For Ant-Man star Paul Rudd, the lure of the role was not necessarily that it was a chance to play a superhero. “The fact that it was different than anything that I’d ever done — I liked the challenge. I thought it would be an exciting adventure,” Rudd told The Movie Mensch.
Rudd saw how casting against what popular consensus believes has worked out well for the famed comic book studio in bringing Ant-Man to life. After all, can you imagine Guardians of the Galaxy without Chris Pratt?
“I enjoyed the fact that when I was cast people went, ‘Huh, really?’ You wouldn’t necessarily think of me. I think that Marvel likes to do that and I was thrilled to have the opportunity.”
Being Ant-Man also allowed Rudd to increase the cool points at home with his nine-year-old son. “My kid, more than anything, likes to make me laugh. So when I told him that [I would be Ant-Man], even at nine years old, he has such a funny sense of humor. That’s when he said that this is the first thing I’ve ever done, ever, that he is like legitimately jazzed about,” Rudd said and smiled.
It’s also a movie that his child can actually go and see. After all, it is the funniest and most kid-friendly of all the Marvel movies, there is no question.
“He can see it. His friends know about it. We were at Disneyland like two days ago and they have kind of a sneak preview, the Ant-Man event that’s there, and we went there. I was sitting next to him, and to see him, as a parent, the look on my kid’s face when he’s watching this — I’ll never forget it. As soon as it ended, he just looked at me and said, ‘That’s awesome!'”
The thrill from Rudd’s son didn’t end at Disneyland. “Every time a commercial is on, he’s like, ‘Dad, Dad, Dad!’ He’s so excited. I’ve never experienced that. It’s so cool to be able to share this with my own family — especially my son.”
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 20 years since his breakout role in Clueless — and telling him that fact, the actor becomes quite humble.
“I have gratitude and am so appreciative that I’ve been able to continue to work doing something that I love, and not only doing something that I love but working on movies that I’ve loved,” Rudd revealed.
“I always try and work on things that I would want to see. For a large part of my career, the vast majority, that’s been true and I’m just very, very appreciative of that.”