Edgar Wright exits Marvel's 'Ant-Man'

Edgar Wright will no longer be directing Ant-Man.

Marvel Studios and Wright issued a joint statement Friday announcing the news: “Marvel and Edgar Wright jointly announced today that the studio and director have parted ways on 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.”

Wright, known for his genre-subverting Cornetto Trilogy and his adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, signed on to adapt the unconventional superhero tale in 2006 and has been at work on it since — writing and re-writing the script with Joe Cornish and developing and presenting test footage for 2012 Comic-Con audiences and, recently, casting his leads including Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline Lilly.

Though this is quite a shock to fans looking forward to Wright’s take on the biochemist turned tiny, insect-controlling superhero, Ant-Man remains an integral part of Marvel’s “Phase Three” plans and, as the statement indicated, a new director is likely already on board.

Cast member Patrick Wilson tweeted an ominous “big news coming” just before the news broke. After sharing Variety’s report he wrote: