MCU’s Newest Show Tease Makes 1 Major Kang Casting Theory Even More Likely

Marvel Studios will likely recast Kang the Conqueror for the remainder of the Multiverse Saga, and the powerful MCU villain has recently been teased to be returning in a new Disney+ series. In the wake of Thanos’ defeat in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios introduced Kang the Conqueror and his variants to the MCU as the overarching antagonists of the Multiverse Saga. After appearances in Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Kang the Conqueror was set to pose a significant threat in Phase 6’s Avengers 5, originally The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars, but these plans may be changing.

Jonathan Majors originally appeared as Kang the Conqueror and several of his variants in the Multiverse Saga, setting up the actor for a huge role in the MCU’s future. However, after his 2023 arrest and conviction, Majors was fired from Marvel Studios, leaving Kang the Conqueror’s future in the MCU uncertain. While there has been speculation that the MCU will move away from this narrative, it’s possible that Marvel Studios could simply recast Kang the Conqueror, and one potential casting choice has recently teased his debut in an upcoming, as-yet-unannounced Disney+ series, potentially reintroducing Kang the Conqueror to the MCU.

Giancarlo Esposito Could Play Kang The Conqueror In A Solo MCU Series

In recent months, Giancarlo Esposito has been a popular fan-cast for several roles in the MCU, including Professor X, Norman Osborn, and Kang the Conqueror himself. While Breaking Bad, The Boys, and The Mandalorian star Esposito hasn’t been officially cast in the MCU, the actor has recently teased his involvement with Marvel Studios at this year’s Phoenix Fan Fusion event (via Legion of Sand). As well as teasing his potential MCU role being something that audiences won’t be expecting, Esposito suggested that his debut in the franchise would include him starring in a new Marvel Television series.

During a May panel at CCXP Mexico, Giancarlo Esposito previously confirmed his MCU casting, though neglected to reveal who he would be playing. Marvel Studios hasn’t yet commented on Esposito’s potential casting in the MCU, but the actor has suggested that he will debut “sooner rather than later,” and that his role will be “better than you can imagine.”This gives weight to the idea that Giancarlo Esposito could be portraying a recast Kang the Conqueror, as the new iteration of the villain will need to debut “sooner rather than later,” setting the stage for Avengers 5 and Secret Wars.

Kang’s Marvel Comics Story Could Work Well In An MCU Series That Explains His Recasting In-Universe

Even though Giancarlo Esposito’s debut as Kang the Conqueror hasn’t been confirmed, it could be great to reintroduce the villain to the MCU in a Disney+ series. This could take note from Marvel Comics’ solo Kang the Conqueror run in 2021, which saw an older and more-broken version of Kang the Conqueror take his younger variant under his wing, trying to forge him into the perfect villain by taking him through his entire history. This series explored Kang the Conqueror’s origins in Marvel Comics, which haven’t yet been explored in the MCU, so would be great to see in live-action.

This five-issue run of Kang the Conqueror saw the older Kang guide his younger self through decades of Marvel’s history. This explored Kang’s career as the Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Rama-Tut, his battles with Doctor Doom and the Avengers, his evolution into the Scarlet Centurion, his romance with Ravonna Renslayer, and his time as the superhero Iron Lad. This would be a fantastic story to explore in a new MCU TV series, and Giancarlo Esposito would be an inspired choice for the older and defeated Kang the Conqueror, while this could also introduce a younger actor as the new permanent Kang.