Ant-Man The Official Ant-Man News and Speculation Thread - Part 1

[BatsDC]

If they keep Hank in the 60s my interest in this film will drop by a lot, but eh, Marvel don't seem that interested in the character anyways so it wouldn't be surprising.

 

[Sockie]

And in interview, Feige just said its broadly the same as the original pitch. So, however it exactly goes, Lang is going to be the hero of the film.

That pitch had Pym just as big a character in the film as Lang. They're both going to be the heroes, regardless of one being an older gentleman.

 

[Sub-Zero]

what was the original pitch? pym was a 70s era scientist that created pym particles and in the present day a janitor, lang, steals it to rescue his kidnapped daughter?

 

[DyeLorean]

Wow, I just realized I don't know anything about this character. Got a little confused.

 

[BenKenobi]

I hope at the very least that they took out the 1960's stuff

Feige said it's largely the same story. Iron Man 3 was largely the same story when it included Pepper Potts having a sextape with Killian, The Avengers was largely the same story when it featured Skrulls and the Wasp, however things change in revisions- something Feige has ordered several of since 06 and said needed to be done to "fit continuity". If the premise is that of a heist film where Scott Lang steels Hank Pym's gear to save his daughter, then altering the era or the means Pym acquired the technology isn't a massive change to the story that was pitched.

If you think about it, in the wake of the Avengers it doesn't make a lot of sense for Hank Pym to have been around and on SHIELD's radar, as a former hero of the 60s and not have been called in to help track the tessaract. It would work just the same to make him an acclaimed scientist who does research with Pym Particles and keeps the Ant helmet for safety purposes (ie not getting eaten by insects while shrunken to the size of prey).

Not to mention given the fact they're in need of a Robert Downey Jr rival (with him able to leverage his popularity against the studio) and Hank Pym and Doctor Strange being the first two characters that come to mind with the personality to do so, it would be stupid for them to write him out of the era. This could easily be an origin story that introduces Pym as a pacifist scientist/reluctant hero and Scott Lang as a more physically qualified and traditional superhero, maybe working against Egghead (Always thought he fell into Edgar Wrights ballpark of oddness).

 

[chamber-music]

If Pym was Ant-Man in the 1960's then Edgar and Joe must be coming up with a reason for why no one has heard of him or Pym particles/cybernetic technology being more widely available/used.

Shield must of covered up Ant-Man's existence because there has been no mention of a Ant-Man ever existing in the previous movies or Agents Of Shield tv show.

what was the original pitch?

Pym was Ant-Man in the 1960's (possibly as a commie bashing superhero spy) with Lang as a modern version of the character. They cross paths and team up (with Pym perhaps using Lang's skills as a burglar to commit a heist).

 

[Dark Raven]

The original pitch when Edgar Wright wrote it was that Pym was a contemporary scientist (read that as contemporary being the 1960s when it was actually contemporary back then) and Lang came along a couple of years later and stole the suit.

Wright always forgets this bit in his memo: "Note to self - the 1960s isn't just a few years ago anymore."

 

[Endeavor]

If you think about it, in the wake of the Avengers it doesn't make a lot of sense for Hank Pym to have been around and on SHIELD's radar, as a former hero of the 60s and not have been called in to help track the tessaract.

Not to mention given the fact they're in need of a Robert Downey Jr rival (with him able to leverage his popularity against the studio) and Hank Pym and Doctor Strange being the first two characters that come to mind with the personality to do so, it would be stupid for them to write him out of the era.

Agree wholeheartedly, but since we still don't have any confirmation of this particular plot point, I'm fearful we'll still get the 60's has-been. Effectively, it would write Pym out from having any relevant impact on 'present-day' MCU. Which would suck.

 

[spideymouse]

Agree wholeheartedly, but since we still don't have any confirmation of this particular plot point, I'm fearful we'll still get the 60's has-been. Effectively, it would write Pym out from having any relevant impact on 'present-day' MCU. Which would suck.

That would make Pym a contemporary of Selvig's, which would make sense since Selvig does refer to him as a colleague in Thor 1...and Selvig hasn't seemed to be so irrelevant at his age... It's just too bad they didn't cast Stellan Skarsgaard as Hank Pym in the Thor 1 in the first place if they already knew they were going to have Pym in his 60's. Then again, Pym isn't an astrophysicist, and of course, it might have become a "Anakin builds C3PO" moment.

 

[BenKenobi]

Agree wholeheartedly, but since we still don't have any confirmation of this particular plot point, I'm fearful we'll still get the 60's has-been. Effectively, it would write Pym out from having any relevant impact on 'present-day' MCU. Which would suck.

He could in old age still. You never know, especially with

Spoiler

The Infinity Stones coming into play

he could be de-aged. Anyway one thing a lot of people found a bit odd was the rumor JGL and Paul Rudd were the top runners for Hank Pym, when they have like a 15-20 year age gap. JGL said he wasn't in talks to play Pym, but wouldn't it make sense if he was Lang and Rudd was Pym? Personally I'd be fine with this age gap.

 

[BenKenobi]

That would make Pym a contemporary of Selvig's, which would make sense since Selvig does refer to him as a colleague in Thor 1...and Selvig hasn't seemed to be so irrelevant at his age... It's just too bad they didn't cast Stellan Skarsgaard as Hank Pym in the Thor 1 in the first place if they already knew they were going to have Pym in his 60's. Then again, Pym isn't an astrophysicist, and of course, it might have become a "Anakin builds C3PO" moment.

Keep in mind the line was originally "I have a colleague, Hank Pym, who's had dealings with these guys before..." but Feige said the reference had to go. However I was thinking the same thing actually, if the 60s thing to turns out to be the case.

 

[chamber-music]

I have a feeling that Pym might be killed off at the end of Ant-Man as well. The 'swansong' for a character in Ant-Man that Edgar mentioned doesn't sound like simply passing the Ant-man mantle over to Lang.

When you have the older heroes and the young protege in fiction the older hero usually ends up dying.

 

[Dr. Evil]

So Lang might be the one who joins the Avengers?

 

[chamber-music]

So Lang might be the one who joins the Avengers?

Maybe.

 

[BatsDC]

There's also the problem of Janet - she either becomes Lang's love interest in the present, or is stuck in the past with Hank, neither of which is desirable for the character.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I think it'll be Pym and Janet who join the Avengers.

Or they could do Pym as Giant Man and Lang as Ant Man and they both join the Avengers together.

 

[Dark Raven]

I don't want Lang getting it on with Janet.

As for Selvig's old acquaintance that shouldn't be forgot or never brought to mind... maybe it was for Auld Lang Sine.

Which was incidentally a Scotts Poem.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Pym as Giant Man, Lang as Ant Man and Janet as Wasp as Avengers please!

 

[chamber-music]

If Pym is active in the 1960's and Janet is his love interest we will have a 60 something Giant-Man and Wasp

I want Hank and Janet in Avengers 3 and Scott can join the Defenders or Shield (where he can appear in other characters movies like Hawkeye and Black Widow do).

 

[Dr. Evil]

If Pym is active in the 1960's and Janet is his love interest we will have a 60 something Giant-Man and Wasp

I want Hank and Janet in Avengers 3 and Scott can join the Defenders or Shield (where he can appear in other characters movies like Hawkeye and Black Widow do).

it depends on who plays Scott Lang and if he wants to do TV.

as for Hank and Janet, I would like diversity in the Avengers, which is why I would love for Janet to join the Avengers, especially if she is to be played by Rashida Jones.

 

[Dark Raven]

If Pym is active in the 1960's and Janet is his love interest we will have a 60 something Giant-Man and Wasp

I want Hank and Janet in Avengers 3 and Scott can join the Defenders or Shield (where he can appear in other characters movies like Hawkeye and Black Widow do).

Janet is almost the epitome of a plucky young woman. Completely the opposite of being in her 60s. That should never happen!

 

[Dr. Evil]

The only way that Hank and Janet could join the Avengers and not age is if one of the Infinity Stones (Time) comes into play.

I don't see that happening though

 

[smashmode]

Ant-Man Casting Call:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/11...t-here/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

new casting breakdowns for the long-gestating Edgar Wright film seem to suggest maybe Pym isn’t the version of the eventual Avenger we’re going to get at all.

This one in particular:

Young girl, aged 6 to 9 – intelligent and appealing
​

seems like it could be a good fit for Cassie Lang, daughter of Scott Lang, the second man to don the Ant-Man costume and moniker and fight crime alongside other Marvel superheros.
But do Rudd and Gordon-Levitt seem like good fits for Lang? Really, aren’t they more suited Eric O’Grady, the low level S.H.I.E.L.D. operative with few morals and self-serving conniving tendencies who steals the suit for his own selfish gain? Hard to say, but here are the rest of the characters seeking actors:

Asian male, 30s – huge, tough and intimidating, comic ability
​

Caucasian male, 30s – over 6′, dangerous and rough, comedic
​

Italian-American male, 50s – scary and unusual features, deadpan humour
​

Russian male – 30s or 40s, wiry and smart, deadpan humour
​

Male, 20s or 30s – Under 5’8″, smart and funny
​

 

[Ant-manic]

He could in old age still. You never know, especially with

Spoiler

The Infinity Stones coming into play

he could be de-aged. Anyway one thing a lot of people found a bit odd was the rumor JGL and Paul Rudd were the top runners for Hank Pym, when they have like a 15-20 year age gap. JGL said he wasn't in talks to play Pym, but wouldn't it make sense if he was Lang and Rudd was Pym? Personally I'd be fine with this age gap.

i still think Jamie Bell will get the nod. there's an even wider age gap between he and Rudd. i certainly don't think they still intend to go with an elderly Pym (it limits their storytelling options post-Ant-Man). it will probably be Rudd. Wright only intended to make one standalone movie. they've, since, adjusted things to fit into the current marvel universe (as others have said). i speculate that Marvel has talked Wright into telling his standalone story but allowing for Pym and Janet Van Dyne to be usable; in other properties.

 

[Ant-manic]

The only way that Hank and Janet could join the Avengers and not age is if one of the Infinity Stones (Time) comes into play.

I don't see that happening though

i don't either. but i don't think it will be necessary. until i see evidence of this taking place in the 60s, i'm going to assume that this part of the story was altered.