EDGAR WRIGHT ENCOURAGES INTERNET TO CALM ITS SHIT, ANT-MAN WILL HAPPEN

Ant-Man will be the first Marvel film to bomb. Hank Pym is an intriguing character & would best be served appearing in an Avengers movie but a full on Ant-Man movie? Who's clamouring to see that?

There about a dozen other Marvel properties that deserve an Edgar Wright film. Ant-Man ain't one of them.

As high as I am on Marvel right now, and as much as I really want to see Edgar Wright land himself a huge hit, Art's right.
 

It wouldn't be the first Marvel movie to bomb, unless you just mean movies made by Marvel studios alone. But yeah, Wright has much better things to be doing with his time.

I suppose a movie could fix the character, who's deeply broken in the comics (as Chris Sims just wrote, Pym is known for three things: beating his wife, building a genocidal robot and 'a sex scene by Geoff Johns and Steve Sadowski that's best described as "regrettable"') but yeah...of all the Marvel characters to spotlight with their own movie, Ant-Man should be like #4,749 on the list.

Give him that She-Hulk movie they've been pondering, or Great Lakes Avengers, or...a reboot of Howard the Duck is probably a bad idea, but still, less of a bad idea than Ant-Man.

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Originally Posted by Art Decade 

Ant-Man will be the first Marvel film to bomb. Hank Pym is an intriguing character & would best be served appearing in an Avengers movie but a full on Ant-Man movie? Who's clamouring to see that?

 

There about a dozen other Marvel properties that deserve an Edgar Wright film. Ant-Man ain't one of them.

I think this is why Marvel are clinging on to Wright. Even if Scott Pilgrim wasn't a blockbuster Wright's name is still worth a lot. If they really want to put out an Ant-Man film it'll be a tough sell. Having an established (and fan favourite) name behind it helps them immensely.

Yeah, but I'd argue we don't need an Ant-Man film. They're clinging to him because he's traditionally one of the Avengers, but he's by far the most disposable of the classic lineup. I'd much rather see the next film add Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, Doctor Strange...the Wasp...even fucking Tigra before they add Ant-Man.
 

Movie Exec #1: "Avengers is huge! What other characters can we launch to lead into Avengers 2?"

Movie Exec #2: "Well, there's Ant-Man"

Movie Exec #1: "Never heard of 'im. What's his deal?"

Movie Exec #2: "Super-strength. He's tiny & talks to ants"

Movie Exec #1: "Holy shit! Motherfucker talks to ants?! That's gold! There are 2 things kids absolutely flip for: Superheroes & Ants! Get me Spielberg on the phone, he's gonna lose his shit when he hears this! Hehe..'Talks to ants'...what will those rascals think of next?"

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Originally Posted by The Prankster 

Yeah, but I'd argue we don't need an Ant-Man film. 
 

I know some folk on Superherohype who'd disagree with you 

Yeah, I agree. Another scientist-gets-into-wacky-situations is getting a bit stale. Black Panther and Dr. Strange are needed to really open things up. Oh and another Punisher movie please.

I hasten to add, if Wright makes an Ant-Man film, I will watch it. But I'd watch a Tootie the Farting Minnow movie if Wright directed it.
 

What I know about Ant-Man I could fit in my navel with room left over for a peanut M&M, but the more you guys slam the character... the more curious and excited I get wondering what gets Wright so eager and excited about doing it. I'm assuming. I don't see him staying attached so long to a purely begrudging, eye-rolling mercenary gig. There's something in there he wants to get at, and I kinda really wanna see whatever that is, no matter how possibly lame the source material.

Here's my idea, and what they might go for: introduce both Hank AND Janet in the movie. Although I, like several others here, would love to see guys like Black Panther or Dr. Strange in a future Avengers movie. Hell, why not Tigra? She'd make it less of a boy's club, certainly.

Also, Prankster, I'd say the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes cartoon redeems the characters. Hank isn't a total douche, and Janet is probably the biggest scene-stealer aside from Hulk in the whole show.

I should point out, Robert Kirkman created another Ant-Man recently, one who's more overtly comedic (and whose apparent bastardry is part of the character). I think there was some talk of Wright using that version.
 

Oh, something else about Hank Pym: he now dresses up in his dead wife's clothes to honour her memory. SERIOUSLY.

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Originally Posted by Chris Spider 

Also, Prankster, I'd say the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes cartoon redeems the characters. Hank isn't a total douche, and Janet is probably the biggest scene-stealer aside from Hulk in the whole show.

Hank's brilliant in that. He takes out the cast of Predator. Seriously, he knocks out Jesse Ventura and Sonny Landham...

And they did introduce the Scott Lang Ant-Man on that show recently (Hank is now in his Yellowjacket outfit).

Prankster: FUCKING FOR REAL? That's creepy on a ridiculous amount of levels. Also, I would seriously recommend the Avengers cartoon. If that can't convince you Hank Pym can indeed work as a character, nothing will.

I wasn't particularly stoked for Wright's Ant-Man movie (aside from Edgar's involvement) until he spoke out about his take on it awhile back.  Unless he and Joe Cornish have drastically changed it in rewrites, Ant-Man will take place across decades and will feature both Hank Pym AND Scott Lang.  I can only assume Wasp is in it as well, given the wide timeframe.  Wright has referred to it as his version of a 60's spy film.  With that in mind, it sounds like if Ant-Man shows up in Avengers 2, it will be Scott Lang that joins the team...not Hank.

Basically, we could be getting another period piece (at least for some sequences) project that will give us a window into earlier times in the Marvel Movieverse.  Me?  I'm all for it.  Feige has already hinted that Wright's film will happen when it happens and will not be geared for one of their two or three regular annual "spots", so when we get this it won't be taking away a slot from Guardians of the Galaxy, Dr. Strange, Black Panther, etc. 

Am I the only one who actually remembers all of this stuff?

Wright has three projects on deck right now: this, The World's End, and The Night Stalker.  Ant-Man can be made anytime.  The World's End and The Night Stalker depend entirely on the demanding schedules of Simon Pegg and Johnny Depp, respectively.  That definitely has to be a contributing factor as to when it gets filmed.  Night Stalker will probably be third in line regardless, looking at Depp's line-up.  The order the other two get made in likely heavily centers on Pegg's availability for World's End.

Assuming his ideas for it haven't changed, here's Edgar's take on Ant-Man (circa 2006).  As far as I can tell, only one or two more drafts have been done since then...

SHH!: I think it's interesting that the Ant-Man you knew and grew up with was the Scott Lang one, since most people I would think know the one who hung with the Wasp in "Tales to Astonish."

Wright: Well, the thing is that what we want to do, the idea that we have for the adaptation is to actually involve both. Is to have a film that basically is about Henry Pym and Scott Lang, so you actually do a prologue where you see Pym as Ant-Man in action in the 60's, in sort of "Tales to Astonish" mode basically, and then the contemporary, sort of flash-forward, is Scott Lang's story, and how he comes to acquire the suit, how he crosses paths with Henry Pym, and then, in an interesting sort of Machiavellian way, teams up with him. So it's like an interesting thing, like the "Marvel Premiere" one that I read which is Scott Lang's origin, it's very brief like a lot of those origin comics are, and in a way, the details that are skipped through in the panels and the kind of thing we'd spend half an hour on.

Chris Spider, I agree with your desire to see Hank Pym...And Janet Van Dyne!  I am far more interested in seeing...The Wasp, in an Avengers film, as she is an...endearing, goofy, cheerleader type whom eventually became of of the Leaders of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.  I prefer to see Hank Pym as...Yellow Jacket, but Scott Lang was Yellow Jacket too.  One could be Ant-Man the other could be either...YJ/ Giant Man or Goliath.

Oh, come on. A lot of the negative opinions in this thread stem from commercial viability. Unless some of you are studio execs, who cares? It's Edgar Wright doing a superhero movie about a ridiculous, funny superhero with a completely dopey power.

I know the Marvel films are generally lighthearted, but I'd really like to finally see a comedic angle in their films, and Dopey Scientist Who Can't Get Anything Right + Also, He Talks To Ants is funny enough for someone like Edgar Wright, who has been on this thing (WITH Joe Cornish!) for SIX YEARS.

I don't understand ANY negativity towards this.

Longer than that, actually.  Wright apparently did a draft for Artisan Entertainment back when they owned the property a decade ago!  He obviously loves the character.  That said, judging by his comments, don't expect it to be nearly as comedic as his other films.  It will be lighthearted, but it won't be a comedy.

THE WORLD'S END starts shooting this year, so I'd guess that's next.

*does some research* Ah, the Robert Kirkman Ant-Man is Eric O'Grady, not Scott Lang, who was introduced in the 70s.

Anyway, I'm totally OK with Edgar Wright doing The World's End before this.

Multi-quote function snafu.

My bits:

This is a movie Wright wants to direct which, in my mind, cancels out all "this is not what we need Edgar Wright to be doing" arguments.

If he's been talking about this for 6-10 years, that eliminates his "it takes three years between my movies" argument.

If, and that's a big if, this Ant-man from a lighthearted spy thriller is incorporated into the larger universe (specifically Avengers 2), that could be a bit tricky tonally, yes? I'd be interested to see how a non-action adventurey hero is brought in.

There's no reason why they can't have a stealth guy with a dorky personality.

I'm sorry to single you out here, Chris, but this is like the source of every nerd argument ever. I didn't say they couldn't do it, I was just curious to see how it would be handled. Dropping a size-shifting Austin Powers that can talk to insects in to the Avengers wouldn't work. What would?

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Originally Posted by S.D. Bob Plissken 

It will be lighthearted, but it won't be a comedy.

Which is something I'd love to see Wright attempt. His strike rate with comedy is undeniable, but the guy has an honest-to-goodness adventure movie in him just bursting to get out.

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Originally Posted by MikeI 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry to single you out here, Chris, but this is like the source of every nerd argument ever. I didn't say they couldn't do it, I was just curious to see how it would be handled. Dropping a size-shifting Austin Powers that can talk to insects in to the Avengers wouldn't work. What would?

Oh, so am I, I just think Wright could get a handle on that by casting and writing either Ant-Man well, which would then feed into Avengers 2. And who says he has to be Austin Powers? It might end up being the more modern Scott Lang on the actual film team.

Given the route that Wright is taking, I'll be surprised if it ISN'T Lang who ends up on the team.  I also severely doubt we're getting the Austin Power of superhero films here.  I think too many people are assuming it will be a comedy with action in it...........as opposed to an action/adventure film with some comedic elements.  Judging from Edgar's comments, it would be a mistake to assume the former.

S.D. Bob Plissken, I would...Love to see...Taskmaster in an Avengers Film.  Taskmaster has photographic reflexes, which means he can...Perfectly Duplicate any heroes moves.  When he was introduced, he had captured...Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp and Henry Pym aka Yellowjacket.  The three of them were held in a mental institution in Southampton, NY.  The three of them could be S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists that join the team after a couple Avengers get...Taken by the main villain.

Everyone knows I mentioned Austin Powers as an idea that wouldn't work, right?

MikeI, How is Hank Pym...Austin Powers?

If I had hair, I swear to god I'd be pulling it out.

I was wondering how this could work as its own light-hearted spy movie and still be able to meld with the action-adventurey Avengers, I mentioned that an Austin Powers (who is both light-hearted and a spy) that could change shape and talk to ants (like Ant Man) wouldn't work. I was not suggesting that Ant Man be played like Austin Powers, I was suggesting that a less broad movie would be preferable. But still, this is clearly going to be a different tone from the other Marvel productions and if it's going to integrate in to the Marvel Universe, I am curious as to how that will play out.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, Mike, but it did seem like you were kinda sorta suggesting that the studio might be taking that route.

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Originally Posted by MikeI 

If I had hair, I swear to god I'd be pulling it out.

 

I was wondering how this could work as its own light-hearted spy movie and still be able to meld with the action-adventurey Avengers, I mentioned that an Austin Powers (who is both light-hearted and a spy) that could change shape and talk to ants (like Ant Man) wouldn't work. I was not suggesting that Ant Man be played like Austin Powers, I was suggesting that a less broad movie would be preferable. But still, this is clearly going to be a different tone from the other Marvel productions and if it's going to integrate in to the Marvel Universe, I am curious as to how that will play out.

.....so you're saying the Austin Powers producers should make a more serious take on the character? Sort of a Derek Flint for the new century? I think that would work, but you'd have to find a new Austin Powers. Mike Myers is too rooted in comedy to be taken seriously, not to mention getting too long in the tooth...literally.

But seriously, I don't understand the issue here with Ant Man. Consider that The Incredible Shrinking Man and Fantastic Voyage both dealt with the miniturization of people and the implications thereof.  And didn't the Honey I Shrunk the Kids franchise make a fortune for Disney in the late 90's? Isn't there room for a more kid-friendly hero in the Marvel Universe? Everyone doesn't have to be in the Avengers. We don't really expect to see Blade and Punisher in the Avengers, do we? 

Watching Wesley Snipes glowering at Mark Ruffalo does have a certain appeal, though. 

MikeI, Thank you for the explanation.  In that case you have the right idea, but have the wrong...Spy!  Hank Pym in any venaculer is a...Square.  He is not funny...at all.  The goofy one isn't Scott Lang either, that would be...The Winsome Wasp.  The spy concept should be...Agent 86, because, Hank Pym didn't have to ever...Get Smart, he was...Born that way.  To me...Tom Jane would be a...Perfect Hank Pym!

Dr. Vivisector, How about a...New team of heroes.  Have a team with...Punisher, Power Man, Iron Fist, and Blade.  Marvel could call them...The Champions!

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Originally Posted by duke fleed 

Dr. Vivisector, How about a...New team of heroes.  Have a team with...Punisher, Power Man, Iron Fist, and Blade.  Marvel could call them...The Champions!

Nah, I'd rather see Power Man and Iron FIst team up with the Daughters of the Dragon for some street level Marvel madness. Who wouldn't want to see a Misty Knight, complete with bionic arm and 70's blacksploitation afro, introduced into the Marvel Movieverse?

I'm relieved that Wright is still attached to this project. While I was disappointed with "Hot Fuzz" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World", I'm pretty sure Wright has earned a free pass for life from me based on the goodwill he earned with two seasons of "Spaced" and "Shaun of the Dead". I still consider Wright one of the most talented directors working today, and am always excited to see what he comes up with next, despite my issues with his last two movies.

When "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" flopped, getting annihilated at the box office by "Eat, Pray, Love" and "The Expendables", he tweeted that he was proud to have a movie in the U.S. box office top ten for the first time. God bless the guy for obviously trying to look on the bright side no matter what, but I think he deserves better, whether he admits it or not.

If directing a superhero flick is what it takes for him to have a hit, I'm all for it. That's one of the biggest reasons why I want a Wright-directed "Ant-Man" to happen. I'd like to see him have a big box office success and as a result, get some of the post-success creative freedom and pull in Hollywood that Nolan (and now Whedon) has.

I'm more optimistic than Art. The movie industry is enjoying a superhero/comic book movie renaissance period right now. I think that kind of movie is almost a guaranteed hit these days, unless it's so bad that it gets awful reviews like "Green Lantern", "The Green Hornet", or "The Spirit".

Dr. Vivisector, I would see Power Man and Iron Fist as well.  I also agree a...Daughters Of The Dragon Film would be cool as well.  A...70's set Power Man and Iron Fist would be even more Awesome! I still think...Punisher and Blade, could flourish under this banner....Marvel Team-Up Blade and Punisher!

Yeah, not every superhero that they drum up for the "Movieverse" needs to join The Avengers.  That said, I'd love to see Heroes For Hire and Midnight Sons films at some point.  The world needs a superhero "buddy action" flick starring Luke Cage and Danny Rand!!!

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Originally Posted by Gabe T 

Oh, come on. A lot of the negative opinions in this thread stem from commercial viability. Unless some of you are studio execs, who cares? It's Edgar Wright doing a superhero movie about a ridiculous, funny superhero with a completely dopey power.

 

I know the Marvel films are generally lighthearted, but I'd really like to finally see a comedic angle in their films, and Dopey Scientist Who Can't Get Anything Right + Also, He Talks To Ants is funny enough for someone like Edgar Wright, who has been on this thing (WITH Joe Cornish!) for SIX YEARS.

 

I don't understand ANY negativity towards this.

Ya pretty much this, I have no interest whatsoever in the character, but I'd be damned if Wright didn't seem...well totally right for this project.

I don't see this failing anywhere except maybe box office receipts but throw in a RDJ cameo or the Hulk or something and that might boost it a little.

I wouldn't mind a "Dominic Cooper or John Slatterly as Howard Stark" cameo in the 60s-set portion!