Photo Via USA Today.Well, that was fast. Production on Ant-Man — Marvel's next major tentpole — just got underway yesterday, and we've already got our first look at a brooding, scruffy Paul Rudd as the titular super hero.
Unfortunately, the just-released image features Rudd not as the miniature crime fighter, but as his human-sized alter ego, Scott Lang. For those unfamiliar with the mythology behind one of Marvel's less-popular characters, Lang is a low-level grifter who steals a suit from its creator (Michael Douglas), that allows him to shrink and enlarge himself at will.
Marvel is probably keen to prove that production is running smoothly, which might explain the sudden release of the first official image — just one day into shooting. If you'll recall, a major controversy emerged earlier this year, when the film's original director, Edgar Wright, suddenly pulled out over creative differences. What followed was a revolving door of boldface directors who were rumored to take Wright's place, with each one unable to reach a deal.
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The studio finally settled on the lesser-known Peyton Reed, which might not be such a bad thing, considering no one had really heard of James Gunn when he signed on to direct this summer's surprise hit, Guardians of the Galaxy. And, well, we all know how that turned out.
Ant-Man — which also stars Evangeline Lilly, Bobby Canavale, and Corey Stoll — hits theaters on July 17, 2015. (USA Today)
Photo: REX USA/Everett Collection.