Edgar Wright Opens Up About Why He Walked Away From Marvel’s ANT-MAN Movie
Edgar Wright is one of the most distinctive filmmakers working today, best known for his Cornetto Trilogy and his sharp, energetic style. But before Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho, Wright spent years developing his own take on a Marvel movie that never came to be… Ant-Man.
Wright’s version of the film was in the works for about eight years. He developed it alongside his frequent collaborator Joe Cornish, long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe became the massive machine it is today. But after nearly a decade of work, Wright made the tough decision to walk away from the project.
In a recent Reddit AMA, the director explained exactly what led to that moment.
"Short answer. Joe Cornish and I had written the script long before Marvel became as huge as it did, our screenplay existed before Iron Man came out.
“But when we came to make it in 2014 – they had a established house style, a way of working, and a continuity that didn't really fit with the more left-field heist movie we'd written.
“So I knew it was time to leave, because our draft we loved was fading away and I thought it better if someone else did it. I have never seen the film to this day, but don't regret leaving."
Wright has always brought a unique rhythm and personality to his movies, and it’s clear that trying to fit that vision into Marvel’s tightly structured world wasn’t going to work. Which is a shame, because I would’ve loved to see his vision of Ant-Man.
He echoed similar thoughts in a previously interview, saying:
"The idea of doing it at the time excited me, because you want to put your own spin on it. But between pitching the idea and doing it, the whole franchise had blown up. There was a house style. The thing that attracted me about it had gone away."
Ultimately, Ant-Man would go on to be directed by Peyton Reed and star Paul Rudd, while Wright and Cornish still received story and screenplay credit.
Though he’s never watched the final version, Wright clearly has no regrets about stepping aside to preserve the kind of creative freedom that defines his work.
Now, Wright is back with something that’s much more his speed, a new adaptation of The Running Man, based on Stephen King’s novel. The film stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a desperate man who enters a deadly game show in a dystopian world.
If you’re a fan of Wright’s signature style or just love wild sci-fi thrillers, this one’s definitely worth checking out! It’s a lot of fun, and it come out this weekend!