Well the numbers aren’t final, but from what I have been reading Ant-Man took #1 at the box office this weekend. The excitement leading up to the #AntMan release has been quite ride. To finish up our coverage for the #AntManEvent press junket I am sharing some of the thoughts from the Director Peyton Reed and producer Kevin Feige of Ant-Man.
Director and Producer of Ant-Man
We started off our first set of questions with; So with Ant Man being more humorous what was that like to film a Marvel superhero that was humorous?
Mr Peyton Reed responded, Well, I think that was one of the things that appealed to me about it in the first place was that, you know, particularly in the context of Marvel movies it was sort of a smaller, more intimate Marvel movie and it did kind of revolve around family. Scott Lang, his one goal in the movie is to when he gets out of prison is to “become a part of his daughter’s life.” That’s it, that’s all he wants. And it’s a really strong, relatable personal goal. You know, of course he has to go on a crazy journey and achieve a lot of crazy things to–– to become a part of her life but that’s it.
And I also liked that it was always a part of the movie that, you know, Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd’s characters, they both have daughters and they both have kind of strange relationships. They want to be closer to their daughter. Um, and I like that that’s sort of a bond that they have. They may not realize that that’s their bond at all, but it is. And with Hank Pym and Hope, um, it’s crucial to the success of pulling off this heist they have to repair that relationship. ‘Cause they’re never gonna, never gonna achieve that goal unless they, you know, they find some peace with each other.
And I loved that. I thought that was just a really strong relatable aspect about the movie. In terms of the comedy, you know, I love the idea that it–– it can have big stakes and have heart but the, it’s–– it’s funny and I really, I like the idea, I wanted to make it sort of a tight, fun movie that hopefully is a repeat movie going experience that makes you feel good and–– and it’s fun. And in particular when you have Paul Rudd at the center of it, um, you know, it’s gonna be funny.
Peyton also shared about how researched Ant-Man; That is one of the things like when–– when I started on the Ant Man was just pouring through the old comic books and finding images that I loved as a kid, or that appeal to me now like “Oh that’s,” you know, “That’s a cool use of the power that–– that’s gotta find its way into the movie.” And those are the kinds of images that they’re really iconic and I think in the, some of the first Ant Man things he had in his headquarters a slingshot system where “How does Ant Man get across town?” and it literally was like some kind of a rubber band [LAUGHS], you know, that did not find its way into the movie. But I–– I love those kinds of things.
During our interview Kevin Feige was taking questions like this one; When creating these films, how do you try to incorporate things to get the women a little more involved and excited about the film as well?
Well, I think, I think, uh, all of our movies, uh, have–– have appeal to both. And I think people still feel, this is our 12th movie so I’m not sure why it still seems surprising but in–– in test screenings oftentimes, um, the movies are rated higher by the–– the women in the audience than by the–– the men. Um, so when people go, “Oh, you know, these, women don’t usually like these kind of movies,” I go, “Well, that’s not true.” Um, I mean, there are men that don’t like them, there are women that, you know, but it’s, but it really is a huge huge portion of the fan base now. Uh, and I don’t know that we sit and go, “Okay how do we, how do we, um, we make the movie work for–– for us, frankly.” Um, because–– because we want to make movies that we want to go see, as Peyton I think said earlier at the–– the, in the press conference. The powerful women because we all have powerful women in our lives. That’s the way of the world. Um, so when it comes to Hope it was a big part of the development of the development of the movie, in particular when Peyton came on board and when Evangeline was about to come on board, um, of how to, you know, a lot, the big question was, “Well, why isn’t she in the suit?” She could easily be in the suit. She is, she is clearly in the movie–– movie that we’ve made, uh, more capable than–– than, uh, Scott Lang is to be in the suit.
Ant-Man in Theaters July 17th
The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man.” Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Marvel’s “Ant-Man” stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, Corey Stoll as Darren Cross aka Yellowjacket, Bobby Cannavale as Paxton, Michael Peña as Luis, Tip “T.I.” Harris as Dave, Wood Harris as Gale, Judy Greer as Maggie, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, and Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym. Directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a., Marvel’s “Ant-Man” delivers a high-stakes, tension-filled adventure on July 17, 2015.