Saturday, June 07, 2014

Ant Man: Peyton Reed Will Direct

Heat Vision reported late yesterday that Peyton Reed ("Bring It On," "Down With Love") and David Wain ("Role Models," "Wanderlust") were frontrunners to to replace Edgar Wright at the helm of Marvel's "Ant-Man".


Now it has been announced Reed has won the job. The news was unveiled on the Marvel official website today.

Prior to this development Adam McKay ("Anchorman") was lined up to take over but a deal could not be reached--McKay will work on the script for the film instead. Rawson Marshall Thurber and Ruben Fleischer were in the mix with McKay...

In the comics, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) is a scientist who invents a substance that allows him to change his size. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) steals the original Ant-Man Pym's equipment and uses it to commit crimes but ultimately becomes a hero.

Former "Lost" star Evangeline Lilly is tipped to play the female lead. It is unclear who Lilly would play, however the character would appear in more than just this film. Rumors had Rashida Jones and Bryce Dallas Howard up for the part as well.

Though he lost out on a role to Michael Pena, actor Clifton Collins, Jr. he is still in the film. The "Pacific Rim" and "Star Trek" actor, did a cameo as a vegan police officer in Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," and has reportedly been cast in a unspecified role. Pena's role is thought to be that of a tough Latino character who has a lot of physical action scenes in the movie. Matt Gerald will play a villain, though it's unclear if it's as 'White Power Dave' which he played in  Marvel's 14-minute short film that appeared on the February 25th Blu-ray release of "Thor: The Dark World" called All Hail the King.

 Watchmen and The Conjuring star Patrick Wilson also stars in the film, but details of that role are unknown. Corey Stoll also stars.

Rudd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were both considered for the Lang role, but the latter is now doing an adaptation of author Neil Gaiman's  popular comic book series Sandman, with "Man Of Steel" writer David S. Goyer. Rudd is considered a more natural fit by the suits.

Wright and Joe Cornish co-wrote the initial script

Production is scheduled to take place in Georgia

Marvel intended to keep its July 17th 2015 release date-- Production will have to begin ASAP.

Reed is no stranger to the Marvel universe, having been charged with bringing Fantasc Four to the big screen for years--Instead the first Fantastic Four film in 2005 and its sequel 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007--were both helmed by Tim Story. The property is now being rebooted...

The studio has released a synopsis for the film:

"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."

Finally, Douglas, spoke with Schmoes Know about the departure of Wright:



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