Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Evangeline Lilly is now a retired actress, a desire she first shared on the sets ofLostmore than a decade back. Lilly stepping down from the film industry could also mean that she’s no longer available for the role of Hope van Dyne in the MCU. While the future of the character is currently undecided in the MCU, Lilly’s retirement could open doors for another actress.
New Girlstar Zooey Deschanel was in consideration for the role of the Wasp in Joss Whedon’sTheAvengers. She was supposed to appear as Janet van Dyne and reprise her role in the firstAnt-Manmovie. While her role didn’t happen at the time, now could be a good opportunity for Deschanel.
Evangeline Lilly’s Retirement Paves the Way For Zooey Deschanel As The Wasp In The MCU
Evangeline Lillyhas announced her retirement/hiatus from acting through herInstagrampage. Lilly’s Hope would no longer be a part of the MCU. However, if the makers really want to bring the Wasp back, they could always recast the role. They don’t even need to go far in search of an actress, becauseJoss Whedonmay have done that part for them.
“It was NOT good”: Evangeline Lilly Refused To Wear the Wasp Suit in $623M Film as It Made One of Her Body Parts Look Too ‘Flat’
During the filming ofThe Avengers, Whedon was doubtful about bringing Scarlett Johansson for the film due to her tight schedule. He insteadwrote another major female characterand one of the founding members of the Avengers, Janet van Dyne aka the Wasp.
According toThe Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Whedon was interested in castingZooey Deschanel, who was fresh off her success in500 Days of Summer. However, Johansson returned and Whedon had to reduce the female roles in the movie due to pressure from the studio. Deschanel’s potential role was eventually scrapped.
She also essentially lost her chance to star oppositePaul Ruddin the firstAnt-Manmovie, which could’ve had a different storyline. While she couldn’t play Janet’s Wasp, theBridge to Terabithiaactress now has the opportunity to fill Evangeline Lilly’s shoes as Hope. Deschanel and Rudd had earlier worked together in the film,Our Idiot Brother.
If Marvel ever decides to go back to Deschanel for a role, it would make many fans happy.The Happeningactress is on cloud nine asher wedding bellswill soon be ringing. She and her fiancé, Jonathan Scott, are busy planning a“nice and intimate”ceremony (viaThe Kelly Clarkson Show).
Why Is Evangeline Lilly Stepping Down From Her Successful Career?
Evangeline Lilly shared via Instagram thatshe was leaving her career path as an actressto“step into [her] dharma”. She shared that retiring from a career that has been providing her“wealth and fame”was scary but added that the“dharma”could replace the fear with“fulfillment”.
Evangeline Lilly Nearly Quit Ant-Man for a Very Valid Reason: “I was honored that my opinions were seriously considered”
Lilly appears to be“ready”and“happy”to embrace a spiritual life. She also added that her retirement might not be permanent.The Lord of the Ringsactress shared in the Instagram post:
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. A new season has arrived, and I AM READY…and I AM HAPPY.
Her post also included a video from the set ofLost, where she answers a question about her life in the future after 10 years. She shared that she saw herself as a retired actress having a family and influencing people’s lives.
Ant-Man,The Avengers, and other Marvel movies are now available for streaming on Disney+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
