Marvel fans have already seen the last of one major Ant-Man character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to feature a who’s who of MCU superheroes, from longtime fan-favorites like Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier to newer additions like Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. One hero who was noticeably absent from last year’s viral chair livestream was Wasp, played by Evangeline Lilly, and now fans know why.
Which Ant-Man character will die in Avengers: Doomsday?
Noted scooper The Beyond Reporter is claiming that the “Wasp is set to die off-screen in Avengers: Doomsday.” While no further details were given, it does make sense that Marvel would write off the Wasp, as Lilly has retired from acting to focus on her family.
Marvel’s decision to kill the Wasp off-screen instead of recasting the superhero so she can play a larger role in Doomsday will likely split the fandom. Marvel previously opted to kill Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa/Black Panther off-screen after the actor’s death. It was a decision that many fans were against, considering that T’Challa/Black Panther had only just been introduced in the MCU three years prior in Captain America: Civil War.
T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, has since taken on the mantle of Black Panther in the MCU, beginning with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She will return in Avengers: Doomsday, alongside fellow Black Panther stars Winston Duke as M’Baku and Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor.
However, the Wasp’s death may not be permanent. With rumors that Marvel is planning a soft-reboot of the MCU after Avengers: Secret Wars, it’s possible that the Wasp could be resurrected with a new actor in the role.
With the Wasp out of the picture, the only actor from the Ant-Man franchise set to appear in Doomsday is Paul Rudd, who is returning as Scott Lang/Ant-Man. While Hannah John-Kamen did make her MCU debut in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp as Ghost, she is now more closely associated with the Thunderbolts/New Avengers team.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.
