This past week in surprising Marvel Cinematic Universe news, it was announced via marvel.com that Edgar Wright(Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World), director of 2015’s Ant-Man movie; and the showrunner for the upcoming Daredevil Netflix series Drew Goddard(Cabin in the Woods), have both left their respective projects. Read the statements below.
Ant-Man:
Marvel and Edgar Wright jointly announced today that the studio and director have parted ways on Marvel’s “Ant-Man” due to differences in their vision of the film. The decision to move on is amicable and does not impact the release date on July 17, 2015. A new director will be announced shortly.
Daredevil:
Marvel is proud to announce that acclaimed writer, director and producer Steven S. DeKnight (“Spartacus,” “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel”) has joined “Marvel’s Daredevil” as Executive Producer & Showrunner on the all-new 13-episode series premiering on Netflix in 2015. Drew Goddard, who also wrote the first two episodes, will continue to serve as Executive Producer on “Marvel”s Daredevil” as he writes and preps Sony’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” spin-off film, “The Sinister Six.”
The news that Edgar Wright has left Ant-Man is particularly surprising considering the director has been attached to the film since 2006, before the Marvel Cinematic Universe even got it’s start with Iron Man in 2008. According to a rumour over at The Latino Review, he left because the Marvel higher-ups made changes to his script, possibly to integrate it more into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fan reaction to test footage at 2012 Comic-Con was super enthusiastic, and casting was also well on it’s way with Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lily attached to star.
Joss Whedon (director of The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron) expressed his solidarity with Edgar Wright by tweeting this picture:
https://twitter.com/josswhedon/status/470141319831363584
The Cornetto is in reference to Edgar Wright’s movies Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End which he refers to as the Cornetto trilogy.
The news that Drew Goddard is no longer serving as show runner for Daredevil is marginally less surprising because it’s been known for a while that he is writing and directing Sony’s Spider-Man villains spin-off film, The Sinister Six.
Who do you think should serve as director for Ant-Man now that Edgar Wright has left? We’ll have updates as they come in!