ROTTEN TOMATOES: Matthew Vaughn, Edgar Wright Talk Thor, Ant-Man

Matthew Vaughn, Edgar Wright Talk Thor, Ant-Man

Second-tier Marvel heroes still coming to the silver screen.

by Jeff Giles | March 11, 2008

Wondering what's going on behind the scenes of Marvel's long-rumored Thor and Ant-Man adaptations?

Good news: Empire has been wondering the same thing -- and they recently caught up with Matthew Vaughn and Edgar Wright, respective caretakers of the Thor and Ant-Man film franchises, and were able to ask them a few questions about where those projects stand.

In the case of Thor, according to Vaughn, the answer is "in a holding pattern" -- if only for the moment. The director says he's waiting for Marvel "to decide if they want to make the movie," which sounds awfully ominous, but that didn't keep Vaughn from sharing some of his ideas for the film and its title character:

Well, the main role is going to be played by someone totally unknown. It can't be a star, it's got to be someone totally unknown...I think you have to respect that it is a comic book and silly to be frank, so you have to combine that with a modern style and hopefully come up with something fresh. I think we can come up with something special.

Meanwhile, Ant-Man writer-director Edgar Wright is hard at work on what he refers to as "a second draft" of his script with Joe Cornish, and to fans who fear he's turning the diminutive Marvel hero into the butt of a joke, he says not to worry:

It's going to be less overtly comedic than anything else I've ever done. It's more of a full-on action adventure sci-fi film, but with a comedic element -- in the same spirit of a lot of escapist fare like that. It's certainly not a superhero spoof or pastiche, and it certainly isn't a sort of 'Honey I Shrunk The Kids' endeavor at all.

Of course, hardcore Ant-Man fans (there must be at least a few) know that the Ant-Mantle has been assumed by two men, described by Empire as "the goody-two-shoes scientist Hank Pym" and "the more roguish Scott Lang." So which one is Wright planning on bringing to a theater near you?

Ah, well, it could be Scott Lang, it could be Hank Pym, it could be both -- okay, it is both. Now there's an exclusive for you.

To read more of Vaughn and Wright's thoughts about Thor and Ant-Man, follow the links below!

Source: Empire (Thor article)
Source: Empire (Ant-Man article)

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

Elixor writes:
on Mar 11 2008 05:55 AM

It's both?! How could that be? Is there someone who knows Ant-Man better than me (I know only a little) that could explain how that could be?

(Reply to this)

zgberg writes:
on Mar 11 2008 07:24 AM

the answer is...who gives a flying crap?

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Mar 11 2008 08:59 AM

I think EDGAR WRIGHT could make a good ANT-MAN movie. I dont know about THOR though.

(Reply to this)

AndrewZeppelin writes:
on Mar 11 2008 11:50 AM

There can be more than one Ant-man because his powers are derived from his suit.

(Reply to this)

ajmk123 writes:
on Mar 11 2008 11:51 AM

Hank Pym is the one who creates the pym molecules that allow him to shrink or grow and when he gives up the name Ant Man, this guy scott lang steals the suit that allows him to shrink in order to save his daughter and then Hank allows him to keep the suit and the name and inducts him into the Avengers.

(Reply to this)

dedalus7 writes:
on Mar 11 2008 12:07 PM

The writer says basically Thor is silly, but thinks if he mashes it up with a modern style he'll "come up with something special". Wow, I knew there was a secret formula to writing great movies but I thought they kept that sort of information under lock and key. Thanks Matthew Vaughn for revealing the secrets of Hollywood screenwriting! But I'm afraid a pretty great Thor movie has already been made... it was called Adventures in Babysitting. You can't top it, so why try?

(Reply to this)

Myriada writes:
on Mar 11 2008 12:23 PM

Aha. I thought so. There was talk of creative differences. While that was just rumors, I "had a bad feeling about this" when Marvel mentioned the Thor movie recently but didn't mention Vaughn as the director. Mmmmm-hmmmmmm. In any case, I am still hoping that this film gets made, and that they make something special out of it -- though that would mean making changes that might upset a few fans. Say, I wonder if Vladimir Kulich qualifies as "totally unknown"? Maybe not, but I do feel it would be a huge mistake for them not to cast him in some capacity, assuming he is interested.

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Mar 11 2008 01:30 PM

In reply to this comment (#1626603)
Thanks ajmk. That makes some sense then. I should refresh myself on Ant-Man. I've got some Marvel Universe comics that I can dig out.

(Reply to this)

ajmk123 writes:
on Mar 11 2008 07:04 PM

Elixor just go to wikipedia, it is good for stuff like that.

(Reply to this)

Hamboner writes:
on Mar 11 2008 07:49 PM

Who in power at Marvel believes Ant Man or Thor is a good idea? I'm not sure I'd even heard of Ant Man before they started hyping up a possible movie a year ago. Why are they fixated on such a stupid-sounding character? The directors don't even sound like they want to make the movies, that should say it all.

Here's what Vaughn is thinking (but not saying)...

"No, I have no idea how to make anything artistically credible out of Thor. But if we put in some hot chicks and explosions and add a cheesy Rock/Alternative soundtrack it may make a lot of money and then I can have a hit on my resume which will allow me to perhaps make some other movie that will require me USE MY DAMN BRAIN."

I'm not saying that I blame him, but after the success of Ghostrider, FF1 and 2, and Blade 3 Marvel has realized that it doesn't need to make good movies to earn money. They want cheap directors to work a David Goyer script that stars someone people've heard of. Easy, proven formula. Marvel's films are now utter crap unless Iron Man bucks the trend.

I am amazed the Super Hero movie trend has lasted this long, though. But my Christ, it is getting formulaic.

Sorry, my whining is now over.

(Reply to this)

ajmk123 writes:
on Mar 11 2008 08:26 PM

Hamboner it is a good idea you have no power because then Batman Begins would not of been made or Xmen, or Blade, or Spiderman. Go away loser.

(Reply to this)

goldmonkee writes:
on Mar 11 2008 11:21 PM

I think Thor could be great, if it was made as a balls-to-the-wall fantasy war fest (somewhat like "Beowulf").

Making it "silly"...ya, good luck with that.

(Reply to this)

Raziel5000 writes:
on Mar 12 2008 02:01 AM

So Antman can grow as well? That makes more sense, I was kind of confused as the power to just shrink doesn't seem like a great ability for a superhero.

(Reply to this)

Vitamin M writes:
on Mar 12 2008 08:14 AM

Hamboner you're name is fitting. Vaughn up until now has made nothing but intelligent films. Layer Cake was a great first attempt and StarDust was flat out brilliant. And his take on Thor (printed elsewhere) seemed like it was coming from the right direction...going more balls to the walls fantasy war fest (as goldmonkee suggested).

The film being financially succesful is another story.

Also the crapfest known as the Fantastic Four films were done by Fox and Fox is where the blame should be put as they were the ones hiring Tim "Worst director ever" Story. I'm forgetting who made GhostRider as I am also trying to forget ever seeing it but Blade 3 was also made by a different company.
The film to look at as the current direction of the Marvel universe of films being produced Marvel would be Iron Man and damn that movie looks cool.

Hopefully at some point they can regain control of Xmen and let Whendon write/direct a new film that dosn't suck. His run on Astonishing xmen is amazing.

(Reply to this)

ThunderMammoth writes:
on Mar 12 2008 12:03 PM

So Thor sounds silly, but Ant-Man sounds like a great adventure flick???

is this a joke?

I can't believe they're talking seriously about Ant-Man. There are a zillion other 2nd tier characters more worthy of a film. Moon Knight, Kazar, Dr. Strange... the list could go on and on....

Yet Wright's talking about Ant-Man like he's really got something special.

How does this get greenlighted? This is gonna flop big-time. Lame Lame Lame. This sucks.

(Reply to this)

Hamboner writes:
on Mar 12 2008 12:16 PM

Woah... a simple wrong would have sufficed.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Mar 12 2008 12:24 PM

I think it should be Ant-Man vs. Giant Magnifying Glass Man.

(Reply to this)

mattdaddy36 writes:
on Mar 12 2008 04:27 PM

I think if Thor had a 300 style neo-realism it would work, even made seriously. Ant-Man was awesome! But his powers blow. Pym is the giant guy in the Avengers now. He got sick of shrinking and became giant. His wife is The Wasp. Maybe he needed Enzyte or something instead. Either that or The Vision was mackin' on his wife and he needed to be a little more imposing.

(Reply to this)

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