Known for her roles in comedies like Arrested Development, Two and a Half Men and Married, Judy Greer now finds herself appearing in several huge movies in a row. Last summer, in a mo-cap performance, she played Caesar’s wife Cornelia in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and this coming summer, she’ll appear in both Jurassic World and Ant-Man – playing “Maggie” in the latter, ex-wife to Ant-Man himself, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), and the mother to his daughter, Cassie.
Greer was at the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour this week to promote the current season of Archer (in which she voices Cheryl) and an IGN reporter was among a small group who spoke to her after the show’s panel. They discussed her sudden ascension into the world of big summer movies, why she’s having a great time working on them and the role comedy plays in Marvel’s films, Ant-Man included – despite the mostly dramatic tone of that film’s teaser trailer.
Question: Between Apes last summer and now Ant-Man and Jurassic World, you’re becoming summer movie queen. How is that transition?
Judy Greer: I know. It’s a great transition. I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s been fun. More importantly than being in these giant, blockbuster movies, I’ve been really enjoying all the people I’ve been working with. In Jurassic World I got to reunite with Bryce Dallas Howard which was so great because I missed her so much. Then I got to meet for the first time Chris Pratt, who is a total peach. I love him. I had the best, best, best time on Ant-Man between Paul Rudd and Bobby Cannavale and the director, Peyton Reed. I think I laughed during all of my scenes. I’m sure the editor was not going to be happy when he got into the room with my stuff.
I just kind of wanted to see what that world was like. I’d done so many small, indie movies and even on Married for FX, it’s kind of run like an indie movie so I was like, “How do the other half live?” Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was so fun. It’s just been really cool.
Question: Some of those films, the budget for one day is like the budget for two indie films. How do you learn how to behave in that?
Greer: It’s easy. It’s nice. There’s a lot of food everywhere. You have a lot more down time. You have a trailer. That was cool. I was like, “Oh, trailer!” I have to say my directors on all of those movies were so chill that it didn’t feel any different. It just feels like going to work.
Question: Marvel is such a huge thing now with this interconnecting universe. What’s is it like becoming part of that whole world?
Greer: It was, in the beginning, a little scary. My first day on set for Ant-Man I did an interview and the guy asks me who my favorite superhero was. I said Batman and he goes, “That’s DC.” And then I was like, “Oh, sorry, Wonder Woman!” and he goes, “That’s DC.” So I called my agent and and literally he overnighted me this huge, beautiful hardcover book about all the Marvel superheroes and was like, “Some research for you.” So I’ve been learning about Marvel. But they treat us really well and I really like the risks they’re taking with the comedy in their superhero movies kind of starting with Guardians of the Galaxy.
I’m friendly with James Gunn and I was so happy that Marvel allowed his personality and his voice to show through because he’s one of the funniest guys I know. It’s fun to see superheroes who aren’t just kicking ass but are also fully formed characters. I think that’s also why they’re getting such great actors to play them, like real actors like Paul Rudd and Chris Pratt, character actors and not just pretty faces — not that there’s anything wrong with that!
Question: Now that you’re this well informed superhero expert — Judy Greer, superhero expert — who is your favorite now and why?
Greer: Now? I’m always going to say Ant-Man. I just love me some Ant-Man! Paul is so awesome and he’s so great in this role. This has been my first comic hero that I’ve really researched and fallen for. I also think the Ant-Man origin story that we tell in our movie is really beautiful and I think there’s something really real about a man trying to better himself for his family.
Question: The Ant-Man trailer leaned towards the drama but is there a pretty good amount of comedy in the film, given who’s involved?
Greer: I haven’t seen it yet but there was a lot of comedy on set and we did a lot of comedic improv. I don’t know what will end up in the movie, but yeah.
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