Ant man? Seriously?

Why giving Hank Pym a solo film would be the first Marvel Studio flop.

Editorial Opinion
By ironpool007 - Jun 30, 2012 10:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Fan Fic

Why?! That is the first thing that comes to my mind. For those of you who follow news about superhero movies on this site and others, you know that for years now, Marvel has planned to give Ant Man his own solo film, just like they have done with Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk. This is a mistake.

Now I know I'm going to catch a lot of flack for this piece, but honestly, I just can not fathom why Marvel and Disney would want to rest a solo movie on the shoulders of Hank Pym. Don't get me wrong the character certainly deserves his place in MCU, but that place belongs as part of an ensemble cast in a future Avengers film.

So why do I feel this way. Well, as with just about anything in life, it's about personal opinion and preference. I never liked Pym. I think that his creation of Ultron and then Ultron's creation of the Vision are certainly important moments for the Marvel Universe, but those are really the only things I like. And here is the big question. Why make a movie about a superhero who is most famous for backhanding his wife? Remember the moment in the dance number scene in Spider-man 3 where Peter did that to Mary Jane? Awful. Like it or not, that is a moment that Pym is known for, and for it, is not a hero I can root for. There are other reasons too. Pym is just kind of a nasty guy and always comes off as an authoritarian. He also has major self loathing and self esteem issues, and often cracks under pressure. he also married Janet Van Dyne because she resembled his first wife. Pathetic. The guy has never really came off as a hero to me, and in order to make him seem like one, Edgar Wright would have to completely alter many of these aspects to Make Pym a likeable character, and if that's what needs to be done, then you might as well not make an Ant Man movie.

Also, this film has been in development hell for years. I have a lot of respect for Edgar Wright, but if he is having this hard of a time, coming up with the right take on the character, then maybe it's better to just leave well enough alone. He also seems busy getting distracted with other projects, so how much does he really care?

Look, I get that Marvel's appeal is it's character have flaws, but the flaws of Hank Pym just don't make that great of a candidate to carry a movie.

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CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2012, 10:26 AM
I completely agree with you. Ive been reading comics for 25 years. Im as big a fan as anyone can get, and im not even sure I would want to see it. Now just imagine what the general audience will think...
superotherside
superotherside - 6/30/2012, 11:03 AM
Preacherfanatic7 Dude that was very well said. I agree totally.

Everyone else. This movie will work. Trust me.

I remember when people said Iron Man, Cap, and Thor would flop, heh, even some said the Avengers would flop... but it seems no one remembers these things... lol
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2012, 11:13 AM
I remember people saying those things dude, but antman is hardly cap and ironmam..
ollyollyolly
ollyollyolly - 6/30/2012, 11:17 AM
You make a good case. I think what Wright intends to do with the character could be vastly different from the books. He does add a different dynamic to the team. In a film an arc could include threads that connect to the wider universe. Or, like other MCU heroes, start out with characteristics that change throughout the course of the film. If Wright is given the breathing space he will make an entertaining movie. No Doubt.

Ant-Man will always be a hard-sell by name alone, story is an essential and EW can deliver. I just believe that whilst it won't be a top grossing film that CBMers are coming to expect nowadays, it could be a different layer in the the MU and create tension with Stark and Banner's budding bro-mance.

Whoever said Ewan McGregor may be onto something..
VonArndt
VonArndt - 6/30/2012, 11:44 AM
Im willing to bet that after the movie FINALLY comes out, half of you naysayers will be saying its one of the best films in the marvel franchise. Whys that? EDGAR WRIGHT!!! Have none of you people seen Scott Pilgrim?!? Everybody's so happy to jump on the Joss is God bandwagon, but i'd take Spaced over Buffy or Firefly any day. Avengers was awesome, a big movie in the hands of a unique writer/director. I can't wait to see Wrights sensibilities in a true superhero flick, ESPECIALLY one like Ant-Man. It's not about Marvel picking the most popular characters for their films, it's funding the ones that fit best in continuity. Also for all you haters, read the Irredeemable Ant-Man. It's amazing. That is all
StormLoganSummers
StormLoganSummers - 6/30/2012, 11:51 AM
I'd still like to see an Ant-Man movie, but I enjoyed reading this well-written editorial.
antonio
antonio - 6/30/2012, 12:07 PM
I'd like to see an Ant-Movie. Black Panther and GOTG I'm dying to see!
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2012, 12:10 PM
@ von

I have read irredeemable antman.. Its okay, but I would hardly call it amazing.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/30/2012, 12:18 PM
I couldn't disagree with you more if I tried.
Marrying someone who resembles someone important in your life is nothing new, nothing taboo, and is actually a LOT more common than you may think. Consider the Amazing Spider-man. Emma Stone and Sally Field have a very similar facial structure. Is that a form of an oedipus complex?
One other example that I immediately found myself thinking of is when I went to a Lindsey Buckingham concert a few years back. If you don't know who he is, he is the lead guitarist to the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac, who had a relationship with lead vocalist Stevie Nicks before the band got together. Lindsey's wife was present at the concert, and it's amazing how much she looks like Stevie Nicks. Is that pathetic? No, it's natural.

Back to Ant-man as a standalone....
You really think he's just not interesting enough to be in a standalone film? I've heard this about a lot of characters and there are very few that I can agree on. Go to a Redbox and look at the selection. This action is free and doesn't require registration or anything. You'll see a swarm of all of these new releases that were probably out for half a month in theaters, some hits, but most are bombs or direct-to-dvd B-movies. The characters in these movies are no more interesting than Ant-man, but movies about them are constantly in production.

Let me tell you something, Spider-man is a really really boring character. Kid gets bitten by a spider, gets super strength, heightened intuitive senses, lightning fast reflexes, and enhanced durability. So what? My favorite video game series at the moment features a race of blue monogendered aliens called the "Asari" who are naturally "biotics", which is essentially another word for telekinetic. They can also manipulate minds and bond telepathically.

How interesting are these characters? Apart from the flashy light display, not very. One particular Asari, voiced by Carrie Anne Moss is like the Jabba of a particular site, known to be the head hancho, the one who everyone fears - but in actuality, the character sits on a couch and gives orders.

Superpowers don't make the characters interesting. It just so happens that the application of Pym particles has many variants and massive potential - suppose Pym wanted to drop a building on someone - he'd just carry it in his pocket. Practical purposes - how do you get the SHIELD helicarrier in the air without launching it and using all of that fuel and energy? Shrinking it.

You're also betting that Pym is going to be portrayed exactly like he is in the comics. Maybe he doesn't have a problem with stealing all kinds of secret weapons and technology, especially if he can get away with it.
VonArndt
VonArndt - 6/30/2012, 12:20 PM
Thanks for the input Corndog. In my opinion it f'n rocked
MrsTonyStark0507
MrsTonyStark0507 - 6/30/2012, 12:25 PM
I agree. There really is no need for him to have his own movie. I think he could just be introduced in the next Avengers or another movie where there is more than one hero and it would be fine. I have always seen him as kind of a whiny quitter.

Preacherfanatic - You make a very good point. I dislike Tony Stark so much in the Civil War series and pretty much everything that comes after it. I hope with all my heart that they steer clear of that story line with the movies. I just can't see it going over well with the movie fans.
Denn1s
Denn1s - 6/30/2012, 1:33 PM
antman should be featured in a marvel movie, not lead it though. who would see a movie called antman? there are other heroes out there deserving a solo film.
mawilli4
mawilli4 - 6/30/2012, 1:53 PM
I'm not an Ant-Man fan at all, but I think he would be perfect for Marvel/Pixar to make a movie. And do the live version as Giant-Man or Yellowjacket. Ant-Man is just too lame and kiddish for an adult audience to enjoy.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/30/2012, 1:58 PM
Question (and this is for everyone else but AcidicHeart, because we don't see eye-to-eye on anything): Do you also think that Martian Manhunter can't support his own movie?
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/30/2012, 2:09 PM
The way I see it, they need to ditch the whole "ant" aspect. People are so ridiculously hung up on it, which is ironic - too focused on something so small that they can't see the big picture.

Hank Pym can make a weapon out of a Lego set, in fact, he could make a city or a prison out of one. Imagine being able to change the size of ANY object, not just himself.

Practical uses:
Smuggling
Thieving
Sabotage
Mass transportation
Camouflage
Reconnaissance
Incarceration
Conservation

What can a super soldier with a shield do?
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/30/2012, 2:26 PM
Not that I condone domestic violence, but Hank hit Janet ONE time while suffering a nervous breakdown. I don't recall ANYONE complaining about Peter hitting Mary Jane in Spider-man 3, in fact, I think some people cheered.

I actually don't read comics anymore, I just pick up trades :)
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2012, 2:30 PM
@ tainted

Im not sure where you're going with that question, but I'll answer.

I think Martian Manhunter has a better chance of success than antman.. MM has a much better chance of the general audience thinking he looks cool. He's more visually appealing, and he has a much more interesting powerset than antman..

Remember, these movies live and die by the general audience, and I just cant see the GA seeing an antmam trailer and thinking he looks cool. Im fairly certain he will come off as incredibly cheesy and stupid. He definately has a place in an Avengers movie, but not a solo flick.

I would actually say the same about martiam manhunter though. He deserves a place in a JLA movie, but maybe not a solo film. Although I stand by what I said, I think a MM solo film would have a better chance of being successful than antman..
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/30/2012, 2:39 PM
I asked because I'm working on a very lengthy, detailed treatment/fan fiction for a standalone Martian Manhunter because he is my favorite JLA character. This includes the elements rarely ever touched upon, such as Martian culture, why Ma'alefa'ak decides to destroy his entire species, the spirituality of the Martians, setting their morality apart from the human race, the "divorce" between the Greens and the Whites, even the minor inclusion of the Saturnians.

I just think that so many people get hung up on the minor details.

I understand the need to target the general audience - I imagine a talk with a coworker who has never read a comic book before. You'd want to make Pym a likeable character to start out with, set up the stakes, and then enter the Pym particle technology. The Ant-Man moniker could be one of two things: the name of the division he is in charge of, or a reference to his first self-experiment where he was shrunk down to size and attacked by ants. That would probably be five minutes of the movie.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2012, 2:40 PM
@ acidicheart

Its actually not that outlandish to think of him like that. Sure he backhanded her once like 20 years ago, but a lot of fans have a hard time seeing him as anything other than a wifebeater. His character just hasnt been able to past that horrible decision some writer decided to use a long time ago.
superotherside
superotherside - 6/30/2012, 2:42 PM
CorndogBurglar No but he could be. Nuff said.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2012, 2:44 PM
Tainted

Im with you, martian manhunter is my favorite JLA character too, unfortunately, very few people that dont read comics or watch cartoons have never heard of him.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/30/2012, 2:48 PM
@ superotherside

I dont know man. Remember, antman//giantman/pym has been around in the comics as long as any popular character and he's never even come close to reaching the level of popularity that cap and ironman have, even among comic fans.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 6/30/2012, 3:30 PM
I like to refer to Team Fortress 2, a FPS by Valve.
Nine completely different characters in personality and skill-set.

The Scout - light on his feet, trash-mouth, young, weak
The Soldier - patriotic, experienced, brave, crazy
The Pyro - mysterious, powerful, feared, misunderstood
The Demoman - token, self-conscious, out-of-place, wreckless
The Heavy - dim-witted, extremely strong, well-intentioned, sympathetic
The Engineer - inventive, intelligent, defensive
The Medic - supportive, eccentric, nurturing
The Sniper - paranoid, well-informed, tactically savvy
The Spy - untrustworthy, cynical, self-relying, well-traveled

Whenever there is a team or cooperative effort, there is some variation of these 9 characters, although sometimes elements of one character is blended in with another. The Enterprise's crew, Serenity's crew, the Avengers, X-Men, etc...

Pym is the medic of the Avengers in that sense, at least when Banner isn't around. Wasp is the Scout when Quicksilver's absent.
sonofsamadams
sonofsamadams - 6/30/2012, 3:42 PM
'good dramatic moment'

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAH

Its ANT MAN.

Nobody is going to take it seriously. It would tank. Probably wouldn't make 10 million on its opening weekend.
95
95 - 6/30/2012, 6:22 PM
I disagree. Edgar Wright and Kevin Feige might have found the right approach (something many of us on this site aren't capable of coming up with). Marvel will make it work because the shrinking hero aspect is profitable and quite frankly a sight to see on the big screen. Many of you are too stuck on the controlling ants aspect— forget that. That probably won't ever happen in the movie— unless it were for a joke/reference. Henry Pym is needed and a necessary part of the Cinematic Universe. @Tainted87 brings up some good point.
MisterFixit
MisterFixit - 7/1/2012, 1:18 AM
agree with @preacher.
You assume that it must necessarily be his character as a violent abuser of his wife. Who said that? It is obvious that you know more than the new version that the original one. Throughout the early years (many years) Hank is represented only as a creative genius, in love and having some problems with stress and relationships. It can easily be portrayed that way. Remember that it's still a Disney movie
xcrementus
xcrementus - 7/1/2012, 6:21 AM
PS Hank Pym....IS...NOT...THE...MAIN...CHARACTER! Edgar Wright's said that for years, probably cus he recognises all the flaws that have been pointed out, namely the wifebeating.

Scott Lang is the main character. He steals Hank's suit, becomes a working class hero, and protects his young daughter.
Avengers needs a family man in it, all the member's are loners at this point, it'd be nice to have someone with a real family to protect.

Hank can still be in there, as the old-school flashback Antman (like Nite Owl in Watchmen). He can still invent stuff (Ultron + Pym Particles). There can be a Janet, they can work for SHIELD, all of that. But Lang is the heart, why do you think he's been resurrected lately and joining the Defenders?
Gerrit
Gerrit - 7/5/2012, 12:28 PM
Ant-Man, or Giant-Man, and that talking Racoon are the worst things Marvel can put in the MCU. Hank Pym can be tweaked a bit so that he would work well, but the recoon is hopeless.
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