Paul Rudd explains why he decided to play 'Ant-Man'
He's known best for his roles in raunchy cult comedies like Anchorman and Role Models, so Paul Rudd may seem like a strange choice for the lead role in a Marvel superhero blockbuster. But the comedy mainstay and now star of Marvel's Ant-Man thinks that's exactly what the filmmakers were going for.
"Marvel seems to have this history of casting people and putting people in films that you would not necessarily associate with that kind of thing," Rudd told ABC's Nightline. "I think that was part of the appeal for them, that I had never done anything like this. It was certainly part of the draw for me."
In Ant-Man, Rudd plays Scott Lang, a former thief recruited by Dr. Hank Pym, scientist and and mastermind behind the shrinking Ant-Man suit.
"Most people aren't familiar with Ant-Man, first of all," Rudd said. "But then when you tell people, 'Well, he shrinks to the size of an ant,' basically that means you're invisible."
Aside from starring as the film's lead, Rudd also co-wrote the script, giving Ant-Man a fun, comedic twist from other comic book movies.
"I mean, it is funny," he said, laughing. "Look, I'm riding around on an ant."
To get into shape to play the tiny hero, Rudd had to make some big changes to his diet and exercise routine.
"Little carbs. No cookies. No alcohol," he said. Rudd isn't the only cast member whose gracing the comic book movie pages for the first time. This will also be Oscar-winner Michael Douglas' first superhero flick.
"You know, look, couple my best buddies [were in superhero movies] -- Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, the Penguin, you know, the Joker," Douglas said. "And so this came along, and I couldn't have been happier."
Marvel's Ant-Man hits theaters on July 17.
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Marvel Entertainment and this station.
