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So how about this Ant-Man fiasco? Edgar Wright was doing it, then he wasn't. Then we all guessed who was doing it. We were wrong. The Wrap said that Rawson Thurber was the top candidate. Then it was Adam McKay announced as the new Ant-Man director. And we all rejoiced, because we love Adam McKay!
... But then he wasn't. Our celebration was extremely short-lived, and suddenly everyone was asking about what happened. Now the situation has become much clearer, as McKay has revealed through Twitter why he won't be making Ant-Man:
Adam McKay's other projects are considerable. The Anchorman director is likely hard at work putting together a script for The Big Short for producer Brad Pitt. Based on the Michael Lewis-authored nonfiction book, it tells the story of the crash of the housing crisis, and it would be a darkly comic shift for McKay to make in his career. Having Brad Pitt in his corner might be more beneficial that Marvel, given what Edgar Wright had to deal with.
Perhaps he's also still trying to get Uptown Saturday Night going? That project was previously announced to star Denzel Washington and Will Smith - provided the Nick Stoller script was up to snuff. McKay is also attached to helm an adaptation of the popular Garth Ennis comic The Boys and the Will Ferrell-Adam Sandler comedy Three Mississppi. McKay's got no shortage of options, and it's sounding a lot like Marvel knew that going in, and that McKay was ultimately not that close to accepting the offer in the first place.
So, does this mean The Wrap's previously released story about Rawson Thurber being the frontrunner is now true? The Wrap piece depressingly describes him as "more willing to accommodate producer's notes and serve a studio's vision." It's probably not as insidious as it sounds given Marvel's well-established track record, but it's still a bit disappointing that we went from the director of Shaun Of The Dead to - potentially - a guy who's known for "serving a studio's vision." Thurber's We're The Millers grossed $267 million worldwide, but no one came away thinking the guy had the chops for big budget filmmaking.
Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer was the other suggested competitor, but as noted earlier, he may opt to stay home with his newborn child instead of launching into such a massive gig. This could mean that Marvel is considering some different voices we haven't heard about yet to handle this potential tentpole release. This thing has the whiff of desperation at this point, and you've got to think that maybe Marvel might think it isn't worth all the trouble, since Ant-Man is a lot less bankable than Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel or any of their other as-yet-unmade properties.
... But then he wasn't. Our celebration was extremely short-lived, and suddenly everyone was asking about what happened. Now the situation has become much clearer, as McKay has revealed through Twitter why he won't be making Ant-Man:
And yes, met w/Marvel. Kirby & Lee r my Lennon Mccartney so it was awesome. But have other projects I'm committed to. Not sure it can work.
— Adam McKay (@GhostPanther) May 31, 2014Adam McKay's other projects are considerable. The Anchorman director is likely hard at work putting together a script for The Big Short for producer Brad Pitt. Based on the Michael Lewis-authored nonfiction book, it tells the story of the crash of the housing crisis, and it would be a darkly comic shift for McKay to make in his career. Having Brad Pitt in his corner might be more beneficial that Marvel, given what Edgar Wright had to deal with.
Perhaps he's also still trying to get Uptown Saturday Night going? That project was previously announced to star Denzel Washington and Will Smith - provided the Nick Stoller script was up to snuff. McKay is also attached to helm an adaptation of the popular Garth Ennis comic The Boys and the Will Ferrell-Adam Sandler comedy Three Mississppi. McKay's got no shortage of options, and it's sounding a lot like Marvel knew that going in, and that McKay was ultimately not that close to accepting the offer in the first place.
So, does this mean The Wrap's previously released story about Rawson Thurber being the frontrunner is now true? The Wrap piece depressingly describes him as "more willing to accommodate producer's notes and serve a studio's vision." It's probably not as insidious as it sounds given Marvel's well-established track record, but it's still a bit disappointing that we went from the director of Shaun Of The Dead to - potentially - a guy who's known for "serving a studio's vision." Thurber's We're The Millers grossed $267 million worldwide, but no one came away thinking the guy had the chops for big budget filmmaking.
Zombieland's Ruben Fleischer was the other suggested competitor, but as noted earlier, he may opt to stay home with his newborn child instead of launching into such a massive gig. This could mean that Marvel is considering some different voices we haven't heard about yet to handle this potential tentpole release. This thing has the whiff of desperation at this point, and you've got to think that maybe Marvel might think it isn't worth all the trouble, since Ant-Man is a lot less bankable than Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel or any of their other as-yet-unmade properties.
