Evangeline Lilly is calling out Disney after Marvel Studios layoffs reportedly hit the artists who helped build the MCU.
The Ant-Man and the Wasp actress posted a video blasting the company after learning that longtime Marvel artist Andy Park was among those let go.
Park is known for his work as Marvel Studios’ Director of Visual Development and for designing key MCU characters, including Lilly’s Wasp suit.
Evangeline Lilly Says Andy Park Confirmed He Was Let Go
Lilly said she saw the news online but wanted to confirm it before saying anything publicly.
“Before I spread this post, when I saw it on social media, I needed to fact check it,” Lilly said. “So I reached out to my good friend Andy Park, who was the genius behind creating the original Wasp super suit 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?”
According to Lilly, Park confirmed the news.
“And he said, yeah, it’s true. I have been let go,” Lilly said.
Lilly Can’t Believe Disney Let Go Of Marvel’s Artists
Lilly then took aim at Disney, saying she couldn’t believe the company would part ways with the artists who helped define the look of the current Marvel universe.
“And I can’t quite believe that Disney have let go of the artists who brought the current Marvel Universe to life through their imagination and their genius,” Lilly said, “that the people who invented these characters in the first place, who designed them in the first place, are now being replaced by AI.”
She continued by saying AI will now use the work those artists created.
“AI that will take their designs and take what those artists created and use it to create iterations of that,” she said.
The layoffs were part of Disney cutting 1,000 employees earlier this month, with Marvel impacted and its visual development team hit hard.
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said in a memo the move was part of an effort to “streamline our operations,” with no mention of AI as the reason for the cuts.
Lilly Says Marvel Artists Built The Empire
Lilly didn’t hold back in her video, apologizing directly to Park and the Marvel artists who were let go.
“I am so sorry, Andy, and I am so sorry to every single one of the artists who were let go in the 1000 artists that Disney fired, and particularly the entire team at Marvel who have been considered obsolete,” Lilly said. “Now, after building the Marvel Empire.”
She added that fans should remember the people who created the Marvel universe they fell in love with.
“If you’re a huge fan of Marvel, just take a moment today and think about them to send up a prayer for them, to honor them, to honor the people who created the world that you fell in love with,” Lilly said. “That was a human invention. These were human creations, and they shouldn’t be stolen by tech giants so that their robots can replicate them.”
Lilly closed the video by saying, “I think it’s disgusting and horrible, and I just I stand with all the artists and. Andy, I’m so sorry. And I love you guys.”
Lilly Calls Out Disney In Post
Lilly also added a lengthy caption ripping Disney and calling for lawmakers to step in.
“Where are the laws that REMOVE all human art from the AI bank?!? Why do they get to steal our brilliance and use it to make executives rich while the artists responsible for feeding their robots go hungry?? Disgusting. California lawmakers…where are you?!?!?” Lilly wrote.
She then saluted the Marvel artists who helped bring the MCU to life.
“To the @marvelstudios artists who designed and brought to life the glory days of Marvel…I salute you,” Lilly wrote. “I was there. I know what you did. I know how passionately you worked round the clock to make magic happen. You are the magicians, no matter what the Wizards of our new Oz make it look like going forward. I will never forget.”
Lilly then tagged Disney directly.
“@disney SHAME ON YOU for turning your back on the people who built the power you are now using to throw them away,” she wrote.
She also asked fans to send support to Park.
“Fans, please share the love with @andyparkart Tell him how much his art has meant to you over the years. He was responsible for designing SO many of your fav @marvelstudios characters.”
