The Real Reason Edgar Wright Walked Away from MCU’s ‘Ant-Man’

Edgar Wright has opened up about why he chose to leave Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man in a conversation with Josh Horowitz.

Wright said that when he returned to the project, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had developed a clear style and formula that he felt he couldn’t work within.

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.”

Although Wright left, the first Ant-Man was directed by Peyton Reed and went on to earn over $519 million worldwide. Critics generally gave the film positive reviews, noting its smaller-scale story compared to other Marvel films, its humor, visual effects, and the strong performances of Paul Rudd, Michael Peña, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Douglas.

The Ant-Man franchise has since grown with two sequels: Ant-Man and the Wasp in 2018 and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023. Some reviewers consider the first film to be one of the stronger entries in the Marvel series because of its unique tone and approach.

It’s interesting to hear Wright reflect on the creative challenges of working within a massive franchise. His decision shows how difficult it can be to balance a director’s style with an established cinematic universe. Do you think the first Ant-Man would have been different if Wright had stayed? Share your thoughts in the comments.