It’s an interesting case study in Internet hype, as one innocuous tweet from Simon Pegg provoked a very vocal reaction from both the media and the fan community.
Pegg, who is in the US promoting The World’s End in advance of its release there later this week, visited Marvel Studios to record a podcast. While there, he tweeted pictures of himself beside paintings and statues of a couple of Marvel characters - including Ant-Man.
Fun at Marvel #3 pic.twitter.com/2hcVhG7695
— Simon Pegg (@simonpegg) August 15, 2013
Given that fact that is The World’s End director Edgar Wright bringing the tiny hero to big screens, many of Pegg’s followers immediately assumed that this was a subtle hint that Pegg would be granted the main role. Further tweets from Pegg only kicked the rumour mill into further overdrive:
FFS the Internet, all I did was point at the central character in my dear friend's next movie, because I'm excited for him. #iamantman
— Simon Pegg (@simonpegg) August 16, 2013
In my next film, I'm playing a guy who works for the National Trust. Supervising the restoration of listed buildings. It's called A NT Man.
— Simon Pegg (@simonpegg) August 16, 2013
Comic fans will have to wait a little longer to find out who is playing Henry Pym, however, as Pegg has now denied the rumours in no uncertain. Talking to the Huffington Post, he explains that he has not been cast in the film, and even argues that he doesn't want the role. Pegg does acknowledge that there were some slightly mischievous intentions when initially posting the offending picture, saying “I kind of thought, What the hell? You know? Kick up a storm for the day. It will be fun.”
Still, even after this denial, it would not be much of a surprise if Pegg was indeed granted a role in the forthcoming film.
Although not as widely known as the likes of Spiderman and the Hulk, Ant-Man has been part of Marvel comics since the early 60s. The hero has the power to change his size, and in comic lore was one of the founding members of the Avengers. The film adaptation is due out in 2015. It will follow the Avengers sequel and kickstart a third wave of Marvel films.
(Image: Gage Skidmore)
