Why Ant-Man should be partly set in the 1960/70's

Why Ant-Man should be partly set in the 1960/70's

Phase 3 should start in Phase 1...

Editorial Opinion
By mook - Jun 05, 2013 03:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Ant-Man

For a long time the following quote has been the only description of the Ant-Man plot; "The script for Ant-Man has been written by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, who plan to include Henry Pym and Scott Lang as major characters, with Pym as Ant-Man in the 1960s in a style similar to 'Tales to Astonish', and a flashforward to Lang as Pym's successor in the 1980s or '90s"

A lot has changed since the idea for Edgar Wright's Ant-Man was put forward but I think the basic idea should be retained; Pym in the 1960/70's and then Lang in the modern day (around the same time as Avengers 2).

The basic plot set-up could be something like this;
In the late 1960's Dr Henry Pym and his girlfriend Janet Van Dyne are working at S.R.R/S.H.I.E.L.D where Pym discovers the subatomic "Pym particles". This can lead to the main story of the film, a big period Sci-Fi/Spy adventure with Ant-Man and Wasp. After this is concluded the pair decide it is too risky to pursue the life of a Superhero, shelve their uniforms/equipment and return to safer lab work - in particular concentrating on Pym's 'Ultron' concept...

Then, in the present day (around the same time as 'Avengers 2') Scott Lang can steal the Ant-Man suit and equipment from Pym's home and we can have a small adventure with him. Although Lang is a thief it is revealed after he is caught by S.H.I.E.L.D that he had good intentions. Because of this Pym does not press charges and a friendship develops between the now 70 something year old Pym acting as mentor to Scott Lang the new Ant-Man, and a future member of the Avengers....


Some pros for this approach;

Although 'Captain America: The First Avenger' had modern day bookends this would be the first MCU film set in two different time periods. I'd imagine the 60's/modern day split to be roughly 70/30. This would place the bulk of the story between the first 'Captain America' and 'Iron Man' films in the established MCU timeline, a time period as yet unexplored on-screen.

In the comics Ant-Man and Wasp were founding members of The Avengers. Although this isn't the case in the MCU, having them working for S.H.I.E.L.D back in the 1960/70's could allow them to have an early role in the MCU. You could even have them as key early members of S.H.I.E.L.D – perhaps helping the transition from the Strategic Scientific Reserve (S.S.R, as seen in 'Captain America') to S.H.I.E.L.D.

It could lay groundwork for future MCU events e.g Ultron being started by Pym in the 1960/70's and then the research & development carried on by Pym and S.H.I.E.L.D over the decades. This could lead to appearances of Ultron as a villain in 'Ant-Man 2' (or even a future Avengers film).

In 'Iron Man 2' Nick Fury states that he knew Howard Stark, who was a founding member of S.H.I.E.L.D. Both men could have cameos in the late 1960's/early 1970's section of the film.

You could have fun Easter Eggs such as early concept designs for the Helicarrier, or set up upcoming films e.g mention that Wakanda is closing it's borders...

We could see some of the history of how the Strategic Scientific Reserve became S.H.I.E.L.D.

It could explain the whereabouts of the Cosmic Cube between being picked up by Howard Stark at the end of 'Captain America' and then appearing with Nick Fury at the end of 'Thor'.

Setting Pym's story in the 1960's avoids having another genius scientist (we already have Stark & Banner) in the modern Avengers team.

A chance for different relationships to be explored in the MCU; Pym and Van Dyne as an established couple in the past and then an elderly married couple in the present day, and also the master/apprentice relationship between Pym and Lang in the present day.

The introduction of Lang would bring in a different type of hero; one who is neither given powers or the inventor - he instead starts as a thief.

They could have a cameo of someone in the Ant-Man suit in 'Avengers 2' but not reveal until the Ant-Man film (released after 'Avengers 2') that it was in fact Lang, in the process of stealing the suit...

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BritishKnight
BritishKnight - 6/5/2013, 7:29 AM
I like it! Although I'm not that big of a Scott Lang fan. It would be great to see Howard Stark again.
WawelDragon
WawelDragon - 6/5/2013, 7:42 AM
That could work in MCU, but I would be disappointed. I like only Pym as Ant-Man, and i belive he should play big role in modern day Avengers.
WYLEEJAY
WYLEEJAY - 6/5/2013, 8:38 AM
Cool idea.
THIS
THIS - 6/5/2013, 8:53 AM
Love it.
Odin
Odin - 6/5/2013, 9:43 AM
Accoarding the internet, story was something like this in the early version of script in 2010. There was also a rumor that Wasp in nowadays in the movie universe would be Hank Pym's daughter.
Ocelot
Ocelot - 6/5/2013, 11:02 AM
isn't this sort of what Edgar Wright wants to do, heard Feige and co weren't to fond of an elderly Hank Pym, I think it will be similar, but instead they'll change the 60's/70's setting to the early 00's and pre Iron Man. Then half of the movie will be about pym creating the particles and suit and the other half about Henry Lang and why he steals it, pym tutoring him which leads to the master/apprentice type relationship and Lang taking out bad guys. But agree the 60's/70's setting for Pym would be good.

I think that Henry pym will be a Selvig type once introduced into the Marvel Cinematic universe, dont think he'll use the Ant-Man suit for missions or to fight crime but instead uses it for the purposes of science, whilst Lang does the opposite. Then if Ultron is used they'll have Pym step up and don the suit to take his creation down. Dont think he'll be associated with The Avengers.

I like this idea it's interesting, hope they go with it
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/5/2013, 11:35 AM
I don't know why people even perpetuate Scott Lang these days. The character is dead dead dead, like OFFICIALLY dead. Not Jason Todd dead, not Captain America dead, not Jean Grey dead - but legitimately DEAD.

And I can't remember a single story I cared about him in.

Another thing - using Lang instead of Pym, or even in a majority to Pym to any degree, would be like jumping RIGHT OVER Tony Stark and giving Rhodey the armor. He didn't earn it, he doesn't understand Pym Particles (note the name PYM) - he f**kin stole it, man.


....
Hehehe, I'm just messing. Doesn't mean I don't think the way I do, but it's all good.
AshleyWilliams
AshleyWilliams - 6/5/2013, 6:57 PM
Great idea but I like Hank and Jan on the team.
LegendaryOutlaw
LegendaryOutlaw - 6/5/2013, 7:38 PM
I didn't read this but NO FREAKING 60's 70's 80's, or anything like that.
mook
mook - 6/6/2013, 6:28 AM
@SpeedyX10 Thanks for your input?
mook
mook - 6/6/2013, 6:38 AM
@Tainted87 This idea uses Lang as well as Pym - not instead of. Pym is the creator, the original, a key early SHIELD member and remains a driving force in the present day due to his mentor role.

Also having Lang as a thief and then recipient of the title would be something not yet seen in the MCU (although it happens a lot in comics).

I would expect Pym to appear in Avengers 2 along with Lang (only not jumping around and punching people).

If they did this idea and then made 'Ant-Man 2' I see no reason why it couldn't include flashbacks to Pym's earlier life, perhaps further along the timeline but still before 'Iron Man'...
NovaCorpsFan
NovaCorpsFan - 6/9/2013, 5:22 PM
@mook, I like the whole idea you've got going here. Although I 'd prefer for them both to exist in the same time period s young men. Scott Lang can become Ant-Man and Pym can be Yellowjacket. I'd prefer it that way.
mook
mook - 6/10/2013, 12:58 AM
@NovaCorpsfan Yes, that would be a good way to do it if they want Pym and Wasp as similar ages to the current Avengers. In that way we would get three new Superheroes from one film.
NoahJAustin
NoahJAustin - 7/8/2013, 9:12 AM
I'm thinking this is a very likely idea. What I want to see is Robert Redford playing an older Hank Pym in CATWS. Set that shit up!
mook
mook - 7/10/2013, 1:31 AM
@NoahJAustin I would love to see this happen.

I'm also intrigued by the idea of a 1970's set Luke Cage/Iron Fist film.
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