Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star David Dastmalchian discusses how he was given the opportunity to return as a different MCU character.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star David Dastmalchian has revealed how he was cast as a new Marvel Cinematic Universe character after learning that his previous Ant-Man character, Kurt, would not be returning in the threequel.
Dastmalchian played Kurt Goreshter, the hacker on Scott’s team in the first two Ant-Man movies, before he was transformed into the endearing slime-like creature Veb in Quantumania. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor discussed how he was offered an all-new MCU role. “The first call was the bad news call,” he said. “[Ant-Man director Peyton Reed] is my friend. We’re not just co-workers. He’s become a dear friend of mine over the years, and he said, ‘David, I’m sad to say we’ve been trying to break this story, and it’s just a very crowded story with so much to do. It takes place off Earth, and it doesn’t look like there’s going to be space to do more than just a cameo. And that would not do the character justice, so I don’t think Kurt is going to be a part of this. But I’ll always find a way to work together.’ And I said, ‘I love you, man. Make the best movie you can make. I’m so excited for you.’ and that was it.”
Dastmalchian continued, “So I was sad that Kurt wouldn’t be part of Quantumania, but that’s the way this stuff works. And it was not until quite a bit later [that I heard about Veb]. I was in the midst of filming a feature that was breaking my body. It was a very physically and emotionally demanding shoot. I was isolated from my family. It was a really dark time. And then Peyton called me. He goes, ‘David, me and [writer] Jeff Loveness, we’re writing these characters, and I swear to God, this character is you. I think you gotta play him. Will you read it?’ He then sent me the pages, and I immediately knew Veb in my heart. So I started filming myself in my hotel room, and I figured out how I thought Veb would move and how his voice would work.”
From Kurt to Veb
Dastmalchian was not supposed to provide Veb’s movements at first. However, Reed was so taken with the idea that he persuaded him to fly out to set. “So I sent it back to Peyton, and he was like, ‘Oh my God, the movement. You wouldn’t be willing to come and actually do mocap on set, would you?'” explained Dastmalchian. “And I was like, ‘I’m there in a second. Get me a plane ticket. I’m coming.’ And that’s how it happened, man. I got to London, and I just needed this experience, man. I’m telling you, I was in a dark, dark place. My dad died the week I was supposed to start.”
Dastmalchian is no stranger to superhero movies. Prior to making his MCU debut in 2015’s Ant-Man, he made his big-screen debut in the 2008 DC film The Dark Knight. More recently, he appeared in the 2021 DC (Extended) Universe film The Suicide Squad as Polka-Dot Man, one of the leading characters.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently playing in theaters.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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