UPDATE: Director Edgar Wright threw a monkey wrench into the entire Armie Hammer as ANT-MAN theory by posting the following to his Twitter feed. Looks like this may be going into the debunked pile.
But… I haven't been on the Cap 2 set…
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) June 25, 2013
It is beginning to seem like actors need to have their agents and handlers prepare them for how to address interview questions that may directly leak news about future projects. Between Felicity Jones and now Armie Hammer, it doesn't seem like the studios are hiring the most savvy liars out there. But, in hindsight, at least their significant others won't have to dig too deep to find out if they are being cheated on.
Armie Hammer was recently spotted on the set of CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER which led to speculation that the actor was joining the Marvel universe. The logical pick would be ANT-MAN and that his appearance on set was an indicator of a cameo reveal in next summer's movie. Again, this is pure speculation, but with THE LONE RANGER coming to theaters very soon, it was a logical question to ask Hammer.
What proceeds is either the most bafflingly bad cover-up/misdirection about an upcoming role or Hammer is just a bad interview subject. Having seen him in interview footage before, I am siding with him covering up a part in ANT-MAN and doing a piss poor job of it.
Here is the excerpt. Judge for yourselves:
Q: So, you and Edgar Wright visited the CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER set…
Hammer: Me and Edgar? Who’s Edgar? The actor?Q: The director. Edgar Wright.
Hammer: Edgar Wright?Q: Is this an act? If this is an act, you’re convincing.
Hammer: No, it’s not an act. Who’s Edgar Wright?Q: The supposed director of ANT-MAN.
Hammer: Of what?Q: ANT-MAN
Hammer: ANT-MAN? Oh! Wait! You think you know something! No, there’s nothing! What do you know? What’s the rumor?Q: That you were spotted on the CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER set with Edgar Wright.
Hammer: No, there’s nothing.Q: Really?
Hammer: Yeah!Q: Really.
Hammer: I promise. I promise-promise. ANT-MAN?Q: You’re saying it like you’ve never heard of him before.
Hammer: No, I know the character ANT-MAN—like, the comic book character.Q: You can’t tell me that this is the first time you’ve heard the rumor that you’re playing ANT-MAN.
Hammer: First in my life. I swear to god, cross my heart, hope to die. Amy! [Turns to his publicist Amy, who says, '"I've never heard of that ever ever. Who's ANT-MAN?"] They make him shrink! You’re a news-breaker right there.Q: Potentially fictitious, apparently.
Hammer: Well, it works. [Fake enthusiasm] I’m doing ANT-MAN, I’m very excited about it. Me and Edgar.Q: Congrats.
Hammer: I did go visit the set, though. Not with Edgar.Q: With who?
Hammer: Just by myself.Q: Any reason?
Hammer: Um… a buddy of mine was working on the movie so I just wanted to go say hi.
From the sounds of it, Hammer may not have been prepared for the question to be asked and tries the age old clueless maneuver which just makes him sound like a dolt instead. If he is in fact the choice for ANT-MAN, I think they have made a safe choice but not a wise one. THE LONE RANGER could catapult Armie Hammer to the limelight for a Marvel role, but I think he is a little too boring for the part. It remains to be seen whether or not this turns out to be true, but I would guess if we hear anything it will be at Comic Con next month.
ANT-MAN will open in theaters on November 6, 2015.