'Ant-Man' movie news: cast to include the Wasp

Janet van Dyne aka WaspMarvel Comics

During an MTV set visit at Marvel Studios, President Kevin Feige confirmed that Janet van Dyne aka the Wasp would be in the upcoming film "Ant-Man." Feige did not reveal who is playing the character but he did state that the female superhero will be seen in action. 

"She factors in a number of spoiler-ish ways," Feige explained. "But we will see Janet van Dyne in action in this film, and sort of what happened to her." 

Janet van Dyne aka the Wasp is one of the founding members of the Avengers in the Marvel comics and is Hank Pym's wife. Like her husband, she has the ability to shrink; but unlike him, she has the added ability to fly. 

Pym is the first hero to don the Ant-Man suit and will be played by actor Michael Douglas in the film but only as a mentor of sorts to the new Ant-Man, Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd. 

The studios have made it clear that actress Evangeline Lilly would be playing Hope van Dyne, speculated to be Janet and Hank Pym's daughter, but this is the first time that Janet has been stated to even be in the film. 

According to a report from the Latino-Review, Marvel Studios has been trying to get the Wasp on the big screen for some time. Director Joss Whedon's first draft for the 2012 "Avengers" had Wasp as the female team member instead of Black Widow but this was changed, most likely because Black Widow had already been established and also likely because of actress Scarlett Johansson's rising fame. 

"Ant-Man" will be the final film in Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is scheduled for release on July 17. All Marvel films following "Ant-Man" will be part of Phase 3.