Ant-Man-LogoIt looks like Marvel and Edgar Wright’s search for Ant-Man might be nearing its end.

With the studio recently announcing an earlier July 2015 release date, we’ve been expecting news to come about casting, but Wright has been keeping his cards close to his chest as to who he’s been looking at to play the eponymous lead.

But sources are now telling Variety that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Paul Rudd are the front-runners for the part. And whilst they note that there is a remote possibility that another actor could come forward, it’s looking likely that it will be one of Gordon-Levitt and Rudd, and that is superb news.

The two are expected to meet with Wright and Marvel execs once more before a decision is made on who will be leading the film as Ant-Man, with the possibility still open for another actor to enter the mix.

Needless to say, the plot details are being kept tightly under wraps, but we do know that Wright has co-written the film with Joe Cornish (Attack the Block). The project has been developing at Marvel since before even Iron Man was released, and it’s amazing that it’s finally about to begin production in the coming months.

The blockbuster will begin Phase Three, arriving directly after Joss Whedon’s Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015, which will close out Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just as its original film closed out Phase One. Iron Man 3 did an awesome job of kick-starting Phase Two, and Ant-Man is very much expected to do the same for Phase Three.

Ant-Man is set to be released on July 31st, 2015. With any luck, we’ll have concrete news on casting to bring you very soon.