The MCU’s incredible success early proved the cinematic universe worked, but it also ruined one of its most promising movies. When it was announced that Marvel Studios would begin developing movies based on its characters and that the movies would be connected, there was a lot of skepticism. By the time The Avengers was released, it was clear that the gamble paid off, but the success also had some negative effects.
While promoting his new movie The Running Man on Reddit, Edgar Wright gave some more context to his decision to abandon his much-anticipated Ant-Man movie after working on it for years. Wright reveals that due to the growth of the MCU during the development of his movie, by the time he was getting ready to make it, his vision no longer fit into the cinematic universe.
Wright suggests that Marvel had “an established house style” and a continuity that didn’t allow him to make the “left-field heist movie” he had envisioned. Ultimately, Wright stepped out of the movie and director Payton Reed took over, helming all three Ant-Man movies to date. Wright went on to make the acclaimed action movie Baby Driver as well as The Running Man.
Edgar Wright’s departure from Ant-Man is still a controversial MCU moment
Despite the fact that the MCU was still at its peak when this all happened, Ant-Man losing Edgar Wright as its director was a huge blow to the studio. Wright’s project was one of the first MCU movies that was announced, alongside Iron Man. Wright had already proven himself a fan-favorite filmmaker with the likes of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. His blend of action and comedy seemed to be the perfect fit for Marvel.
When Wright decided to leave the project, it ignited a lot of conversations about whether maintaining a cinematic universe was robbing the MCU of creative decisions. As Wright pointed out, there was very much an established style and world that MCU movies had to fit into. This made it hard for filmmakers with distinct visions to make their mark.
Ant-Man ended up being a success, but there are still many fans who wish they could have seen Wright’s version of the story. Wright himself admits to never having seen the finished movie and that he has no regrets about leaving. However, the recent struggles the MCU has faced might suggest they still haven’t learned the lesson from his departure.