Paul Rudd To Play Marvel’s Ant Man

UPDATE 20/12/13: Marvel have confirmed that Paul Rudd will indeed be playing Ant Man, posting the following on their website today:

Marvel’s “Ant-Man” has found its hero in Paul Rudd, who will star in the new film from director Edgar Wright hitting theaters July 31, 2015!

The casting of Rudd represents the actor that Marvel had long ago identified as its first choice to play Ant-Man, continuing the studio’s desire to cast actors that bring several dimensions to its onscreen heroes.  The film’s plot is being kept under wraps.

Can super-likable guys play superheroes? According to new reports, Marvel has tuned its antenna-assisted sights firmly onto 44-year-old man-boy Paul Rudd to play the lead in the upcoming adaptation of Ant Man. It’s definitely not the most obvious choice for the job; the closest Rudd has come to real action on screen is the spectacularly batshit group fight sequence in the Anchorman sequel. Plus, Rudd’s real forte lies in improv-style comedy roles. However, Robert Downey Jr wasn’t the most obvious choice for Iron Man – another character from the Marvel universe – and look how that inspired casting decision turned out for them (i.e. perfectly).

Rudd was leading the rumours of potential Ant Man leads along with Joseph Gordon Levitt who fell out of the running this week after signing to another project.

According to TheWrap, “in recent interviews to promote “Anchorman 2? as well as his recent stint hosting “Saturday Night Live,” Rudd has appeared noticeably slimmer, and sources tell TheWrap that’s because he’s training for the physical role of Ant-Man.” And if you can come up with a better explanation for Paul Rudd’s noticeable new slimness we’d like to hear it.

Ant Man, which is being directed by Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Hot Fuzz), will tell the story of biochemist Henry Pym who creates a formula that gives him size-shifting powers and the ability to maintain his normal strength in a shrunken state. He can also communicate with insects. Ant Man!

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