Anchorman 2's Paul Rudd is said to be in early talks to play the superhero Ant-Man for British director Edgar Wright and Marvel Studios, Variety reports.
Rudd, along with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, has been considered one of the frontrunners for the role of the shape-shifting comic-book icon, which is expected in cinemas in 2015. Wright co-wrote the script with his Hot Fuzz actor Joe Cornish.
Earlier this week, Gordon-Levitt was reported to be considering the lead role in the big-screen adaptation of Neil Gaiman's comic book series Sandman. That may suggest that the timing of Rudd's tilt at Ant-Man is more than a coincidence.
In Marvel's comics, Ant-Man's most famous alter ego is Henry Pym, a scientist who discovers technology that can shrink him to the size of an ant or enlarge him to the size of an elephant. Wright, who directed Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End, is said to be planning a comedic take, which could make Rudd a good pick for the lead.
Ant-Man isn't the only Marvel film in the works. The studio will release films based on superhero characters Thor, Captain America and the Avengers in 2014 and 2015.
