The Marvel Cinematic Universe finds itself at a crossroads after the recent conviction of Jonathan Majors on charges of assault and harassment. Majors, who portrayed The Multiverse Saga’s villain, Kang the Conqueror, was poised to be a pivotal character in the MCU’s Phase 5 and Phase 6. His conviction and subsequent exit from the franchise have left a massive hole in Marvel Studios’ plans going forward, with significant challenges and decisions regarding the future direction of their cinematic universe.
Majors’ role as Kang the Conqueror was not just another addition to the MCU’s ever-expanding roster of characters. He was introduced as a major antagonist, set to fill the universe-snapping void left by the Mad Titan, Thanos. His portrayal in the first season of Loki as He Who Remains before his introduction as Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as well as other variants, received widespread acclaim. This cemented his place as a central figure in the upcoming pair of films, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, with Marvel Studios’ decision to part ways with Majors following his conviction, the question arises: how will the MCU move forward without him?
One option for Marvel Studios is to recast the role of Kang the Conqueror. The MCU has a history of successful recasts, such as Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard as James Rhodes and Mark Ruffalo taking over from Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. Recasting Majors would allow the studio to continue with their planned storyline, albeit with a new actor in the pivotal role of Kang. However, finding an actor to step into such a significant and already-established role would be challenging.
Not to mention, Majors’ performance as Kang and his variants have made him synonymous with the character. Using a controversial character again in the future could only invite problems.
Another possibility is a pivot in the storyline, potentially moving away from Kang the Conqueror as the central villain. Reports have suggested that Marvel Studios might consider shifting focus to another major antagonist, such as Doctor Doom, a classic Marvel villain with deep ties to the Fantastic Four. This would require significant rewrites and changes to the planned narrative but could open new creative avenues for the MCU.
The recent delay in the MCU’s release schedule could provide Marvel Studios with the necessary time to reevaluate and rework their plans. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, for a 2026 release, could undergo yet another rewrite to accommodate a new actor as Kang or pivot to a different storyline altogether. Michael Waldron, the creator of Loki, was recently signed to work on a new draft of the film, suggesting that changes are already in motion.
Coincidentally, the second season of Loki ended with what’s effectively the MCU’s way out of the whole Kang debacle, so bringing Waldron on board might have been part of the MCU’s plans all along.
Nevertheless, Marvel Studios’ decision to continue with its incumbent plans suggests that it intends to move forward as intended despite the unprecedented challenge it’s currently facing. Never before has a character been so integral to the overarching narrative be faced with such a sudden and impactful change. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. While the path forward may be uncertain, the studio’s track record of adaptability and creative storytelling suggests that they are capable of navigating these uncharted waters.
As the MCU continues to evolve, the handling of this situation will be a defining moment in its ongoing saga.
For now, MCU fans can look forward to ending the year with a bang with the next season of What If…? premiering next week. Finally, kick off 2024 the best way possible with all episodes of Marvel’s Echo, the first MCU show to launch under the Marvel Spotlight banner, dropping earlier than expected on January 9, 2024.
