Evangeline Lilly has expressed strong criticism towards Disney following the company’s recent layoffs, which affected approximately 1,000 employees. This includes a significant number of staff across Marvel’s film and TV production, comics, franchise, finance, legal, and visual development teams.
Lilly, who played Hope van Dyne/Wasp in the Paul Rudd-led Ant-Man trilogy and two Avengers films, voiced her concerns in an Instagram video shared on Wednesday. She addressed a social media clip about the layoffs and revealed that she reached out to her “good friend,” Marvel Studios’ Director of Visual Development Andy Park, to confirm the rumors.
Park confirmed the layoffs and disclosed that he was among those affected. Lilly expressed disbelief at Disney’s decision to let go of the artists who brought the current Marvel Universe to life through their creativity. She also criticized the use of AI in replacing human artists.
“I can’t quite believe that — that Disney have let go of the artists who brought the current Marvel Universe to life through their genius and that the people who invented these characters and who designed them are being replaced by AI,” Lilly wrote. “AI that will take their designs and take what they created and use it to create iterations of that. I am so sorry, Andy. I am so sorry to every one of the artists who were let go.”
In the same caption, Lilly continued to criticize Disney, writing: “SHAME ON YOU for turning your back on the people who built the power you are now using to throw them away. Where are the laws that REMOVE all human art from the AI bank?!?” she questioned. “Why do they get to steal our brilliance and use it to make executives rich while the artists responsible for feeding their robots go hungry?? Disgusting. California lawmakers…where are you?!?!?”
An internal memo sent to employees earlier this month by new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro did not mention AI as a reason for the job cuts. Instead, he stated that the move was part of an ongoing effort to “streamline operations.”
Lilly, who stepped back from acting in 2024, praised the artists who “designed and brought to life the glory days of Marvel.”
“I salute you. I was there. I know what you did. I know how passionately you worked round the clock to make magic happen,” she added. “You are the magicians, no matter what the Wizards of our new Oz make it look like going forward. I will never forget.”
Andy Park, who was responsible for creating the original Wasp supersuit and the original Wasp concept drawings for the second Ant-Man film, announced his departure from Marvel Studios last week on social media.
“Marvel Studios Visual Development: 2010–2026. End of an era,” he wrote. “I was there at the start of a team that broke the mold. 16 years, 40+ films, and 15 films led as Director of Visual Development, I couldn’t be prouder of the history we made. My journey continues…”
The Independent has contacted Disney for comment.
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