Director Peyton Reed Was Marvel’s Ant-Man… Back in the Day
It may be a little known fact that Marvel’s Ant-Man Director, Peyton Reed, was the insect-sized superhero back in the day. Well, sort of anyways. When we visited the set back in November, he told us the story of how he always loved the character. Then, back in the 80’s, he was in a punk band and would draw up fliers to the shows. On one occasion, he “totally ripped off the cover of Avengers #1 and had the band members as characters of the Avengers.” He was Ant-Man.
Peyton Reed
So maybe it was nothing more than a crazy fantasy Peyton Reed had back in the day, but you have to admire his passion for the character. Obviously, he was a Marvel comics “nerd” who began reading comic books from a very young age. He said that even though some kids read both Marvel and the “others,” he was strictly a Marvel guy. It’s no wonder he is now directing this very movie!
Other than the obvious, Peyton Reed mentioned that one of the things that really attracted him to the movie was the fact that Ant-Man is the only superhero in the Marvel Universe that is a parent. Did you realize that? I don’t think I ever thought about it. But really love that about the movie already! And even though they changed a few of the specifics, the relationship Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) has with his daughter, Cassie, is still definitely a large part of the movie.
In fact, the relationship between Scott and his daughter is the driving force as to why Ant-Man embraces his heroic side. He is fully devoted to becoming the father he needs to be for her. To be there for her and to make the world a better place for his daughter. He is looking for redemption in her eyes.
Reed puts it this way, “all of the shrinking, the controlling ants, and all the sort of super heroics, but also has this really grounded domestic side.” This was what really appealed to him when it came to choosing to direct the movie.
As a parent, I truly think this is perfect! He also confirmed that there is great thematic between Paul and his daughter, and also Michael Douglas and his daughter, in the movie, Evangeline Lily. He went on to say,
“I think that, that, in terms of the script and the story is one of the great things. They both, Paul and Michael, are very flawed characters who have things to learn about parenting and about being there for your kids. And that I think is a different thing from a lot of the other Marvel movies.”
Plus, in addition to Ant-Man being a parent, the powers that he possesses are very different from other superheros. There will be no “superhero fatigue” during this movie! Peyton Reed made sure to stay “5 steps ahead of the audience” to ultimately provide the best entertainment for the audience, you and I. Of course, there is the interconnection found in each of the Marvel films, but this one will still have its own tone.
Well, we all get to see how that heist plays out when Marvel’s Ant-Man crawls into theaters on Friday, July 17.