Thursday, January 08, 2015

Marvel's "Ant-Man" Crawls To EW

The mixed reaction to the first trailer for Marvel's "Ant-Man" has not deterred a big promo push for the movie. We get some new photos, and a big article in EW.


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.

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 was considered a more natural fit by the suits.

Former "Lost" star Evangeline Lilly was tipped to play the female lead Hope van Dyne. Rumors also had Rashida Jones and Bryce Dallas Howard up for the part as well.

David Dastmalchian ("The Dark Knight," "Prisoners") is in the pic but his role is being kept under wraps. Corey Stoll plays the villain Yellowjacket

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.

John Slattery is in the film, likely reprising the role of Tony Stark's father Howard Stark which he played in "Iron Man 2". Judy Greer, Bobby Cannavale, rapper turned actor T.I., and young actress Abby Ryder Fortson who will likely play the young Cassie Lang (daughter of Rudd's character)

 Martin Donovan ("Weeds," "Homeland") has been cast in a pivotal role.  No details were released about his character.

 Latino Review recently suggested that characters seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier Peggy Carter (played by Hayley Atwell) and Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) in their younger days and the further formation S.H.I.E.L.D will show up 

Actors Patrick Wilson, Kevin Weisman and Matt Gerald all dropped out of the pic.

Peyton Reed ("Bring It On," "Down With Love") took over the director's chair following Edgar Wright's departure in May,

Wright and Joe Cornish co-wrote the initial script. Adam McKay ("Anchorman") was lined up to take over but a deal could not be reached--McKay did some work on the script for the film instead. Gabriel Ferrari and Andrew Barrer will reportedly preform script re-writes Rawson Marshall Thurber and Ruben Fleischer were in the mix with McKay to potentially direct.

The film has a  July 17th 2015 release date.

One thing that has been explained is the screenplay credits. Wright and Cornish got 'story by' credits, while Rudd and McKay nabbed 'screenplay by' credits.

Rudd tells the mag that despite Wright's departure, his influence can still be felt regarding the material: "The bones of it is really Edgar and Joe. It's been an emotional roller coaster, but I'm very excited now."

Reed assures that the origin of Scott Lang character follows the comics. When we first meet Lang when he's in prison for stealing from the CEO of a company that was stealing from its employees: "There's a prison fight and you've got to buy Paul in that role,” says Reed. Lang longs to go straight - he has a young daughter he wants to build a relationship with - but when he leaves the big house, he ends up nabbing Pym's Ant-Man suit. Was he set up? There might be stuff going on that Scott doesn't know about that's a lot bigger than him."

Stoll says his character  "[Darren Cross] was this child prodigy that Hank Pym nurtured. He started to become aware of this fabled technology that can shrink people to half an inch. Now he's discovered his own version of that technology-which has a psychotic effect on people if they use it too much."


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