Last night Marvel Studios debuted the first trailer for Ant-Man [watch it here] – Marvel’s second movie of 2014, and one that’s been in development since before the launch of the Cinematic Universe.
Back in 2003, British filmmaker Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) and writing partner Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) wrote a treatment for the miniature hero and original Avenger, and in 2006 the duo were hired by Marvel Studios to develop the project as part of the MCU’s initial slate of films. After working on several drafts of the script, Wright finally started moving towards pre-production late in 2013, before the shock news came last May that the director had parted ways with Marvel due to creative differences.
Following the appointment of Peyton Reed (Down with Love) as Wright’s successor, Adam McKay (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy) was brought in to contribute to the script with star Paul Rudd. Well, it appears those contributions were enough to constitute full writing credit for the duo, with the official press release from the trailer listing McKay and Rudd as screenwriters. Wright and Cornish have been relegated to a “Story By” credit, with Wright also serving as executive producer – which we assume is a nominal credit.
Meanwhile, in other Ant-Man news, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has spoken briefly about the film, describing it as a passing of the torch between Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to Rudd’s Scott Lang: “Hank Pym invented the Ant-Man technology, went on many adventures and is now much older and trying to recruit a new person. It’s the first film we’ve made in which the story is about a torch being passed, essentially.”
Ant-Man is set for release on July 17th , 2015, with Peyton Reed (The Break-Up) directing a cast that includes Paul Rudd (I Love You Man) as Scott Lang, Michael Douglas (Behind The Candelabra) as Dr. Hank Pym, Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) as Hope Van Dyne, Corey Stoll (House of Cards) as Darren Cross / Yellowjacket, John Slattery (Iron Man 2) as Howard Stark, Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Peggy Carter and Bobby Cannavale (The Long Play), Michael Peña (American Hustle), Abby Ryder Fortson (Togetherness), Judy Greer (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight), Wood Harris (The Wire), Gregg Turkington (The Comedy) and T.I. (American Gangster) in as yet-unrevealed roles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszH_jfuJoo8HCG1-lGjvfH2F&v=JoHXAqSnD5g&feature=player_embedded
Originally published January 7, 2015. Updated November 29, 2022.
