When The Avengers first united in 2012, the iconic superhero team was notably missing two of its founding members, Ant-Man and The Wasp. While Ant-Man eventually joined the ranks in 2015, The Wasp was initially intended to make her big-screen debut much earlier.
According to insights from The Story of Marvel Studios, Joss Whedon, the director of The Avengers, had initially included The Wasp in his scripts and envisioned Zooey Deschanel portraying the character.
Whedon viewed The Wasp as a pivotal and humorous figure within the storyline, but ultimately, the character’s inclusion was uncertain due to scheduling conflicts with Scarlett Johansson, who portrayed Black Widow.
Whedon admitted, “The Wasp happened because there was a short period where it looked like we weren’t going to be able to get Scarlett.” However, once Johansson’s participation was confirmed, Whedon realized he had inadvertently centered the entire movie around The Wasp, prompting a shift in focus back to the original Avengers lineup.
Additionally, Whedon attempted to introduce Captain Marvel in Avengers: Age of Ultron, filming a scene with a stand-in for the character. However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige intervened, emphasizing the importance of properly introducing such a significant character to the audience.
Whedon’s tenure with Marvel concluded after Avengers: Age of Ultron, and he transitioned to the DC Extended Universe, directing Justice League.
Following allegations of misconduct on the set of Justice League, Whedon faced accusations of fostering a toxic work environment from several members of his previous projects. Despite these allegations, Whedon has not publicly addressed the claims.
