After over nine years since Edgar Wright exited from Marvel Studios’ first Ant-Man movie, the British filmmaker has revealed some new interesting details about his original vision for the Paul Rudd-led movie. On Instagram, Wright responded to a fan’s question about the difference between his version of Ant-Man and Peyton Reed’s 2015 movie.
The Shaun of the Dead filmmaker described his original screenplay as a “crime heist movie,” which would have featured Scott Lang as an “actual criminal.” Wright previously intended to show Scott’s transformation into becoming a good guy and hero.
“Having signed an NDA when I left, there’s not a lot I can say,” Wright wrote. “I guess the biggest (pun intended) differences in our screenplay was it was self-contained and didn’t have cameos from other MCU characters (apart from an end tease) and it was much more of a crime heist movie, with interlocking robberies and heists throughout, a little like Donald Westlake’s The Hot Rock. I think the crucial difference too was that (like the original comics) Scott Lang was an actual criminal at the start of the film and not already a 100 percent good guy. We felt it was a more satisfying redemption arc if he went from criminal to hero. Lots more to say, but can’t for legal reasons!”
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s Underwhelming Theatrical Run
Following its theatrical release last February 17, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania earned a worldwide gross of over $470 million against a reported budget of $200 million. Its poor box office performance made the film one of Marvel Studios’ lowest-grossing movies to date.
Quantumania was directed by Reed from a screenplay written by Jeff Loveness. The film also starred Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne/Wasp, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne, Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, Corey Stoll as Darren Cross / M.O.D.O.K., Bill Murray as Lord Krylar, Katy O’Brian as Jentorra, and William Jackson Harper as Quaz.
The film is currently available for streaming on Disney+.