Evangeline Lilly, known for her role as the Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has publicly condemned Disney's recent layoff decisions, labeling the company's actions as "sickening and horrific." She also voiced her unwavering support for the affected creators.
Disney recently announced approximately 1,000 job cuts, with Marvel Studios experiencing a significant impact. According to Deadline, roughly 8% of the workforce was reduced, with the visual development department facing particularly extensive downsizing, drawing considerable attention from the industry.
Lilly shared a video on Instagram, explaining that she initially learned of the news through social media. She then reached out to her long-time collaborator and key Marvel visual development artist, Andy Park, who confirmed he had been laid off. Lilly expressed her profound disappointment, stating that these artists are the very architects of the modern Marvel Universe.
She further highlighted her deep concern that these creators, responsible for bringing characters and visual identities to life, could now be replaced by artificial intelligence. However, an internal Disney memo from CEO Josh D'Amaro attributed the layoffs to "streamlining operations," without mentioning AI as a factor.
Beyond criticizing the corporate decisions, Lilly also offered an apology to the affected employees and urged fans to recognize the contributions of these behind-the-scenes creators. She emphasized that the success of Marvel's productions stems from human creativity and dedication, asserting that it should not be supplanted by technology or corporate interests, and declared that she "stands with all artists."
In her post, Lilly also called on California lawmakers to strengthen protections for creators, preventing the misuse of creative works by AI, and paid tribute to the Marvel team, acknowledging their long-standing commitment and passion.