Despite the fan disappointment following director Edgar Wright’s departure from Ant-Man, it’s difficult to mourn his vision of the movie when audiences were never completely clear on what it was, or the extent to which the script rewrites changed it. Once described as a “heist movie,” it seems like the core of Wright’s film is still intact, with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) handing over the Ant-Man mantle to criminal Scott Lang (Paul Rudd). But the question remains: what were the insurmountable creative differences that forced Wright and Marvel to part ways?
It’s likely that those involved will open up a bit more after Ant-Man is released next summer, but until then casting talk and rumors will have to do. For instance: the recent signs pointing to a first act set in the past with appearances by S.H.I.E.L.D. founding members Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper).
An official synopsis for Ant-Man was originally released when the film began shooting earlier this year, and a newly released version of the synopsis is identical word-for-word – save for two notable changes. Do they mean anything? Here’s the latest synopsis:
The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man.” Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
The first of the changes is the emphasis upon Hank Pym’s status as a “founding member” of the Avengers, which he was in the comics, but is not in the movies – at least, as far as we know. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Avenger Initiative had already been scrapped once before it was eventually implemented to fight Loki in The Avengers, but since S.H.I.E.L.D. was aware of humans with special skills since before its inception it’s possible that a version of the Avenger Initiative was around decades before the modern Avengers were assembled (or Marvel is simply hoping to give the character a boost by adding some comic book cred).
Also of note is the fact that Scott Lang’s occupation has been changed from “con-man” to “master thief” – two professions that are related but nonetheless distinct. Does this mean that Wright’s version of the story saw Lang as small-time, and Peyton Reed’s is grander in scale? Is he a combination of con-man and master thief? Or is he simply a straight-up thief, as befits his origin story in the comics?
At the risk of being harsh, Scott Lang didn’t look like a master of anything in the first official Ant-Man still that was released, which showed the second Ant-Man looking beat-up, unshaven and down on his luck. He was, however, wearing the kind of black gloves that could come in handy for a bit of burglary – or even a heist that will save the world. Only time will tell.
Ant-Man arrives in theaters on July 17th, 2015.
Source: Marvel
uh oh.
A master thief can still be a con man, so people shouldn’t be getting too worked up about it.
Well, i just have to ask…why? Does every superhero have to have one great skill, “con man isn’t enough, MASTER THIEF is more like it!
Who knows? Maybe Ant Man will find an audience based purely on growing curiosity.
A Marvel movie with Paul Rudd & Michael Douglas? Even that alone is enough to get me in on half price Tuesday…lol
I believe Ant-Man will be successful, not GOTG level but will be decent
So what if Lang is a master theif?
Its still robbing things, just that those things are way bigger and more expensive.
Plus, its good that Pym is getting some credit for the avengers initiative. Now we just need to see him working on Ultron. Then people won’t be all ” Tony Stark makes all his villains”. It’d be ” Hank Pym makes a villain that Tony Stark finishes on completing”.
I’ve actually thought this since I heard that Howard Stark would be making an appearance. In additional to their rough relationship, I think there will be connections to Captain America (maybe a brief mention of the Super Soldier experiment) and how they worked to create technology that would lead to Ultron.
I’m happy Pym won’t be forgotten. It helps create a larger history, which I personally enjoy.
Yep.
Can’t wait to see how Hank fits in.
Whatever happens, I have no doubt that this film will be great.
I don’t even get why there are haters.
When Edgar was around, most people were confident.
Moment he leaves? UGH DIS MOVIE WILL SUK!
Yeah, like Edgar was the only one who could pull it off.
IF true and SHIELD does play a part in the story w/ Hank Pym in the past -here’s how it could play out:
it would be around the late 1960s or sometime in the 70s – presumably with SHIELD already established (very unlikely it would be in the 40s or 50s cause Hank Pym would be too young – unless they show him as a boy genius ??)
Hank Pym is an inventor and scientist for many things – including bio-chemistry and it could be him that develops the technology for the brain mapping/ personality “capturing” or whatever that made it possible for Arnim Zola’s personality/ memory, etc to be captured into the old super computer Cap & Black Widow find in CAWS.
it is also this same related technology that leads Howard to start and later for Tony to finish the AI that becomes Jarvis and then leads to the awakening of Ultron to become fully sentient – and thereby making Hank a part of the creation of Ultron – not the body but the tech behind the mind ….
which Hank is working on in the past and leads SHIELD to getting him to help develop the brain mapping that will eventually lead to the LMDs which Tony jokes about in Avengers …. and in the past this leads Hank to developing the brainwave helmet to “communicating with ants” –
the creation of Pym Particles will be a secret that Hank keeps to himself so SHIELD doesn’t try to steal it or he doesn’t develop until later in the 80s or afterwards
further: now that it’s confirmed Jarvis is/ was a real man – Howard’s butler/ confidant and likely the person who raises/ guided Tony in his young adulthood after Howard & Maria pass away
is it a far stretch to think Jarvis will be the first or one of the first test subjects for Hank’s/ Howard’s trial with brain mapping and personality capturing … in the development of AI
The added bonus to moving Hank into the past like this is introducing Wasp as his daughter. There is a huge amount of criticism in fandom about Janet being sidelined as a Founding Member.
Also, depending on how this is written, it feeds into Civil War nicely. If Pym always distrusted SHIELD or Howard then this plays into that storyline perfectly. Who watches the watchers?
And the other thing that could be touched upon is more of the Hydra story and the connection to Shield. The opportunities are abundant.
I kind of wish phase 3 was Iron Man and Cap appearing at the ends of the movies to recruit for their respective avengers squads. Civil War needs that kind of building up imo.
Director aside, I actually have hopes for this movie. I think that could work.
I think audiences will be very receptive to a Paul Rudd led Marvel movie after they saw Guardians.
I think the term “master” will provide comedy- meaning that Lang calls himself a “master” even when he is small time.
Similar to the comedy provided early on in Guardians – when Quill calls himself “star lord” but nobody else sees him that way. lol
Not everything has to be funny, Especially since this film comes after Ultron quoting pinocchio while raping the Avengers in Age of of Ultron
Is it so weird to think that might be a small comedic aspect? lol
no it’s not weird at all to think Ant-Man will have humor – especially with all the talent involved – you don’t hire Paul Rudd as your lead and not want at least SOME comedy – the guy is hilarious — and I doubt they’ld bring in his buddy Adam McKay (Will Ferrel’s partner) if you don’t want at minimum a few jokes
PLUS … they kind of said for a long time now that it will be a more light hearted film … and just cause AoU appears to be more dark and the ominous music of the trailer – is no reason to presume anything about the film that will follow it (especially before even one second of Ant-man has yet to be seen – heck they’re still filming – no reason to expect ANYTHING – other than the film will likely be about 2 hours, be in focus and the sound will be done well.
“Scott Lang didn’t look like a master of anything”. What does his looks in the picture have to do with what he might be a master at? Is there some type of clothes or overall look that “Master Thieves” have?
Looking forward to the movie, as with all MCU movies. They seem to know what they are doing. Better than FOX and Sony.
I think the most obvious problem will be the screenplay, judging by the synopsis. If Lang is already a master theif, what the hell does he work toward? He has nowhere to go. This is one of the reasons that I think Marvel needs writing talent. They have the right directors (Reed being an exception, in my opinion), they just need writing. Why would I cheer and support a hero that has no space left for growth? Simple, I don’t.
Presumably he works towards redemption.
every character has plenty to grow or change or whatever – no reason to make assumptions over one little phrase in short synopsis
that’ld be like saying: what … Matt Murdock is already a lawyer ?? Daredevil is going to suck – where does he have to grow if they don’t start when he’s barely a 1st year law student
or … what – Steve Rogers is already a brave as s*** little skinny dude before he gets the Super-Soldier serum? where does he have to grow ??
and hey – Starlord was already a Master Thief at the start of GotG (even known thru-out the galaxy as Starlord) and his first on-screen adventure turned out okay – he even got to make out with a smokin’ hot green chick !!
Really? As the others above have said it’s more interesting to see a character to grow personality wise than career wise. And as for physical room to grow, ahem… GIANT-MAN!
You have no imagination.
he probably wasn’t always a master thief. since pym is his mentor now, maybe that means lang tried to take the suit back when he was a newbie thief and he got caught by pym, leading to the mentorship.
Dear Hydra,
Can you please leak some Ant-Man footage!?!?!
^^^yes, this. um…hail hydra!
Man the fact Marvel haven’t announced any plans for a sequel to this in Phase 3 in addition to the fact that this movie will always be (probably negatively) compared to the non-existent Edgar Wright version tells me it’ll probably suck. I really hope its awesome but this movie just has everything going against it which sucks coz I’m a big Paul Rudd fan.
I hope at the very least the do the same thing with Ant-Man that they did with Hulk and make him an integral supporting part of other Marvel movies
they’re not even done filming the 1st one yet and you want them to already announce a sequel ???
even when they just announced the launch of a bunch of other new characters – all of whom fans have been screaming for ??
even if there’s not a sequel until Phase 4 – of course he’s all the main characters will become part of the Avengers and MCU as a whole
you don’t cast Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily & Michael Douglas (among other cast) and not have future plans for them – especially Evangeline Lily – that would be insane !!!
Get bent Screen Rant.
Stop trying to minimize Wright’s departure.
They replaced a guy who makes quality movies with a guy who makes the film equivalent of puddles of vomit.
If you guys think this isn’t a bad thing, there is no helping you.
sounds like you’re upset Wright made the decision to leave – his loss no ?
also if you don’t care for his replacement sounds like you don’t want to watch the movie, so why bother reading or posting about it?
isn’t better to just forget it’s being made and go on with life ?
No.
I’m just in that camp that will lament ‘what could have been’, or more precisely “What could have been better”.
The new guy is a scab, he’s going to film what MARVEL tells him to film. It’s not like MARVEL is making garbage, but it will probably be something mediocre like ‘Thor: The Dark World’was. I didn’t hate Thor 2, it even had some good stuff in it, but other elements were under developed (the space elf villains, specifically).
MARVEL has yet to put out something unwatchable, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, …..but grudgingly. (I’m a Wright fan as well, so pardon me if I’m not smiling about his being run off.)
Wright can go cry in a corner for all I care.
Even if Ant-Man sucks, who cares?
Marvel is on level 11 of 10 and can handle one movie failing. Not saying it will, but people are already crying and being babies about this movie.
Funny thing is, you people (The cry babies), will probally be the reason this movie fails, if it does. So GOOD FOR YOU! Pretend you actually know anything about what’s happening at Marvel and wreck a perfectly good movie for everybody.
Maybe this article is making a fuss out of nothing.
Maybe its just a synopsis mistake. maybe the synopsis is just telling with anticipation what will happen (scott lang becoming a master thief).
BUT! Has anyone wondered what if Ant Man took place BEFORE Age of Ulton movie? Maybe even before some other MCU films. Heck.. maybe even before Iron Man 1?
Maybe (for the 6th time), we could discover that MCU Hank Pym is indirectly responsible for the creation of MCU Ultron after all…
Just as Screenrant and others might underestimate Lang as a master thief due to his attire I think that might also apply for this movie, because personally I’m pumped (especially with the behind the scenes footage featured in ‘Marvel: 75 Years, From Pulp to Pop!’)! Besides it kind of makes more sense for someone described as a master to pull off a grand heist.
A week later:
New synopsis changes Scott Lang from master thief to Master Chief, Marvel Cinematic Universe oficially crosses over with Halo universe.
so disappointed!!!!
Hopeful for this, but really nervous and not quite on board with all the changes to Pym canon. I prefer the early comics version. I am trying to keep an open mind, tho, as I love Pym as Giant-Man and Goliath in the eary Avengers, and hope we get there somehow. Since the movie Pym is older and obviously had a pre-movie future, could he and Howard Stark be connected in Agent Carter’s years? Since there have been super-powered beings before the AOS show according to the AOS show, maybe Pym and Janet VD as Giant-Man and Wasp in earlier days before the present Avengers? And could time-travelling Kang later bring them back to our present time to the modern Avengers era ala Captain America’s displaced “Man out of time” scenario?
Yes I was thinking the same thing with regard to how cool this would be for Agent Carter! Could you imagine all the could do in discussing the past. Not to mention if they go until the can get to a prelude to The Black Panther revealing T’Chacka. So much cool stuff, but we won’t have to wait long before we could get a taste of Hank Pym in Agent Carter and who knows where that could lead!
The Kang stuff is too far off to really know but imagine if Marvel could build almost in 2 directions going in the past and present, then doing something crazy with Time travel. Crazy! Now I am interested in Agent Carter and wouldn’t mind if they turned Agents of Shield into a spinoff show called SWORD and SHIELD!
will people please stop thinking Hank Pym will have anything to do with Agent Carter – it’s set in 1945 or 46 – Hank Pym will not yet be born at that time – otherwise he’d be like 90 years or older (same as Peggy & Cap in the present day) and obviously Michael Douglas is not that age and doesn’t portray it in the few photos that have come out so far (and no it’s not likely that he was inject with the Super Soldier Serum)
IF Peggy &/ or Howard Stark appear in Ant-Man it would like be back in the 1970s or 80s (any earlier and Hank would be a teenager or younger – which is possibly – but not likely)
read my theory above …. IF Peggy / Howard are even to appear in Ant-Man – I’ll probably be right on the money or at least close to what ends up happening in Ant-Man
God. People are really getting butt-hurt over 2 little words: “master thief.” Omg the movie is ruined (heavy sarcasm). Stfu and wait until a trailer is out to truly judge a movie.
agreed
I’m curious how some people these days are able to enjoy watching anything when it seems they want to know/ dissect everything before seeing a film – I can only imagine what it will be like 10 or 15 years from now when Technos will start getting cerebral implants and won’t even need to use a computer to be “online” – it will all just be done thru the implants
computers … laptops .. cell phones … iWatches …. iChip (aka cerebral implant) and full on cyborgs
You said “Master Thief”! Oh god, a Halo movie is coming, and….oh….that’s “Master Chief”. Humph, got me all excited. Think I’ll just go down and raid the fridge for some left-over pot roast dinner, and make a “Master Beef” sandwich.
@Karmick Screenrant needs to add the like button for comments lol
in earth’s mightiest heroes, when hank quit on the avengers, scott lang stole his suit to steal money because he had to rescue his daughter, i forgot the name of the bad guy, and hank hired luke cage & iron fist to find him, after scott rescued his daughter, hank gave him the suit, maybe scott being a master thief in the movie kinda focused on the cartoon, idk, hopefully it turns out good