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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Jacob Stolworthy

Ant-Man: Xavier Gens claims he knows specific reason Edgar Wright quit Marvel film

Photograph: Getty Images / Rex Features

Film director Xavier Gens has revealed what he claims to be the specific reason Edgar Wright quit Ant-Man.

Gens said that he dropped out of talks about overseeing a future Marvel project as it was suggested he would hand over the direction of action sequences to another team entirely.

According to the Hitman filmmaker,  “I understood that the previews of the digital effects and action scenes were done by a box in London, and that I would be there to take care of only the direction of the actor.”

After saying he wouldn’t have found this “very interesting”, Gens told French outlet Le Point: "This is, I believe, why Edgar Wright declined Ant-Man, because at one point, on these productions, you are reduced to just directing fields/reverse fields on actors in front of a green background.”

Wright was originally hired to direct Ant-Man, but dropped out due to “creative differences”. The film as well as its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp were eventually directed by Peyton Reed.

Speaking about his departure in 2017, Wright told Variety: “I wanted to make a Marvel movie but I don't think they really wanted to make an Edgar Wright movie.”

Gens acknowledged that “directing a Marvel film can make a great calling card” but said he wanted to avoid “a catastrophic experience with a studio” like he had with 20th Century Fox on the video game adaptation of Hitman.

"I’m not even sure that the names of the directors of Captain Marvel are remembered today," he said, referring to Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

Edgar Wright was known to have quit ‘Ant-Man’ due to ‘creative differences’ (Getty Images)

Most recently, Gens directed some episodes of TV show Gangs of London.

The Independent has contacted Wright for comment.

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