SPECULATION: ANT-MAN Script Is Done And Could Benedict Cumberbatch Be In The Running For The Lead?

Edgar Wright confirms to DigitalSpy that Ant-Man script he co-wrote with Joe Cornish (Attack The Block) is finally completed. It's expected that casting will be underway soon with the release of World's End on the horizon. Edgar will likely begin production as soon as Guardians completes it's UK production. As previously rumored that Ant-Man would need extra post-production for the effects-heavy film. Giving enough time to get the special effects right for it's November 2015 release date. It's expected that Ant-Man will begin shooting before Avengers 2, so casting could be already underway over in the UK. We've heard previously names like Armie Hammer, Bradley Cooper, Joel Edgerton and Nathan Fillion being linked before, but I have an idea who might actually be already in mind (yet, not announced by outlets). 

While nothing has exactly concretely linked Benedict Cumberbatch to Ant-Man in previous reports, he's been on Marvel's radar for a while. Ben has a large international following which would be needed to give Ant-Man the giant promotional push it would need to get audiences excited for the new property. He also has previous history of working with a high volume of Marvel alumni such as Tom Hiddleston/Loki (War Horse),  Scarlett Johansson/Black Widow (The Other Boleyn Girl), Natalie Portman/Jane Foster (The Other Boleyn Girl), Toby Jones/Zola (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy/Amazing Grace), Anthony Mackie/Falcon (Fifth Estate), Dominic Cooper/Howard Star (Starter For 10), Rebecca Hall/ (Starter For 10), James McAvoy/Charles Xavier (Atonement), Michael Fassbender/Magneto (12 Years A Slave), Scarlet Witch hopeful Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) and almost Iron Man 3 actress Jessica Chastain (Crimson Peak). Below are few more tidbits linking him to both Edgar Wright and the production. 

Edgar quietly revealed shooting an action sequence in Star Trek Into Darkness (pictured above) which had people thinking it was Ant-Man or Iron Man 3 related (which it wasn't). The scene in question was John Harrison (Cumberbatch) and the Enterprise crew facing a unit of Klingons in a heated battle scene. Marvel has been gaga over actors from J.J. Abrams' Star Trek franchise. Hiring Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Zoe Salanda (Gamora in Guardians of The Galaxy) for lead roles, while Chris Pine and Alice Eve have been linked for tests.

Edgar and Joe Cornish have previously worked with Sherlock creator/show runner Steven Moffatt on Peter Jackson's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of The Unicorn. Ben and Martin Freeman just happen to star in that series. Wright is also friends with Peter Jackson who produced the film (expected to direct it's sequels) who directs both Ben and Martin in the Hobbit Trilogy.

Ben's Sherlock and Hobbit co-star Martin Freeman is close friends with Edgar taking roles in his cornetto trilogy (Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and a leading role in The World's End).

Ben visited Edgar during the editing of World's End, which is rumored to be the same time he's quietly taking early meetings with potential actors for Ant-Man.

Steven Moffatt and Benedict visited the Marvel offices to do an interview about Sherlock. Before leaving he playfully posed with Avengers cut-outs, a possible hint to his future? At the time everyone thought this meant he was going to play Strange.