Evangeline Lilly Criticizes Disney Marvel Layoffs

Evangeline Lilly, known for portraying Hope van Dyne, the Wasp, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, publicly criticized Disney on Wednesday over layoffs that affected approximately 1,000 employees, including key members of Marvel Studios' visual development team. The cuts, announced in an internal memo from Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro on April 14, targeted various departments to streamline operations.

Lilly shared her reaction in an Instagram video, recounting how she contacted her friend Andy Park, Marvel's director of visual development for 16 years, upon hearing reports of the layoffs. Park, who contributed to 40 films starting with projects like Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor in 2011, confirmed his departure. "I reached out to my good friend Andy Park, who was the genius behind creating the original Wasp supersuit and the original Wasp concept drawings for the film Ant-Man and the Wasp, and just said, 'Is this true? Is this really what's happening?'" Lilly said. "And he said, 'Yeah, it's true. I have been let go.'"

In the video and accompanying caption, Lilly expressed disbelief at the decision to release artists who she said brought the Marvel Universe to life. She...