IT'S OFFICIAL: Marvel Confirms Paul Rudd Will Star in ANT-MAN

Yesterday, BWW reported that Paul Rudd will most likely be cast as the title character in Marvel Studios upcoming film ANT-MAN. Today, the studio has officially confirmed that Rudd will indeed star in director Edgar Wright's film.

The official press release follows:

Marvel Studios confirmed today that renowned actor Paul Rudd has been cast to star as the title character in Marvel's Ant-Man. The feature film is being directed by Edgar Wright. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige will produce the film with Nira Park.

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.

Rudd brings a diverse background to the role having become one of the industry's most known actors with a reputation for smart, funny and creative performances. Rudd can currently be seen in Anchor Man 2: The Legend Continues, as well as past roles in Anchorman; This Is 40; I Love You, Man; Role Models; Forgetting Sarah Marshall; Our Idiot Brother; Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin among numerous other films, television shows and primetime animation.

"When Edgar Wright came to us with the idea of Paul Rudd, we felt a huge sense of relief because the first step in creating any Marvel Studios film is finding the right star," said Marvel's Kevin Feige. "We knew early on that we had found the right person in Paul. When he not only agreed to do it but became as enthusiastic as any actor we'd ever met with about doing the work, we knew we'd found the right guy. We couldn't be more excited for our audiences to see what he's going to do to bring Ant-Man to life."

Ant-Man is scheduled to be released by Walt Disney Pictures on July 31, 2015.

Rudd is known for his roles in the films Clueless (1995), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Knocked Up(2007), Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), I Love You, Man (2009), Dinner for Schmucks (2010), Our Idiot Brother (2011), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), This Is 40 (2012), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013).

On television, he appeared on the NBC sitcom Friends, playing Mike Hannigan, Phoebe Buffay's boyfriend and later husband for the final two seasons, and was featured on the Tim and Eric show.

The actor made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning The Last Night of Ballyhoo in 1997 and has since starred in Twelfth Night (1998), and Three Days of Rain (2006). He recently appeared on Broadway in the 2012 drama 'Grace,' alongside Michael Shannon and Ed Asner.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

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