The new issue of Empire is out so the goodies are pouring out. The magazine has unveiled new images of Marvel’s “Ant-Man” starring Paul Rudd. Though more importantly, the contents of the new issue reveal some details about the movie and some of the drama surrounding the original production.
As detailed extensively already, director Edgar Wright originally conceived the movie version of “Ant-Man” with his co-screenwriter Joe Cornish (director of “Attack The Block”). Director Peyton Reed (“Bring It On”) eventually replaced Wright and in the new Empire issue, the director acknowledged some of the awkwardness involved.
"Was it a strange situation? Absolutely,” he told the magazine. “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 [has] let me explore the dark side of Hank Pym, this tortured, guilt-ridden guy… [Edgar Wright 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."
The differences in the two screenplays? Wright’s sounds characteristically more playful, comedic and possibly even silly. To hear it from Reed, their version is much more serious.
“I think the most defining difference between the two scripts was that Edgar’s didn’t take itself as seriously. 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."
As you likely already know, the Ant-Man character has already entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Paul Rudd is co-starring in “Captain America: Civil War.” Presumably this means that there’s some narrative element in “Ant-Man” that sets the stage for him joining ‘The Avengers’? Perhaps an end credits tag?
Evidently in the know of some information, the magazine asks whether Falcon (played by Anthony Mackie) or any of the other ‘Avengers’ appear in “Ant-Man”? "That’s classified information. That’s buried. It’s possible," Reed replied. And considering we already know what happens to Ant-Man next, the appearance of at least one Avenger seems like a good bet (and Mackie, who has far less Marvel contract appearances to burn, feels like a good idea from a studio perspective).
Michael Douglas, Michael Peña, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, John Slattery, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer and Tip Harris co-star. Below, a recent extended TV spot for the movie, plus the Empire cover and photos. Marvel’s “Ant-Man” shrinks into theaters on July 17.
