman director abruptly decided against taking the job on the film, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The decision is said to be his alone.

A director search had been underway to helm the Marvel superhero tentpole since Wright officially exited the project on May 23. The film is set to star Paul Rudd as the title hero.

Looks like it's gonna be a wild ride just getting there.

- Marvel Confirms Peyton Reed Will Direct "Ant-Man"

Marvel has confirmed on their website that Peyton Reed will direct the "Ant-Man" film, replacing Edgar Wright.

In addition, Marvel announced that Adam McKay ("Anchorman," "The Other Guys") will contribute to the script.

Reed's resume includes the comedies "Yes Man," "Down with Love" and "The Break-Up." He's also directing the adaptation of "The Fifth Beatle," the graphic novel by Vivek Tiwary, Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker.

Seems like a step down, but maybe it's a chance for Reed to step up.

Well...I liked Yes Man. It was almost like a second Liar Liar.

- Exclusive: Scoop tidbits on Avengers 2, Ant-Man, and Star Wars VII!

- Story begins with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) being a thief and single dad who has fallen on hard times and one day breaks into Hank Pym's apartment and steals the Ant-Man suit.

- The main villain's name is Darren Cross who, in the comics, runs Cross Technological Enterprises, a competitor company for Stark Industries and Oscorp. His cousin is the villain known as Crossfire. It's unknown if this role will be played by Patrick Wilson or Corey Stoll. He will have a suit with a similar feel to Ant-man's but more mil[i]tary style, yellow and black in color, and with a tendril-looking apparatus coming off it's back (like with Agent Venom). It's to note that in the comics Cross looks more like a pink Hulk, so there may well be some merging of attributes from other characters for this role or multiple villains at that (Yellowjacket, perhaps?).

- The ANT-MAN suit will be much more elaborate than we've seen so far with the helmet being able to open and close much like Iron Man and an assortment of red lights all over the suit, again in "TRON" fashion. The helmet eyes will also glow red when closed. It's said to be a much more complex and futuristic suit than we've seen so far.

- Ants (the actual insect) are the main ally and superpower for ANT-MAN in the film. Lang will speak to the ants via his helm[e]t, just as in the comics, which is said to be a special element to the overall story.

Can't say I've enjoyed Marvel's tendency to stick with villains so close to their heroes. Maybe they're trying to build to something with it, but I would've liked Ant-Man to generally go its own way. Sounds generally interesting, still. (Distracted by how good Patrick Wilson could be as Hank Pym).

I hope we get a lot of Pym in this movie. I get the whole daughter story is nice and will make people like Scott Lang -blah, blah, blah. I just wanna hear more about Pym

I'd be a lot more interested if it were Patrick Wilson and not Douglas.

Barring an unforseen twist that resolves that (something other than flashbacks), that choice is really gonna irk me.

- EXCLUSIVE: Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Gets New Writers!

Sources tell me that writing duo Gabriel Ferrari and Andrew Barrer have come aboard Marvel's Ant-Man to rewrite the script last revised by Adam McKay.

Now before you go thinking this movie is turning into a trainwreck, Ferrari and Barrer were hired as production writers meaning they will stick around the Atlanta set for the next few months doing production revisions. Hiring new writers during a movie's production is quite a common practice in Hollywood.

More in the article.

- Michael Douglas is Coming to Comic-Con; Disappointed Edgar Wright Left ANT-MAN

Even though Douglas seemed thrilled to be doing his very first large-scale, visual effects-heavy movie, he continued to express disappointment that Wright is no longer part of it.

“Yeah, he’s a wonderful talent. It was very disappointing, yeah. It was a big disappointment and more so for him because he had a lot of years invested and he was really the one initially who got them to even consider it, you know, the screenplay that he wrote. I’m not the producer on it and I’m an actor for hire, and, you know, Marvel certainly has a pretty amazing track record, rightly or wrongly, so I think it just was that kind of combination where although they like the idea of the individual and somebody with Edgar’s individual spirit and everything, maybe just collided with an operation – I think they’re all on relatively decent terms.”

Maybe my bias is always going to lean toward the writer/creative, but I think it's kinda nice for a guy like Douglas - who perhaps has the luxury - to just say it's a shame. A bum situation eventuated. 'Regardless of what we're doing - it's a shame. Life goes on - but it's a shame.' Nice one.

The fact that Michael Douglas is going to SDCC makes me really hopeful for his role in the film. He's a pretty big name actor, or I guess he was, I suppose he's kind of in that "veteran actor" camp now. Regardless, he must get enough screen time and be enthused enough about the role to actually go to Comic-Con

- Ant-Man: Kevin Feige rejects Marvel criticism over Edgar Wright exit

Asked if the creative differences had involved personality issues with the British director, or whether his vision for Ant-Man had felt out-of-sync with Marvel's wider universe of superheroes, Feige said it was a "combination".

"We sat round a table and we realised it was not working," he said. "A part of me wishes we could have figured that out in the eight years we were working on it. But better for us and for Edgar that we figure it out then, and not move it through production.

"We said let's do this together and put out a statement. What do we say? 'Creative differences'. I said: 'That's what they always say and no-one ever believes it.' Edgar said: 'But in this case it's true ... '"

Added Feige: "The Marvel movies are very collaborative, and I think they are more collaborative than what he had been used to. And I totally respect that.

"[But] the notion that Marvel was scared, the vision was too good, too far out for Marvel is not true. And I don't want to talk too much about that because I think our movies speak to that. Go look at Iron Man 3; go look at The Winter Soldier; go see Guardians of the Galaxy later this month. It would have to be really out there to be too out there for us."

Just because there hasn't been enough about this (and nobody could've ever anticipated Marvel's position.).Guffaw.

People are never satisfied. When Edgar Wright was directing people were up in arms that the movies wasn't going to fit in; that it would be a mockery. Now that he's gone it's all about his artistic vision and blah, blah, blah.

I just want a good Ant-Man movie. They could hire Wes Anderson for all I care, as long as it's good.

- Ant-Man Comic-Con poster revealed



Wow! Cool poster!

- Comic-Con: Patrick Wilson the Latest to Leave Marvel's 'Ant-Man'

Patrick Wilson, Matt Gerard and Kevin Weisman will no longer appear in Marvel's Ant-Man.

The project has been in a state of flux after the abrupt exit of director Edgar Wright in May due to creative differences.

A source tells The Hollywood Reporter that the trio of actors, who were attached to Wright's version, will no longer appear in the film. Wilson's exit is due to scheduling conflicts.

- SDCC: Marvel's "Ant-Man" Cast Shrinks by Three

However, the website is quick to point the "creative differences" that led to Wright's split with Marvel had nothing to do with these departures: Gerard and Weisman's characters, which were never announced, were cut from the "newly evolved" script, while Wilson ran into a scheduling conflict caused by a production delay.

The only two confirmed actors, Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas, will appear Saturday during the Marvel panel, where Evangeline Lilly ("Lost," "The Hobbit") is expected to be introduced as part of the cast.

"Ant-Man" opens July 17, 2015.

Still think Patrick Wilson could've made a pretty decent Hank Pym in some version of the traditional sense. Nobody was theorizing he would be the young Pym to Michael Douglas' aged Pym. I dared to dream, though. No longer!

- SDCC 2014: MARVEL STUDIOS Panel ANT-MAN Villain Revealed, THANOS Appears, GotG 2 Release Date [SPOILERS FOR OTHER MOVIES]

The villain is Corey Stoll, being called YELLOWJACKET in the film!

And Evangeline Lilly is playing Hank Pym's DAUGHTER, "Hope Van Dyne."

Pffrrrrtttttt. What ever, dudes. Good luck with that.

My feelings exactly.

Wierd having one of Ant-mans other personas as the villian.

I'm guessing in the MCU Hank was Ant-man for years prior and The Yellow Jacket is one of his personas and the villian steals that costume, which is why he recruits Lang, feeling he himself is too old to become Ant-man again.

I wonder if they choose Lang of Pym because they want to feature the domestic abuse storyline, but feel like the general audience couldnt get behind a hero who did such things and this choose Lang as the main Ant-man.

I had an thought about A young Pym appearing in Agent Carter but Michael Douglas really isnt old enough to make that believable. Unless it time Skips a few decades after the events of The First Avenger.

- Marvel's "Ant-Man" Begins Principal Photography, Announces More Cast

The press release accompanying the announcement also identified a number of other as-yet unannounced cast members including "Archer" and "Arrested Development's" Judy Greer, "The Wire's" Wood Harris and "Mad Men" actor John Slattery, presumably reprising his "Iron Man 2" role as an older Howard Stark. Other cast members include Corey Stoll, Bobby Canavale, Michael Pena, Abby Ryder Fortson, David Dastmalchian, Gregg Turkington (also known as Neil Hamburger) and T.I..

Also included in the press release was the official synopsis of the film, which can be found below.

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), 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.

- Sneak peek: Paul Rudd has his feelers on in 'Ant-Man'



Evangeline Lilly co-stars as Pym's daughter, Hope Van Dyne, and John Slattery signed on to reprise his Iron Man 2 role of Howard Stark, father of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). His appearance hints that Ant-Man will tie into the bigger history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Classic Ant-Man. Wearin a hoodie, hangin out under a bridge. Woo!

I'm hoping Howard Stark means we'll see a young Pym.

- Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Adds Martin Donovan (Exclusive)

Veteran TV actor Martin Donovan, known for his role on Weeds and his numerous collaborations with Hal Hartley, has been added to the cast of Marvel's Ant-Man.

Peyton Reed is directing the Disney and Marvel film, which stars Paul Rudd as the movie’s lead, Scott Lang. The cast also features Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll and John Slattery.

Donovan's role is being kept under wraps, but sources say it is pivotal to the story. The film, scheduled for release on July 17, 2015, centers on con man Scott Lang (Rudd), who has the ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength. He must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas), protect the secret behind his Ant-Man suit from a new generation of world-ruining threats.

- Evangeline Lilly on Edgar Wright's 'Ant-Man' Plans: "It Would Have Stuck Out Like A Sore Thumb"

Calling herself “shocked” by Wright’s departure, she said that the revised version of the Ant-Man script brought the movie closer to other Marvel movies. “I mean, they’ve established a universe, and everyone has come to expect a certain aesthetic [and] a certain feel for Marvel films,” Lilly told Buzzfeed, adding that “what Edgar was creating was much more in the Edgar Wright camp of films. They were very different.”

Although she believes that Wright’s vision “would have been, like, classic comic book — it would have been such a riot to film [and] it would have been so much fun to watch,” she said that it “wouldn’t have fit in the Marvel Universe. It would have stuck out like a sore thumb, no matter how good it was. It just would have taken you away from this cohesive universe they’re trying to create.”

Lilly also revealed something new about her character in the movie, Hope Van Dyne. “What’s cool is that, you know, Janet Van Dyne is my mom. Hank Pym is my father. I was raised by two superheroes,” she explained in a statement that might confirm the worst fears of those behind the #JanetVanCrime hashtag that protested the sidelining of one of Marvel’s earliest superheroines earlier this year. If we see a Wasp in the movie, it apparently won’t be the one fans are familiar with.

Seems like a real shame. It wasn't too long ago you'd think of Marvel as thriving with those kinds of variations in the formula - the "House of Ideas". A droll turn that kinda encapsulates where we are now. Might not be fair to write it off yet, but it's harder to be enthusiastic.

- First ANT-MAN Trailer Gets Official Runtime and Rating; When Will We See It?

The Peyton Reed-directed film is still about seven months away, but it looks like it’ll add to the growing list of summer blockbuster trailers any day now because the Alberta Film Classification Board just gave the very first Ant-Man trailer a one minute and 48-second running time and a PG rating.

The only film Disney has coming out in January is Strange Magic, but that one’s a whole month away and also doesn’t really seem like the right fit, so I’m betting this Ant-Man teaser drops during the series premiere of Agent Carter on January 6th.

More info and informed speculation in the article. Check it out.

- "Ant-Man" Promo Art Reveals Yellowjacket Armor



Again - more info the article. Take a look.

- 1st Ant-Sized Look at Ant-Man - Marvel's Ant-Man Teaser Preview [YouTube]

Great way to run an early preview! Amateur enlarged version. Not a lot to go on, but a cool talking point.

I really like the new Yellow Jacket armor. I hope it's something the comics adapt later on.