Updated 12/20/13: Marvel has confirmed that Rudd will be playing Ant-Man in the upcoming film. Original story follows.
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Paul Rudd is in the early stages of discussions and negotiations to play the main hero in the first Phase 3 installment of Marvel's cinematic universe.
According to The Wrap and Variety, Rudd is in final negotiations along with Joseph Gordon Levitt to star as the iconic super hero. Rudd has been rumored to be in the running for the role for the past few months. He is currently one of the co-stars of the highly publicized comedy "Anchorman 2," which opened on Tuesday.
The film will be directed by Edgar Wright, who co-wrote the script with Joe Cornish. As of right now, Marvel has no comment on the casting at this time. Rudd would be playing the role of Henry Pym, the alter ego to Ant-Man. He is a brilliant scientist who invented a substance that allowed him to change his size and communicate with insects. In the comic books the villain that was announced for "The Avengers 2," Ultron, was originally Pym's creation. However, since the origin story of Ant-Man won't be out until after the sequel to Joss Whedon's massively successful cross-over hit, the story will have to be change. It's unclear as of right now if his character will have anything to do with the Avengers film, but it's unlikely that Rudd will be involved with the film at all.
"Rudd is an interesting choice as a super-hero," writes Variety. "he is known more for his comedic roles than action-heavy roles. It's a move that recalls the company's choice of Robert Downey Jr. to play Iron Man. Downey didn't have the look of an action hero, but shared elements of Tony Stark's personality, which led to him being tapped for the role."
Tell us what you think. Is Rudd a good idea for the role of Ant-Man or would you prefer someone like Levitt who has some super-hero chops thanks to his role in last year's "The Dark Knight Rises." Comment and share your thoughts on the latest Marvel casting news with us below.
