While everyone that follows the Marvel Universe is either celebrating Guardians Of The Galaxy's impending release or condemning the recent changes Marvel is making to its comic universe, there's one subject matter that seems to have a smaller portion of the spotlight than it once did: the previously troubled production of Ant Man. While the gears are in motion for director Peyton Reed and writer Adam McKay to take the work that Edgar Wright had previously done with Joe Cornish on the film and make "the best version" that they can, there's still some mystery around why the creative team had a shake up in the first place. Luckily, now is as perfect a time as ever for Kevin Feige to step in and give an official word on the matter.
The Guardian was able to get a few quotes out of Kevin Feige. Separating truth from fiction, Feige first provided some truth by commenting on the "creative differences" that were cited for Edgar Wright's departure. Apparently, it wasn't just a difference in philosophies over where the movie should go. It was also an issue with how the director's personality meshed with everyone at Marvel. In the words of Feige, it was a "combination" of things.
This doesn't come as a surprise, as Wright's script allegedly lacked connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, as you'll remember from those initial insider reports, there was also a question of the moral fiber of the Ant Man character himself. After all, Marvel Studios did trademark The Irredeemable Ant Man version of the character who isn't exactly the most stand up guy. Pair that with Edgar Wright's humorous but dark sensibilities and you might have some bedfellows that aren't exactly copacetic.
To a point, Kevin Feige does dispel the wholesale notion that Wright's film was way off of the Marvel Studios reservation. In fact, he references most of Phase 2 as his evidence that Marvel isn't interested in just playing it safe, reminding viewers to:
Go look at Iron Man 3; go look at The Winter Soldier; go see Guardians of the Galaxy later this month. It would have to be really out there to be too out there for us.
While it's true that Ant Man as a concept isn't too far off from Marvel Studio's sensibilities, Feige still hasn't addressed the moral concern that was brought up. It also doesn't help that the previous remark was prefaced with Mr. Feige's stipulation that he didn't want to address the point all too much because he feels the work speaks for itself.
Whatever the circumstances, whatever the cause, there's two things that remain at the end of any conversation on Ant Man: Edgar Wright isn't directing it and Peyton Reed is. Kevin Feige believes that the best version possible of Ant Man is heading our way, and we'll have our chance to find out whether he's telling the truth or not when it hits theaters on July 17th, 2015.
