As is customary for every Marvel Studios film, Ant-Man screened for junket press last night just a little under a month before the film’s release. Given its rocky road to production, folks are understandably curious to see how this one turned out. Ant-Man was one of the first properties that Marvel announced way back when Iron Man was in pre-production, with Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish working on and off on the screenplay every few years until late 2013, when Wright committed to Ant-Man as his next film. As you well know, Wright and Marvel came to a creative impasse that lead to Wright departing the project, Paul Rudd and Adam McKay reworking the screenplay to make it more in line with what Marvel had in mind, and Bring It On director Peyton Reed—who came close to helming Guardians of the Galaxy—signing on to direct.
The final result is a heist comedy that maintains Wright and Cornish’s basic story foundation—Rudd’s criminal Scott Lang tries to go straight, but is enlisted by Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym to steal materials relating to his Ant-Man suit technology—but also appears to be very solidly connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Reactions to last night’s screening appear to be largely positive, praising the humor, action sequences, and post-credits scenes. The majority of consensus seems to be swelling around actor Michael Pena, who’s being singled out as a scene-stealer.
Check out a collection of reactions from junket press below. Ant-Man opens in theaters on July 17th.
