Paul Rudd and Ant-Man’s “Strange Job” in Ant-Man and the Wasp

On a balmy October afternoon I and a handful of bloggers walked onto the set of Ant-Man and the Wasp. I had traveled about 2500 miles to Pinewood Studios, located just on the edge of Atlanta.

It was a closed set with a secret moniker to hide what was being filmed to the general public (sorry can’t disclose that). Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly were filming a scene that included a green screen and some dialogue (which I also can’t discuss!). Between takes Paul ventured over to where we were sitting. He casually said hello and asked us some general questions – are we having a good time? How long we were in town? etc etc. He then got back to filming.

After about 30 minutes we headed over to a small conference room where the bloggers were the ones to ask questions. Paul, as charismatic as the last time I interviewed him walked in with a warm smile and effervescent aura about him. The hot and tiring day immediately perked up with excitement as we began discussing all things Ant-Man.

Scott Lang (Rudd’s character and Ant-Man’s real identity) just wants to “go the straight and narrow, just be a father” according to Rudd. The movie begins in the last days of Lang’s house arrest after being placed on house arrest in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War. Lang has had no contact with Hank Pym or Hope van Dyne, which is just fine with him. Against his better judgement (and presumably against his will) Lang is pulled back into the world of the Avengers and superhero actions. 

The main thing certainly for this character is that he wants to be a good parent. And he has a daughter that he wants to be there for, and it’s very hard to have this kind of job, and feel as if you’re being a good parent – being responsible.

And so, I think Scott is the kind of character that might be at odds with what’s good for people that he, not just his daughter, but other people that he cares about, and doing what’s good, being heroic, and finding his place in the world while simultaneously being a responsible parent. I think that’s something that a lot of actual parents, whether their job is a superhero (ha) or any job, to try and contribute in some way as a person to the good of the world while simultaneously being there for your family and your kids. And it just happens that this is a very specifically strange job.

That very specifically strange job is something that was only briefly touched upon during our conversation, something that he seems to consciously dance around. Ah, the plot thickens….

Really that’s all he would say though.

There were some changes to the Ant-Man suit, a costume Paul Rudd has a love/hate relationship with.

I feel like a superhero.  They’re very flattering.  [But] they aren’t the most comfortable things in the world. I met Dave Bautista (Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy), he’s a big guy, and he was very nice. I never met him, but he asked me, “How is that suit? It must not be very comfortable.” And I thought, I don’t think I’m going to complain about my suit to you, who clearly has to sit in the makeup chair for hours on end, you know?  And he has a whole process of him getting all that stuff off, so I said well, the suit’s fine. It’s pretty good.

Can’t wait to see Ant-Man and the Wasp July 6th in theaters everywhere. Check out the trailer and be sure to visit Fandango to get advance tickets.