Could Olivia Munn Be Wasp In Iron Man 2 / The Avengers? Nope!
Update: Olivia Munn does not play Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp in Iron Man 2.
Ever since G4's Attack of the Show co-host and geek diva Olivia Munn was cast in Iron Man 2, geeks around the webosphere have been trying to figure out what role she might play in the upcoming sequel. Actress Kate Mara (We Are Marshall) also has a cameo in the film, which is said not to be long-term Stark girlfriend, Bethany Cabe, which also had fans talking. At first we just wrote Munn's part off as a small cameo, but in the last few months some strange developments make us believe otherwise.
A couple months ago it was revealed that Munn had to go in and reshoot all her scenes, but as a completely different role. No one knows that the original role was supposed to be (at Comic-Con Favreau joked that she would be playing War Machine or the Iron Madien). We do know it was played as more of a cameo and had interaction with Robert Downey Jr. Munn told The Complex the following:
"Yeah, but as they started to edit they realized it was becoming darker than what they'd expected and what my scenes had allowed for. My parts were lighthearted and comedic. Jon Favreau called and was like, "I've got good news and bad news: This is what's happening in editing but we all really like you." Marvel and Jon had to add another character from the Marvel universe to keep me included. I can't talk specifics because it's Iron Man 2! But when they call, you say, "OK, I'm there. What do you need?" You don't say, "Who is this Marvel? Did you call my agent? Is FIJI Water on set?" Everyone knows who the stars are in this movie. I'm not one of them and I understand the editing process. Some things don't work out."
She doesn't say much, but she does reveal that she's playing an established "character from the Marvel universe." She later confirmed:
"My first role had more improv and was a lot of fun, but for my second one I got to pick a Marvel Comics character. It's pretty dope that from here on out, I'm that Marvel character."
So who might she play? Munn has put the runaway Melina Vostokoff / Iron Maiden rumor to rest:
"If I was Iron Maiden, there'd be a big press release. I can't say what I'm doing at all, because I signed away my life to Marvel if I say anything—but I think I'm allowed to say that everyone seemed to love my catering!"
When Zimbo asked if she liked her role more before or after the rewrite, Munn responded:
This is a trick question, right? If I got to walk past Robert Downey Jr.'s trailer and hand him a bottled water, I would've been ecstatic! I'm a huge geek, and to have anything more than a passing glance in Iron Man 2 is a dream come true. I don't need anything big, just a chance to fulfill a little part of my nerd fantasy. If you made me pick, my first role had more improv and was a lot of fun, but for my second one I got to pick a Marvel Comics character. It's pretty dope that from here on out, I'm that Marvel character.
The top fan speculation pointed towards Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) or Madame Masque (Whitney Frost), but what about Janet Van Dyne aka Wasp? A source told Forces of Geek that Munn plays Janet Van Dyne, who has a small part in Iron Man 2, but a somewhat larger role in The Avengers and the later planned Ant-Man movie.
Of course, this is completely unconfirmed and likely just mindless dfan speculation... but... comic book fan speculation is always fun, right?