Ant-Man is the first film Marvel has planned for Phase 3 of its cinematic universe releasing in 2015, just two months after Avengers: Age of Ultron. Without warning, director Edgar Wright has stepped away from that film after writing the screenplay with Joe Cornish. Wright and Marvel have not elaborated on the reason for the split beyond ‘creative differences.’
Edgar Wright is best known for directing action comedies including the recently concluded the affectionately named Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Marvel approached him to direct Ant-Man back in 2006 and hopes to announce a new director shortly. The studio has clashed with directors before, most recently Patty Jenkins left last year’s Thor: The Dark World to be replaced with Alan Taylor. If Marvel approached Joe Cornish to take over for Wright, it would not be his first time directing. Cornish previously helmed 2011’s Attack the Block, which Edgar Wright produced.
No other changes have been announced at this time; the planned release date is still July 17, 2015 and Paul Rudd, Michael Douglass, and Evangeline Lilly are still set to star.