In a shocking turn of events, Marvel Studios has been forced to make a difficult decision regarding the future of their Phase Six and the highly anticipated character, Kang the Conqueror. Jonathan Majors, the actor chosen to portray this iconic villain, has recently been convicted on multiple charges in a domestic abuse case. As a result, Marvel has officially fired Majors, leaving fans wondering what this means for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the upcoming Avengers film, “The Kang Dynasty.” In this article, we will explore the three possible options Marvel has when it comes to dealing with this situation and the potential implications for the MCU.
Recasting the Role
One option available to Marvel is to recast the role of Kang the Conqueror. The MCU has replaced prominent actors before, such as Edward Norton’s Hulk being replaced by Mark Ruffalo and Don Cheadle stepping in for Terence Howard in the role of War Machine. The nature of Kang, a time traveler with variant versions throughout the multiverse, makes it even easier to justify a recasting. The Kang seen in “Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania” was not meant to be the exact same person as He Who Remains from “Loki.” Variants can come in all shapes, sizes, genders, races, and species. One potential replacement could be Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who plays Ravonna Renslayer in “Loki.” Her character has a long history with Kang in the comics, making it plausible for her variant to take on the role of Kang in future projects.
Loki Takes the Throne
Another option for Marvel is to pivot the storyline and have Loki assume the role originally intended for Kang. At the end of “Loki” Season One, Loki’s variant, Sylvie, murdered He Who Remains, setting up the possibility of Loki taking on the responsibility of protecting the multiverse. Rather than bringing back a monstrous villain like Kang, Loki could become the new guardian of the multiverse, sitting on a throne at the end of time. This would require some finessing, as the Loki finale provided closure for the character, presenting him as a hero. However, there could be an evil Loki variant who pushes the good one off the throne, allowing for a continuation of the character’s journey and a shift in the overall creative direction of the MCU.
Abandoning Kang Altogether
The third option available to Marvel is to abandon the Kang storyline altogether. While “The Kang Dynasty” was announced a long time ago, it is not set to be released until the summer of 2026. Marvel could choose to shift the overall creative direction and explore other storylines instead. This would provide an opportunity to introduce new villains, such as Doctor Doom, who could take on the role of the big bad in “Avengers: Secret Wars” and beyond. The finale of “Loki” also provides an escape hatch, as the Time Variance Authority agents discuss rounding up all the Kang variants as a minor nuisance. This suggests that Kang, in any form, could be rendered a cosmic redundancy by Loki’s actions.
The sentencing of Jonathan Majors has undoubtedly posed a significant challenge for Marvel Studios and the future of their Phase Six plans, particularly regarding the character of Kang the Conqueror. With options ranging from recasting the role to having Loki assume Kang’s role or even abandoning the Kang storyline altogether, Marvel must carefully consider the implications of these decisions. The next Avengers film and the future of the MCU hang in the balance, as fans eagerly await updates and announcements from Marvel regarding the fate of Kang and the direction of Phase Six. Only time will tell how Marvel will navigate these challenges and continue to captivate audiences with their superhero storytelling prowess.
