Evangeline Lilly Rocks Wasp-Like Hairdo for ANT-MAN

Marvel’s tiniest heroes have been making big news this week! Shooting for Ant-Man has started this week and official photos of titular star Paul Rudd as soon-to-be hero Scott Lang have already surfaced online. But what has fans (including myself) really excited are Instagram photos of Rudd’s co-star Evangeline Lilly and her new short, pointy bob hairstyle. This would make any Marvel Comics fan jump for joy, as the actress now looks like a dead ringer for Janet Van Dyne, otherwise known as The Wasp!

Look familiar???

For those not up to speed, Wasp is the partner/teammate/wife/ex-wife of Hank Pym aka Ant Man, and one of the founding members of The Avengers when they debuted in 1963. In fact, it was The Wasp who came up with the team’s iconic name (kudos to The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for including that as well). In the comics, Janet is known for shifting costumes, her dedication to The Avengers, and her short haircut. Though Lilly’s character is named Hope Van Dyne, I think we can assume that she will be playing The Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Photo from Lilly’s Instagram page

Some fans might argue that since she’s been cast as the offspring of an older Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) that there’s no way she’ll be suiting up and shrinking down alongside Rudd. But we need to remember that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not an exact copy of the mainstream Marvel Universe (aka Earth 616) and its characters. In the comics, Nick Fury didn’t look like Samuel L. Jackson, Hawkeye was never a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, James Rhodes wasn’t the original Iron Patriot, and Pepper Potts was actually married to Happy Hogan before hooking up with Tony Stark! So we can all agree that some minor changes have been made to adapt these characters to the big screen. Joss Whedon himself admitted that The Wasp was originally supposed to be in 2012’s The Avengers instead of Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. We already know that Scarlet Witch will be in The Avengers: Age of Ultron, so why not add Wasp to the team later?

With original Ant-Man director Edgar Wright gone and the rising cries for more proactive women in superhero films, Lilly’s hairstyle may be a signal that Marvel Studios has been listening to what the fans want. Besides, did anyone ever consider that Hope Van Dyne’s middle name might be Janet???

All I know is that if I see Joaquin Phoenix or Jon Hamm coming out of a barber shop looking like Doctor Strange, then I’m sold.