Marvel Has a Chance to Get Rid of Problem Actors in the Entire MCU | Popgen Tech

Credit: Ben Rothstein for Marvel Studios

After months of various controversies, Marvel Studios may have a chance to fire an actor from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Related: Marvel Shuts Down Highly Anticipated Phase Five Movie to Avoid Disaster

This year saw the continuation of Marvel Phase Four, the fourth installment in Kevin Feige’s MCU. In movies like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and the Phase finale, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), the MCU is about to begin its fifth sequence of films and television shows when Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) will be released exclusively in theaters on February 17 next year. The upcoming film will be part of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga and is once again helmed by director Peyton Reed; the film was written by Jeff Loveness.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania starring Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Evangeline Lilly (Hope van Dyne/Wasp), Michael Douglas (Hank Pym), and Michelle Pfeiffer (Janet van Dyne). This time around the cast will also be joined by Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang; the actress replaced Emma Fuhrmann who played Scott’s daughter Avengers: Endgame (2019). Jonathan Majors will appear as the villainous Kang the Conqueror after debuting as Variant He Who Remains last year in Michael Waldron’s Loki on Disney+.

The cast will also include Bill Murray in an undisclosed role, despite the actor’s ongoing controversies and allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior. In fact, Murray’s alleged acts of misconduct are so extreme that the range of actions by Aziz Ansari Being Mortal (TBD) is closed; the Searchlight Pictures film production will not continue. Darren Cross AKA Yellowjacket actor Corey Stoll is also rumored to return in the upcoming film.

However, before the controversy surrounding the Ghostbusters actor was ignited, Wasp actress Evangeline Lilly came under her own critical hail when the Lost star showed support for an anti-vaccine protest in Canada earlier this year. Lilly posted a series of photos with a caption discussing mandatory coronavirus vaccines. You can find her Instagram on “bodily sovereignty” here.

And it’s not the first time Lilly has faced criticism and backlash related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the actress posted about her refusal to socially distance herself and quarantine citing her value and choice of freedom – something that didn’t seem to change in the two years that followed. Lilly eventually apologized for her comments.

Despite her comments about coronavirus safety protocols and her unsupported attitudes toward both social distancing and vaccine mandates, Lilly continued in her role as co-leading protagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp trilogy. However, a recent theory posits the notion that both Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne will potentially meet their end in the upcoming ant man threequel. ScreenRant wrote:

The Kang shown in the Ant-Man 3 trailer appears to be Kang Prime, also known as Kang the Conqueror, who, for some reason, is in the Quantum Realm and needs Scott Lang’s help. It seems the latest version of Kang is the one who will likely return to The Kang Dynasty to fight the Avengers, meaning that Ant-Man and the Wasp cannot end the threat of Kang who is already in Phase 5. Even Kang Ant-Man 3 isn’t the same. version that will fight the Avengers, Scott and Hope’s victory is unlikely.

Fans knew that Kang was trapped in the Quantum Realm but teasers shown at various conventions throughout the year as well as the recent reveal sizzle had audiences thinking that Ant-Man could die in the upcoming Marvel movie — though recent spoilery theories are changing that view.

Even though Ant-Man and Wasp lose their first fight with Kang, there is no confirmation that he will kill them. However, looking through the lens of Lilly’s confusing and controversial behavior, her character’s death here may be the stage where Marvel Studios can get rid of the actress without too much outrage (the “Gina Carano treatment” coined some).

Related: ‘Spider-Man’ Star Officially Jumps, Leaves Disney For New Leading Role

Then there’s also the case that Marvel Studios currently has a release slate until 2026 that ends Avengers: Secret Wars (2026), the sixth episode in the Avengers franchise, and a follow-up last year Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025). Both Ant-Man and Wasp help in the fight against Thanos (Josh Brolin), so they can face the next big battle.

In two months, viewers will know their fate.

Do you think Ant-Man or the Wasp will die? Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania? Let us know in the comments below!