Despite their similar powers, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) could not be more different superheroes in Ant-Man & the Wasp. They are the first duo to headline a Marvel Cinematic Universe film, and as fans of the original film recall, they are quite the odd couple. The contrast between Hope and Scott will be even more prounounced and will be further explored when the heroes team up in their newest adventure.

In Ant-Man, Hope bristled at her father Hank Pym (Michael Douglas)’s choice of Scott Lang, an ex-con, assuming his mantle as Ant-Man. She felt she was much more capable and reliable than Scott and she resented that her father prevented her from becoming the Wasp and following in her missing mother Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer)’s footsteps. Instead, Hope had to help train Scott and even had to teach him how to throw a punch. In Ant-Man 2, Hope finally gets to become the hero she was always destined to be, and her methods and outlook continue to differ from her partner’s.

During Screen Rant’s visit to the set of Ant-Man & the Wasp, Evangeline Lilly delved deeper into the mindset of Hope, how she has changed from the first film, and how Hope and Scott contrast each other:

While Scott is primarily motivated to be a hero so that his young daughter Cassie will be proud of him, Hope is driven by needing her father’s affirmation. However, the actress explained how Hope finds her sense of worthiness by being the Wasp:

“Hope Van Dyne and Scott Lang are two birds of a very, very different feather. They can both shrink. I mean, of course, Scott is just incredibly loveable, easygoing, and relaxed about things. Even when things are as dire as they can be, you have this sense that they’re kind of okay inside. Hope is generally not okay inside. But what I think is exciting about playing the Wasp is there is this incredible satisfaction in Hope, something that she has been waiting for her whole life, which is essentially, an affirmation from her father has come.”

While Hope Van Dyne and Scott Lang two very different people with different emotional needs when they met in Ant-Man, it seems like both are primarily driven by the need to connect with members of their family. It seems like Hope overcomes her trauma at losing her mother at a young age and being emotionally shut out by her father. While there will be necessary conflict, the Pym/Van Dyne family should achieve a stronger bond, especially when they travel into the Quantum Realm to find Hope’s lost mother Janet.

“And it came in the form of this mantle. It came in the form of this suit. So, now that she’s wearing it and she’s exercising these muscles she’s wanted to exercise all her life, she’s in a really different place emotionally when we start the film. And, you know, hopefully you’ll be able to to see that and fill that instantly…. I think that’s wonderful to show that people do evolve and change and that something as profound as your relationship with your father can have an effect and a reverberation on every aspect of your life.”

It’s this vital contrast between Hope and Scott, not just with their differing power sets (Wasp can fly while Ant-Man can also become Giant-Man), but also with their emotional drives to be superheroes, that will make Ant-Man & the Wasp such a fascinating superhero team-up.

Next: Ant-Man & The Wasp Stars Reveal Where They Were During Infinity War

  • Ant-Man 2 Release Date: 2018-07-06 captain marvel Release Date: 2019-03-08 The Avengers 4 Release Date: 2019-04-26