With an Edgar Wright-sized hole in its directors seat, Marvel Studios is moving quickly to put a new lensman in charge of their suddenly beleaguered Ant-Man project.
And according to a Hollywood Reporter story (re-reported by Crave movie site /Film), the group of potential auteurs meeting with Marvel to discuss taking over the film offer some insight into the studio’s vision for Ant-Man — and maybe, why Wright left in the first place.
According to the HR sources, directors Rawson Thurber, Adam McKay and Ruben Fleischer have met or will meet with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige about the project.
All three have solid resumes. Thurber directed Dodgeball as well as last year’s surprise hit We’re the Millers. Currently, he’s in talks for a sequel as well as an adaptation of the retro-popular Choose Your Own Adventure book series.
McKay is Will Ferrell’s producing partner and director of choice, serving behind the camera on the funnyman’s two Anchorman features, Step Brothers and Ferrell’s upcoming comedy Get Hard.
Meanwhile, /Film’s Germain Lussier is putting his bets on Fleischer, whose action comedies Zombieland and 30 Minutes or Less seem the most likely fit with the suspected Ant-Man tone.
Which begs the question — just what is Marvel looking for from the new Ant-Man director? And what sensibility that scared Marvel away from Wright’s approach stands to be corrected by their new hire?
The director candidates seem to speak to Marvel’s most obvious desire: a proven mainstream comedy director. Does that mean Ant-Man will definitely skew toward the more playful tone of writer Robert Kirkman’s fabulous 2007 Irredeemable Ant-Man series? Not to mention, leaning on the well-honed comedic skills of leading man Paul Rudd?
Once a director choice is made, we’ll all find out when Ant-Man barrels toward its July 17, 2015 release date.
