Evangeline Lilly Praises MCU for Tackling Difficult Topics

The story of Ant-Man is one of superheroes, but also of redemption, as it features a character who was an ex-convict before being called on to help save the world.

Speaking to CinePop in a recent interview, Evangeline Lilly — who returns to star in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — was asked about how she feels about people getting second chances, considering the fact that the Ant-Man franchise centers around Scott Lang, a former convict-turned-superhero.

“Absolutely,” Lilly said when asked if people deserve second chances. “One hundred million percent, I also believe that for the most part, it’s poverty that leads to crime. And so, I think that any time you look at the criminal system, and you want to blame somebody, I think you have to turn your head towards the economic system. And if somebody is already a victim of the economic system that doesn’t work for them, they need many chances, and they need someone to fix that economic system, so they have a chance to really make the choices they probably want to make, but maybe can’t.”

When it comes to Marvel Studios’ role as storytellers, Lilly also said that she feels the upcoming Ant-Man film tells a story of hope and that she’s always impressed by just how much meaning and profoundness the Marvel Studios films find a way to put into their projects.

“Yes, said Lilly when asked if films like this send a message of hope. “I’m always impressed with the topics that Marvel is willing to tackle in such a like, fluffy popcorn, entertaining movie. You think ‘I’m just getting entertained, it’s just fun, it’s all just good old-fashioned fun,’ but if you really are paying attention to what they’re saying, they have some really deep, really wise and profound messages laced into every movie that they’re making. And they’re very intentional, you know, they know that storytelling shapes the world, and they’re one of the biggest storytellers in the world right now, and that’s a big responsibility.”

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is once again being directed by Peyton Reed from a screenplay written by Jeff Loveness. The action-comedy superhero sequel will release on February 17, 2023.