MTV recently caught up with actress Kate Mara to discuss her role in the upcoming blockbuster Iron Man 2. Mara took advantage of the opportunity, dispelling rumors that she’d be playing Bethany Cabe . In the comics, Cabe was a love interest of Tony Stark and an agent of Shield however both of those roles seem like they’ll be filled by Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. But, if she’s not playing Cabe, who will Mara portray in Iron Man 2?

This intrepid reporter is going to go out on a limb and speculate that Mara’s playing Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp. The facts are these; Mara told MTV that she’ll only appear in one scene in Iron Man 2. She made explicit references to the fact that her red hair wasn’t everything when it came to casting. And, she’s too big of an actress to find herself relegated to a cameo. Furthermore, Mara claims her only scene is opposite Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan. Folks who’ve seen the first film know that Hogan is Stark’s driver, but perhaps the wealthy Van Dyne threatens to steal him away. Such a scene would offer the perfect opportunity for Marvel to plant seeds for their Avengers film currently in the works, much like they did with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury in Iron Man and Downey Jr. in The Incredible Hulk.

I for one would love to see Mara try her hand at the Janet Van Dyne role. Every indication from Marvel would have you believe that The Wasp won’t appear in The Avengers but they also denied Jackson’s role at first. Van Dyne is a necessary component of The Avengers; she is both a founding member, and a female presence, who enhances the team’s dynamic. Initially, Van Dyne is vapid and flighty but over time she grows to become the team leader. This could provide a fantastic arch for Mara to show off her acting chops. Assuming that Hank Pym aka Ant-Man will appear in the film, Mara will also have a romantic storyline of comic legend to work with.

I realize this is all highly speculative but there’s a reason Mara’s playing coy about her role. This, added to recent rumors that Jeremy Renner is in negotiations to play Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, and the copious amounts of evidence presented making speculating worth it.