I’m not sure what happened with ‘Ant-Man’ but it’s really hit a stumbling block.  First Edgar Wright left the project over script disagreements after having shepherded the project for eight years!  To replace him, three names emerged to be in the running– Adam McKay, Rawson Marshall Thurber, and Rueben Fleischer.  Adam McKay seemed to be the frontrunner, having directed ‘Ant-Man’ star Paul Rudd previously in the ‘Anchorman’ movies.  In fact, it was reported that Marvel actually offered him the job which he ultimately turned down.

Reports emerged that Disney then turned to Thurber, who directed ‘We’re The Millers’ but that he had also turned them down, but it appears that these were just rumors and that Marvel had made no such offer.

Fleisher, who directed ‘Zombieland’, seems like the most natural fit for a comedy/action movie, but there have been no further reports about him being offered the job and he is also rumored to be in the running to direct ‘Ghostbusters 3′. Now two new names have surfaced as potentially taking over the super hero flick.  Nicholas Stoller just scored a huge hit with ‘Neighbors’ and Michael Dowse who’s had a more modest career with his new movie ‘What If’ starring Daniel Radcliffe and Adam Driver opening later this summer.

Here’s what was reported on Deadline:

As for ‘Ant-Man’, Marvel has gone radio silent after heated press reports that Adam McKay would direct, and then equally heated reports a day later that he wasn’t going to do it after all. Right now, the favorite is ‘Dodgeball’ and ‘We’re The Millers’ helmer Rawson Thurber, but names like Nicholas Stoller and Michael Dowse are also making the rounds.

Stoller, coming off the smash hit ‘Neighbors’ is essentially in the position to do whatever he wants at this point.  In fact, he’s already slated to direct another movie with Seth Rogan with Kevin Hart and is producing two animated films.  Supposedly, the reason McKay passed on the project was that he didn’t want to take on a big summer action movie, opting to continue working in more familiar territory.  It’s entirely possible that Stoller make come to the same decision.

Dowse is the biggest surprise so far.  His former comedies ‘Goon’ and ‘Take Me Home Tonight’ weren’t hits.  ‘What If’ is getting good buzz, though which could put him in the running and unlike Stoller, Dowse doesn’t have any additional films in the pipeline.

I think we’re all just grasping at any rumors that come along.  ‘Ant-Man’ seemed right on course and then when Marvel made cuts to the script everything went to hell.  The film was already being eyed as a risky move for Marvel, but many had faith in Wright who is a proven fan favorite.  Now things seem to be something of a nightmare… but we’ll have to wait and see.  Disney has locked in a July 17th, 2015 release date, so a decision needs to be made.  Expect an official announcement soon.