The MCU Moving Away From Kang Just Became A Lot More Possible

Speculation suggests that Marvel Studios is changing its plans for Kang the Conqueror, and recent news concerning the development of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty may reinforce this belief. In the wake of the Mad Titan Thanos’ defeat in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, the MCU introduced Kang the Conqueror as the primary antagonist of the Multiverse Saga. After appearances in Loki on Disney+ and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, however, Marvel Studios’ Kang the Conqueror plans have been thrown into jeopardy, and the doubt of his future in the MCU has been exacerbated by behind the scenes turmoil in the production of 2026’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in the MCU’s Phase 6.

After debuting as He Who Remains in Loki season 1, Jonathan Majors appeared as Kang the Conqueror and a number of other villainous variants in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and later as Victor Timely in Loki season 2. These roles have been setting up an epic battle between Kang’s variants and the MCU’s New Avengers team in Phase 6’s upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. After Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige announced the development of The Kang Dynasty in 2022, several exciting developments were made on the crossover project, but it now seems that Marvel Studios may be changing its overarching plans for Kang the Conqueror.

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What Avengers: The Kang Dynasty Losing Its Director Means For The Movie

In a November 15 report, Deadline revealed that Destin Daniel Cretton has stepped down as director of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Cretton joined Marvel Studios to direct 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and signed on to helm several upcoming projects including Shang-Chi 2, Wonder Man, and originally The Kang Dynasty. The fact that Destin Daniel Cretton is continuing to work on other MCU projects means that Marvel Studios likely doesn’t have an issue with the director, but is instead taking The Kang Dynasty in a different direction. This reinforces the idea that Marvel Studios may be shifting focus away from Kang the Conqueror.

Speaking on the House of R podcast (via Comicbook.com), MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios author Joanna Robinson suggested that Jeff Loveness, who had been attached to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty as a writer following his work on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, has also been dropped from the project. Robinson noted that this was because Marvel Studios will be “moving away” from Kang the Conqueror, and Loveness’ proximity to the villain no longer fit the changing plans. This perhaps means that Marvel Studios will rework Avengers: The Kang Dynasty completely, changing the future of Kang the Conqueror and the MCU’s Multiverse Saga drastically.

Why Marvel Might Be Moving Away From Kang

The most obvious reason that Marvel Studios may be removing Kang the Conqueror from the MCU is due to Jonathan Majors’ arrest and assault allegations. Majors was arrested in March 2023, and was subsequently dropped from his management and PR teams, and a number of upcoming projects. Marvel Studios has made no official comment on Majors’ case pending trial, but the controversy surrounding the emerging actor has thrown the future of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU into jeopardy. Majors’ next confirmed appearance as Kang was set to occur in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, yet it now seems that this will no longer be the case.

In early November, Variety released a damning report shedding light on behind the scenes crisis at Marvel Studios, and digging deeper into the Jonathan Majors controversy. While this report has since been disputed by many individuals close to Marvel Studios, Variety did suggest that Kang the Conqueror may be replaced by a different iconic Marvel Comics villains for the remainder of the Multiverse Saga. This was in response to the disappointing reception to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which surely forced Marvel Studios to do some rethinking. Kang the Conqueror’s future in the MCU is unclear, though there hasn’t been any official confirmation from Marvel Studios.

What Happens To MCU Phases 5 & 6 If Marvel Drops Kang

Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror was an incredibly exciting addition to the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, yet it now seems as though he will be removed from the franchise in the coming years, and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty may be completely reworked. While this would surely have an impact on the MCU, Marvel Studios still has plenty of opportunity to replace Kang the Conqueror. Many have suggested that Kang the Conqueror could be replaced by Doctor Doom or Galactus, both of whom are rumored to be appearing in the MCU’s Fantastic Four, though the new storyline of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will likely remain a mystery for the time being.

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