‘Ant-Man’ Trailer: A Thief Becomes A Hero

[RoadWarrior]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1-JtSSSthJ8

It’s an eventful day for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans. Helping fill in the mid-season break of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. after an epic conclusion before the holiday is the new miniseries Agent Carter, starring none other than Captain America: The First Avenger’s Hayley Atwell. The series explores the origins of S.H.I.E.L.D. after WWII and its two-hour premiere January 6, 2015 was also host to the first teaser trailer of Ant-Man.

Leading up to the Ant-Man trailer reveal, Marvel also released a fun video preview and poster – both playing on the gimmick of just how small the character literally can be – alongside the first official photo of star Paul Rudd suited up in the Ant-Man costume as the Marvel Comics character Scott Lang.

The first trailer serves as a teaser more than anything, focusing on the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), recruiting and passing the torch to Scott Lang (Paul Rudd). This movie, thematically, is more about the mentor-mentee relationship and the responsibility of balancing family with being a hero. Both Ant-Man users, old and new, have a daughter, for instance.

Evangeline Lilly, who plays Hope Van Dyne (Pym’s daughter) and Corey Stoll, who plays the antagonist, are barely featured. The limited footage of Lang suited up and of the ants, seems incomplete in terms of special effects, and could be placeholders from the conceptual test that Marvel premiered at San Diego Comic-Con last summer. Still, it’s an interesting start when looking at the shooting style and tone of the trailer. Of course, Rudd gets him some comedic bits. Expect a lot more action, more ants and Stoll suited up as Yellowjacket in the next trailer.

It’s more than just the timing of releases that make Ant-Man being promoted alongside Agent Carter an interesting start to 2015 for Marvel fans. Just like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will directly tie into events of The Avengers: Age of Ultron, we expect that both – alongside Agent Carter – to also share connections with Ant-Man. Next week, on January 12th, comes the second full trailer for The Avengers: Age of Ultron which airs during the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship on (Disney-owned) ESPN, starting at 8:30 p.m. EST. Keeping with the theme of cross-promotion within the Disney family, Hayley Atwell is the special guest on tonight’s Jimmy Kimmel Live (also on ABC).

Official Ant-Man movie synopsis:

The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man” when master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats.

Has this first look at Ant-Man altered your expectations of Marvel’s next solo character movie?

Marvel’s Ant-Man stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne, Corey Stoll as Darren Cross aka Yellowjacket, Bobby Cannavale as Paxton, Michael Peña as Luis, Judy Greer as Maggie, Tip “Ti” Harris as Dave, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, Wood Harris as Gale, Jordi Mollà as Castillo and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym. Peyton Reed directs Ant-Man with Kevin Feige producing and Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Edgar Wright and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron releases in theaters on May 1 2015, followed by Ant-Man on July 17 2015, Captain America: Civil War on May 6 2016, Doctor Strange on November 4 2016, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on May 5 2017, Thor: Ragnarok on July 28, 2017, Black Panther on November 3 2017, Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 on May 4 2018, Captain Marvel on July 6 2018, Inhumans on November 2 2018 and Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2 on May 3 2019.