Evangeline Lilly was cast by Edgar Wright in Ant-Man after she had concluded her breakout role in the Lost series. When Wright left the project citing creative differences with Marvel, Lilly hesitated to accept the role of Hope van Dyne. At that point, she had not yet signed a contract and was concerned about how her character would develop without Wright’s creative direction.
Fortunately, Paul Rudd and Adam McKay were open to Lilly’s input on Hope’s character, which left a positive impression on her about the project. Her meeting with the new director, Peyton Reed, also went well, ultimately leading to a kick-ass portrayal of the superhero Wasp in the Marvel universe.
Evangeline Lilly Almost Quit After Edgar Wright’s Departure From Ant-Man
Evangeline Lilly became widely recognized for her leading role as Kate Austen in Lost. She also appeared in The Hobbit film series. Edgar Wright had specifically chosen Lilly to play Hope van Dyne in Ant-Man, a character with a significant arc in the film. Wright’s script only explored a strained relationship between Hope and her superhero father, Hank Pym, who was reluctant to let her assume the Ant-Man mantle.
According to the book, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, once Wright left the project, the Real Steel actress no longer had confidence in the project. However, Lilly, being a promising star, found herself in a strong negotiating position after Wright’s departure because she hadn’t signed a contract with Marvel. But she was discouraged at the missed opportunity, as she shared (via the book):
“I think everyone was a little uncomfortable because we all loved Edgar and were very passionate to work with him.”
Lilly almost decided to quit but she was convinced to stay after Paul Rudd and Adam McKay revised the script. The new script gave Hope more fighting skills and also explored a more intricate father-daughter relationship with Hank Pym. The Hurt Locker actress also gained confidence after meeting with new director Peyton Reed. Lilly felt honored that her opinions were taken seriously by the franchise and signed a multiple-film contract with Marvel. Lilly shared:
“In a film of this size, I don’t think you necessarily expect your voice to be heard, especially if you’re not one of the superstars of the franchise. I was honored that my opinions were seriously considered.”
The end credits scene of Ant-Man also teased Lilly’s character taking up the mantle of Wasp. Although she nearly quit due to Edgar Wright, Lilly later revealed that the Baby Driver director’s vision would not have been a good fit for the Marvel universe.
What Happened Between Edgar Wright And Marvel?
Ant-Man was supposed to come out years prior to Iron Man, the movie that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios revealed that director Edgar Wright had pitched the Ant-Man idea to Artisan Entertainment, which held the rights to the character at the time. When the rights reverted back to Marvel, the project was greenlit, but neither the studio nor Wright was in a rush to make the movie.
Wright wrote three drafts of the script along with his friend and comedian, Joe Cornish. When the script was finalized in 2011, Wright began work on the movie and he chose Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly to play the lead characters. However, within a few months of working on the project, he faced difficulties in working with Marvel, especially the infamous Marvel Creative Committee. The committee continuously recommended changes to Wright’s script and the overall direction of the movie.
Wright finally walked away from his own project in 2014, and Marvel brought in Adam McKay to complete the script with Paul Rudd. Interestingly, Marvel gave screenplay credits to both Wright and Cornish. Ant-Man and its sequels are now available for streaming on Disney+. MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios is now available for purchase on Amazon.
