With Edgar Wright gone, should Marvel bother with "Ant-Man" anymore?

Sure, it has Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas and a lot of other great actors. Yes, that sizzle reel showing off Ant-Man's size-changing shenanigans was pretty fantastic. But without Wright's signature magic in the mix, does anyone actually want to see a movie about the bug-sized hero — especially when there are so many other heroes worth exploring on film?

With "Ant-Man," Marvel faces many obstacles, including finding a replacement for Wright and other key creatives, while still meeting its July 2015 release date. It's not an impossible goal to achieve, but it's a difficult one — and perhaps an unnecessary one. Perhaps the better alternative is to stop down on "Ant-Man" altogether and refocus on some of the other heroes in the Marvel catalogue that bring more to the table.

Here are nine movies that make more sense for Marvel right now than "Ant-Man."

"Doctor Strange"

The Sorcerer Supreme was name-checked in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." Casting and director rumors have swirled around for years. It's time to pull the trigger, Marvel. Make the Master of the Mystic Arts a priority.

"Captain Marvel"

Carol Danvers, the world is waiting for you. Marvel Studios has broken the superhero movie mold in so many ways over the years. They need to come out of the gate with the first female-led superhero movie, and there is no candidate better than the hero who wears Marvel in her name.

"Black Panther"

Like Stephen Strange and Carol Danvers, the Wakandan prince T'Challa is another Marvel character who is more than ready for his big-screen debut. We've been talking about the possibility of a "Black Panther" film for years. Expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe through Wakanda adds much more value than anything "Ant-Man" brings to the table.

"Loki"

Tom Hiddleston's mischief-making Asgardian is more than capable of handling his own film. Toss in a cameo from Chris Hemsworth as Thor for good measure, but beyond that, Hiddleston's Loki can hold his own. He's the most compelling villain in the Marvel movies by leaps and bounds. Besides, he has an army — and, when he wants, a killer mustache.

"Black Widow"

There's red in her ledger, and we need to see it cleared out. Scarlett Johansson was one of the key reasons the "Captain America" sequel worked so well, and is a hugely underrated asset in the Marvel Universe at large. Toss Hawkeye into the mix as a supporting character, and you have another black-ops success story along the lines of "Winter Soldier."

"War Machine"

Maybe kick the Iron Patriot armor to the side; the red-white-and-blue look isn't Rhodey's best. But Don Cheadle has more than proven himself as Tony Stark's best friend. If we're not going to see another "Iron Man" movie for a while, then letting Rhodey fly off on missions of his own would satisfy a similar craving.

Deeper Into the Marvel Cosmos

If "Guardians of the Galaxy" is the massive hit everyone thinks and hopes it'll be, then why not move forward with a sequel? Even if a sequel isn't the right way to go, there are plenty of aspects of the Marvel cosmos worth exploring, from a "Nova" film to the long-rumored "Planet Hulk."

"Runaways"

The script exists. The premise is air-tight. Who doesn't want to watch a group of super-powered teens battling it out with their super-villain parents? "Runaways" presents concepts unlike anything else in the Marvel movies thus far. It would be a welcome breath of fresh air.

"Young Avengers"

Earth's mightiest heroes can't hack it forever. There will come a day when Iron Man, Captain America and Thor will face a challenge they can't handle on their own. Cue the Young Avengers, and heroes like Wiccan, Hulkling, and Miss America. Maybe it's too early for their big-screen debut; perhaps that's a phase or two down the line. Still, it's an option worth exploring.