Edgar Wright on Leaving Ant-Man and Future Projects
Director Edgar Wright, best known for "Shaun of the Dead", spent eight years developing Marvel’s "Ant-Man" but ultimately left the project in 2014. The final version, starring Paul Rudd, was directed by Peyton Reed, though Wright retained story and screenplay credits.
"The idea of doing it at the time excited me, because you want to put your own spin on it," Wright told Variety. "But between pitching the idea and doing it, the whole franchise had blown up. The thing that attracted me about it had gone away."
Despite stepping away from the Marvel film, Wright continues to work on major projects. His upcoming movie is an adaptation of Stephen King’s "The Running Man", featuring Glen Powell as Ben Richards — a man forced to compete in a deadly game show to earn the money needed for his sick daughter’s care.
Meanwhile, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man is set to appear again in next year’s "Avengers: Doomsday", alongside Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.
"There are a lot of franchises where the sequels don't really earn their keep because all the story has been told in the first movie," Wright said. "When a character has gone through a massive change, it's very difficult to have a second installment."
Author’s Summary
Edgar Wright left "Ant-Man" after years of development but continues his creative journey with a new Stephen King adaptation, avoiding unnecessary sequels and franchise fatigue.