Evangeline Lilly has established a memorable position in the Hollywood industry with her character of Hope van Dyne, also known as The Wasp, in the MCU. However, recent statements have sparked a whirlwind of speculation about her potential retirement from the MCU, raising the question: Can The Wasp be saved, or should Lilly just pack up her wings and call it a day?
First of all, let us reflect on the contribution that Lilly has made to the MCU. Ever since her introduction in the movie ‘Ant-Man’ (2015), she has been portrayed as a strong, smart, and single-minded character committed to her family’s business. She was the first female superhero to have her name in the title of an MCU film with ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp’ (2018) which was very important for breaking the gender stereotype in the superhero genre.
But despite these awards, the character has not been without its rough patches in his or her storyline. The storyline of The Wasp has always been seen as a supporting one, which is far less appealing than that of Scott Lang/Ant Man, portrayed by Paul Rudd.
Some of them think that she was not properly utilized despite her great contribution especially in the realm of comics. Her role in “Avengers” That being said, the role of Cassie Lang in the actual “Endgame” was rather small, and the character did not reach its full potential in “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. ”
Source: Marvel
Given all these challenges, one might easily understand why Lilly might be thinking about withdrawing. It can be quite demanding to be expected to have a prominent part in a franchise that is this extensive and ambitious in nature. Also, the expanding universe’s nature means characters can be unexpectedly recast or dropped, further contributing to the volatility of the position.
But is there a way to redeem The Wasp and give Evangeline Lilly a reason to stay?Absolutely. First of all, there is a possibility of expanding more on the character’s background within the MCU.
Seeing more of Hope’s interaction with her parents, especially her mother Janet van Dyne played by Michelle Pfeiffer could further enrich Hope’s character. Also, highlighting her leadership qualities and scientific temperament in more extensive storylines could improve her standing in the MCU.
Source: Marvel
One possible avenue that can be considered is coupling her with other popular superhero females. Picture a plot where The Wasp is working with Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, or the upcoming Ms. Marvel. This would not only make her character louder but also emphasize the fact that the MCU really focuses on independent and powerful female characters who can team up.
In conclusion, the choice belongs to Lilly and Marvel’s creative people only. The MCU has time and again showcased its penchant for revitalizing characters and coming up with fresh ways to tell a redemption story. If they decide to focus on the development of The Wasp character, there are many interesting stories that may return attention to the actress as well as the viewers.
Therefore, despite a possible loss of Evangeline Lilly as a part of the MCU, this issue is also an interesting evidence of the constant transformations in the context of superhero films. No matter her decision, Olsen’s performance of The Wasp has contributed to the development of the MCU and future female heroes.
