Los Angeles: Actor Paul Rudd is in formal negotiations to star as `Ant-Man in the upcoming superhero movie directed by Edgar Wright.
The `Anchorman 2` actor is expected to take the lead role of Henry `Hank` Pym, aka Ant-Man, in the superhero movie, according to Deadline.
Rudd was previously rumoured to be a frontrunner for the lead role in the blockbuster - which will be directed by `The World`s End` director Edgar Wright - but faced competition from `The Dark Knight Rises` star Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The actor is still linked to the film and he could be cast as thief Scott Lang who steals Pym`s technology to become a new Ant-Man.
There has not yet been an official announcement about the casting rumours and `I Love You, Man` actress Rashida Jones could be playing Jane van Dyne, Ant-Man`s love interest who becomes a superheroine herself, taking on the alter-ego of The Wasp.
The movie will be part of Marvel`s `Phase 3` storylines, following the release of `The Avengers: Age of Ultron` in May 2015.
It`s likely Rudd will also join the third `Avengers` movie, starring alongside Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America) and Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk).
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige recently described `Ant-Man` as a `heist movie` and the cast are expected to be announced before the end of the year.
`Ant-Man` is due for release in July 2015.
