The Avengers Portrayal of Hank Pym's Mental State?

[Artistsean]

How should Hank Pym's mental state be portrayed in the movie?
In whatever movie he is in first, Avengers of his own, how should he be shown?

Should they go straight for him being mentally unstable, taking medication, and having outbursts and breakdowns?
Should they not mention it at all?
Should they hint at it?

Personally, I enjoy reading old Avengers comics and seeing things that could be subtle hints at his mental state.

Something like this, to me, shows that maybe he didn't have complete control of his faculties back then either. His first fiance is killed and he decides to "Go to the Ants" like she said.
In another comic I read recently Wasp is shot and it sends Pym (grieving and scared) into a numb state before into he erupts in a violent outbursts. Attacking the doctor who says she might not make it.

I think the movie should show tiny, subtle, hints at first that he might have mental problems before going more into them. Having Hank say and do things, maybe have an outburst here or there.

But once they do go more into it, how do you think they should do it?
How far into it should he go?
Should he turn on his team in a jealous rage? Or develop a split personality? Or hit Jan? Or have a breakdown where he can't remember who he really is?

Or worse?

Since its a movie should they not go so deep, maybe just show that he is unstable and taking medication. And perhaps show him having outburst, get violent or have a breakdown. But never go so deep into it since they don't have comic after comic to develop it?
I don't think they will take it as far as the Ultimate Comics did, making him abusive and very unstable.
How should the movies approach Hank Pym's mental state? From the beginning to the end? How should they start showing it? And once they get into his mental illness how deep should they take it?

 

[UnkillableMick]

I'd like to see them take an Ultimates route, personally. He wasn't crazy, per se, just a bit unbalanced.

 

[Son of Coul]

They should hint at it, but definitely not cram the breakdown into the character's introduction movie, it's way too soon.

 

[Shawkur]

I would just leave it at bearing a deep sense of guilt for creating Ultron.

 

[PROLIFIK1]

I think they should just give subtle hints without putting it all out there for his first movie. They can develop it later in the Avengers film or the following sequels.

 

[topdog1]

I would just leave it at bearing a deep sense of guilt for creating Ultron.

There ya go! Leave Hank alone, damnit Marvel. I love his current role in Mighty Avengers. Competent hero and "scientist supreme". Leave all that Ultimates wife beating crap out forever. Dealing with anxiety is fine but sending him over the top or making him out to be an a-hole like the Ultimate Avengers animated film did is wrong and a bad idea. It doesn't add depth to anything and comes across as a cheap ploy for bad writers.

 

[catintheengine]

I think subtle hints are the way to go, at least for his introduction.

From there, take it wherever it feels natural. I wouldn't go so far as to have him beat Jan, as general audiences are going to have a hard time forgiving a character for something like that. You're going to end up with a character that most people will hate.

HOWEVER, if they decided to kill him off in the Avengers film, then you could push the boundaries a bit, then give him a redemption at the end.

Just an idea though.

 

[UnkillableMick]

There ya go! Leave Hank alone, damnit Marvel. I love his current role in Mighty Avengers. Competent hero and "scientist supreme". Leave all that Ultimates wife beating crap out forever. Dealing with anxiety is fine but sending him over the top or making him out to be an a-hole like the Ultimate Avengers animated film did is wrong and a bad idea. It doesn't add depth to anything and comes across as a cheap ploy for bad writers.

What's wrong with having ******* characters? Not everyone can be a squeaky clean, Captain America type...

 

[Artistsean]

I could see them making subtle hints at Pym's shaky mental state. And then later (perhaps during the Ultron story) go deeper into his serious mental illnesses. But I don't think they need to give him real serious stuff like making him abusive. having a break down and stuff like that, maybe showing his change in costumes and super identities sort of being connected, and showing mood swings and him taking medication, would be enough... maybe.
You still want the audience to root for him, having him be abusive might hurt that.

What if they showed him accidentally hit Janet (like Peter hit MJ in Spider-Man 3) would that be too much?

What if he is almost shown like the movie "A Beautiful Mind?"

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

They should hint at it, but definitely not cram the breakdown into the character's introduction movie, it's way too soon.

Agreed. Kind of like what they did with Tony Stark's drinking in the first Iron Man movie...