'Disney, shame on you': MCU star Evangeline Lilly slams studio for Marvel layoffs, wants California to intervene

Evangeline Lilly, known for her role as Hope van Dyne/Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, publicly criticized Disney for the mass layoffs at Marvel Studios. In a video message shared on Instagram, Lilly accused Disney of betraying the artists who created the Marvel Universe, stating that these individuals were being replaced by AI. She addressed her friend Andy Park, who designed the original Wasp suit, confirming the layoffs and expressing sorrow for the artists whose work was being discarded for AI-generated iterations. Lilly’s comments followed reports of hundreds of technicians and crew members losing their jobs, potentially due to Disney’s pivot toward AI. She urged California legislators to intervene, asking why human art was being stolen and used to enrich executives while artists faced hardship. Lilly’s criticism was framed as a plea to preserve human creativity and justice for those affected by the layoffs. Her earlier career includes roles in *Lost*, *The Hurt Locker*, and the *Hobbit* Trilogy, but her most notable work remains her MCU appearances.