The latest issue of Empire Magazine serves up a preview of Marvel’s next superhero blockbuster Ant-Man, offering some insight into Edgar Wright’s shock departure from the project due to creative differences with Marvel Studios, as well as comments from incoming director Peyton Reed (Down with Love) about the pressure of stepping into Wright’s shoes.
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“Was it a strange situation? Absolutely,” states Reed. “One of my concerns upfront was, ‘Someone else has developed this movie for a really long time. Can I come in and make it my own?’ And that has absolutely been the case. For one thing Marvel have let me explore the dark side of Hank Pym – this tortured, guilt-ridden guy. I love that this is a mentor/pupil story, but with a fucked up pupil and a really fucked up mentor.”
“I think the most defining difference between the two scripts was that Edgar’s didn’t take itself as seriously,” he continues. “It was fun and silly and brilliant[ly] irreverent – a romp from beginning to end, in classic English fashion. Whereas where we’ve gotten to is so much more American. There’s tons of levity, but just as much emotion.”
Reed also goes on to reveal that he was in touch with Wright after accepting the job, adding that: “[Edgar and I] both acknowledged the general weirdness of the situation. It’s all very odd but it’s been really nice to communicate with him.”
Ant-Man is set for release on July 17th, with Peyton Reed (Down with Love) 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, Judy Greer (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as Maggie, Bobby Cannavale (The Long Play) as Paxton, Michael Peña (American Hustle) as Luis, Abby Ryder Fortson (Togetherness) as Cassie Lang, David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight) as Kurt, Wood Harris (The Wire) as Gale, T.I. (American Gangster) as Dave, Jordi Molla (Riddick) as Castillo, and Gregg Turkington (The Comedy) and Martin Donovan (Inherent Vice) in as yet-unrevealed roles.
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Originally published May 24, 2015. Updated March 1, 2020.
