Latest Ant-Man Update Means The MCU Can Never Redeem Its Wasted Founding Avenger (2024)

The latest update from the Ant-Man family of heroes in the MCU means that one iconic founding Avenger will never be given the attention she deserves. While heroes and villains can live on indefinitely in the pages of Marvel Comics, a complication of the sprawling MCU timeline is that actors invariably can't stay with the franchise forever. Whether they lose interest, want to explore other projects, pass away, or run into contract disputes, keeping characters around isn't as easy as writing them into a script.

Despite Scott, Hope, Hank, and Janet being fan-favorite characters in the MCU, their future as a group is unclear after the divisive and critically/commercially disappointing Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, there's been little doubt that they'll pop up somewhere, even if only in team-up movies. However, now that Hope van Dyne actor Evangeline Lilly has announced her retirement from acting, it seems as though the Wasp has lost her chance for redemption.

Evangeline Lilly's Retirement Means Wasp's MCU Story Is Likely Done

On July 4, Evangeline Lilly took to Instagram to announce that she's stepping away from Hollywood to pursue what makes her happy away from the spotlight. While the move seems like the right one for Lilly, who clearly seems happy and at peace with the decision, it means that the MCU won't have the opportunity to do Wasp justice after failing to give her the attention she deserves. Lilly does notably explain in her post that "might return to Hollywood one day," but the post as a whole strongly implies that, if it does happen, it won't be for quite a while.

The MCU Never Honored Wasp's MCU Origins & Now It Probably Never Will

Hope van Dyne's MCU story started out reasonably well. It made sense that she'd appear in a non-hero capacity in Ant-Man so the movie could focus on establishing its titular hero, and she has some great scenes and an important role in Ant-Man and the Wasp. However, from there, Hope is sidelined while Scott gets a major role in the wider MCU. After Scott fights Falcon in Ant-Man and the Wasp, he's later recruited to join Captain America's team in Civil War and is clearly a fully ingrained member of the team as he plays an integral role in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

So, Ant-Man becomes an Avenger, but Wasp never does. It's a shame given that both characters are original founding Avengers in the pages of Marvel Comics. While it's true that they are different versions (Hank and Janet), the fact that Scott and Hope are the "main" versions in the MCU makes Scott's acceptance onto the team and Hope's sidelining frustrating. Adding insult to injury is the degree to which Hope is barely given anything of importance or consequence to do in Quantumania. Moreover, a prolonged acting break means Wasp will likely miss out on the rest of the Multiverse Saga entirely.

How Wasp Can Still Contribute To The MCU Without Evangeline Lilly

The future isn't looking great for Hope, but there are still a few ways that Wasp can remain an important presence in the MCU. The first is that Hope can remain alive and well in-universe, running Pym Technologies to continue contributing to the greater good through humanitarian efforts and advances in technology that benefit humankind. It would be easy enough to explain her absence away with business trips and other obligations, meaning she no longer has time to suit up and punch baddies. It might be a bit awkward, but it keeps her relevant in a way that's true to the character.

Moreover, whether Hope stays alive in the background or is killed off in a narratively befitting way, Marvel Studios could do what it's now done with a few other heroes and let someone else pick up the mantle. Scott's daughter Cassie notably suits up in Quantumania, but despite going by several different superhero names in Marvel Comics, she never uses one in the movie. The reasons for this are unclear, but it presents the perfect opportunity for her to go by Wasp to keep the legacy alive.

In fact, letting the Wasp legacy live on with Cassie could do justice to the former's formative role in the Avengers in Marvel Comics. Cassie was name-dropped by Kamala as someone she's looking to recruit for her Young Avengers initiative, and letting a Pym-powered hero in on the ground floor could let her blossom into a leader and mentor. Regardless, the MCU is going to have a hard time truly redeeming its sideline of the Ant-Man franchise's Wasp - but hopefully, the name can live on in spirit.

PG-13

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Director

Peyton Reed

Release Date

February 17, 2023

Writers

jeff loveness

Cast

Michael Douglas , Jonathan Majors , Paul Rudd , Michelle Pfeiffer , Michael Pena , Evangeline Lilly , Kathryn Newton , Randall Park , Bill Murray

Runtime

135 minutes