Marvel may be losing its Wasp! Evangeline Lilly recently announced that she plans on stepping away from acting and into retirement after 10 years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While it may not seem like it, Evangeline Lilly has been a consistent part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for nearly a decade, portraying Hope van Dyne a.k.a. The Wasp since 2015’s Ant-Man. However, it seems her time in Hollywood may be coming to an end, with the actress revealing she plans to step away from acting for a while.
“Ten years from now, where would I like to be? I am terrified to admit this to the rest of the acting world but ideally 10 years from now I’d like to be a retired actress and have a family,” Lilly explained in a recent Instagram video. “I’d like to be writing and influencing people’s lives in humanitarian ways.”
“I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision,” She continued in the post’s caption. “Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment. I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
Hollywood seems to be a constant treadmill, where if you’re not “in the spotlight” you’re doing something wrong. This is especially true when acting for a company like Marvel Studios, with the MCU being one of the biggest franchises of all time. It’s understandable Evangeline Lilly would be worried about stepping away from iconic roles like The Wasp, but it seems the Ant-Man star has finally found peace in her decision.
The Future Of The Wasp In The MCU
This leaves The Wasp’s future in the MCU up to question. The end of the last Ant-Man movie assured fans that Hope van Dyne was safe and sound. However, given the box office returns of the film, it’s not likely Marvel would be bringing the cast around for a fourth installment. It’s possible the studio just lets the character melt into the background following Evangeline Lilly’s retirement.
Of course, recasting the part is always an option. Evangeline Lilly would be far from the only Ant-Man actor Marvel is set to recast given Jonathan Majors’ current standing with the studio. However, despite The Wasp having a large role in the comics, it’s not clear where Hope van Dyne would fit in the MCU beyond the small corner of the Pym family.
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