Every MCU Director's Best Film (NOT In The MCU)
6. Peyton Reed - Bring It On
The title of this entry ought to read “Edgar Wright – Hot Fuzz”. Or Shaun of the Dead. Or Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Or maybe even Baby Driver.
Alas, for reasons you’re more than likely already familiar with, Edgar Wright pulled out of directing Ant-Man at the last minute, after being part of its development for over a decade.
Marvel turned to Peyton Reed and to the surprise of everyone, he made a seriously fun superhero movie. While many fans still crave to see Wright’s original vision, Reed did a more than admirable job with Ant-Man and its sequel, and he now looks to round off the trilogy with Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania.
As well as being a self-confessed comic book nerd, Reed also came close to directing Fantastic Four (2005) and was strongly considered to helm the upcoming MCU reboot of Marvel's first family. Reed’s work prior to Ant-Man was very much comedy based, the best of which has to be the crowd favourite Bring It On.
The cult-classic cheerleading based teen comedy may not be Oscars worthy, but 21 years on from its release, it stills holds a special place in people’s hearts. Funny and energetic, it is an extremely likeable film, packed with a young cast led by Kirsten Dunst, who have all gone on to have successful careers.
The late, great Roger Ebert even refereed to it as the “Citizen Kane of cheerleader movies.” You don’t get higher praise than that.