Joss Whedon Explains Why Hank Pym Isn't In 'Avengers: Age Of Ultron'

Ant-Man is coming to the MCU this summer. So is Ultron. But unlike in the comics, where Ant-Man (specifically Hank Pym) created Ultron, the two don't seem to have much to do with other in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead, Tony Stark will be the one responsible for bringing the killer robot to life.

Naturally, fans have been complaining to Joss Whedon about the major change in Ultron's origin story, and now the Avengers: Age of Ultron director has a response for them: Blame Edgar Wright. Well, Wright and the fact that Whedon just couldn't find a good way to fit in Hank Pym. Find out why there's no Hank Pym in Avengers after the jump. 

Whedon explains Hank Pym's absence in a chat with Empire:

Of all the heat I've ever taken, not having Hank Pym was one of the bigger things. But the fact of the matter was, Edgar had him first and by virtue of what Edgar was doing, there was no way for me to use him in this.

To be fair, it's not like Wright was spitefully keeping Hank Pym away from Whedon. Wright had been developing Ant-Man for years before Whedon came along. Furthermore, Whedon acknowledges Wright isn't the only reason Hank Pym was left out of Avengers: Age of Ultron. He continues:

I also thought it was a bridge too far. Ultron needs to be the brainchild of the Avengers, and in the world of the Avengers and the MCU, Tony Stark is that guy. Banner has elements of that guy – we don't really think of him as being as irresponsible as Tony Stark, but the motherf***er tested gamma radiation on himself, with really terrible, way-worse-than-Tony-Stark results.

It didn't make sense to introduce a third scientist, a third sciencetician, to do that. It was hard for me, because I grew up on the comics, to dump that, but at the end of the day, it's a more interesting relationship between Tony and Ultron if Tony was once like, 'You know what would be a really great idea?' They're doing what they always do – which is jump in headfirst, and then go, 'Sorry, world!' But you have to make it their responsibility without just making it their fault.

If you're already annoyed that the MCU is rewriting Ultron's comic book backstory, this might not be a very satisfying explanation. But it seems to make sense for the movie.

Avengers: Age of Ultron has enough characters as it is without bringing in Hank Pym. Plus, tying Ultron to characters we already know and love (as opposed to Pym, whom we'd just be meeting for the first time) should make the threat feel more personal.

The Hank Pym-less Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1. The Hank Pym-heavy Ant-Man follows on July 17.