Edgar Wright Shares the Story Behind His Exit from ‘Ant-Man’

Edgar Wright has shared his thoughts on why he stepped away from directing Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man in a recent conversation with Josh Horowitz.

Wright said that by the time he began working on the film, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had developed a clear formula and style for its movies.

He explained, “By the time I had started doing [Ant-Man], which was kind of 8 years after I started writing it, now there was a formula not just in terms of the continuity within the movies, but also like a house style and a way of shooting things… I knew I couldn’t make that movie in the same way I made Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, or even in the way The Running Man sort of worked.”

Wright eventually left the project, but Ant-Man went on to be directed by Peyton Reed. The 2015 film earned over $519 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics.

Many praised the movie’s smaller-scale story compared to other Marvel films, its humor, visual effects, and the performances of the cast, which included Paul Rudd, Michael Peña, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Douglas.

Since the first Ant-Man, Marvel has released two sequels: Ant-Man and the Wasp in 2018 and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023. For some critics, the original Ant-Man remains one of the stronger entries in the Marvel franchise because of its unique tone and approach.

It’s interesting to hear Wright reflect on his decision to leave a major franchise. Creative differences and style considerations clearly played a big role, and it shows how complex it can be to balance a director’s vision with a blockbuster formula. What do you think about Wright’s choice and how Ant-Man turned out? Share your thoughts in the comments.