Summary
WhileAvengers: Secret Warsis still far from its theatrical release, the uncertainty concerning Jonathan Majors' Kang role might have finally been settled despite the ongoing legal battle surrounding the star.
Avengers: Secret Warsis set to be the final installment of the MCU’s phase six and the cumulation of the entire Multiverse Saga. WhileAvengers: Secret Wars' two potential leadswere revealed by a recent rumor, the issue of the film’s antagonist, Kang the Conqueror, has been a source of speculation thanks to the trouble surrounding Kang actor Majors.
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The going theory was that Marvel Studios was looking forways to replace Majors' villain Kangas the franchise’s big bad after allegations of abuse surfaced against him, leading to an ongoing legal battle and near-universal distancing from the actor. However, a new report from trusted correspondentDaniel Richtmanposits that fans and speculators might have been too quick to write off the plans laid out by the studio. According to Richtman, Marvel Studios is still committed to Kang being the main villain of the Multiverse Saga, with any other potential antagonists playing a smaller role if included in the narrative leading up to and being involved inAvengers: Secret Wars.
This shoots down recent fan speculation that saw Kang potentially replaced by Doctor Doom, the actual villain of the more recentSecret Warscomic story, or fellowFantastic Fouradversary Galactus, rumored to debut in the MCU alongside Marvel’s First Family in 2025. DespiteMarvel Studios reportedly not discussing dropping Majorswhen other companies did after the initial accusations, Ritchman says the commitment to Kang is not a commitment to Majors. The role could potentially be recast before the character is set to appear again in the MCU after the recent wrap of the second season ofLokion Disney Plus.
This news undercuts much of the speculation surrounding the studio’s next action, a far-reaching discourse that saw Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige addressrumors of potential resurrections for anotherAvengersfilm. While Majors hasn’t been proven to have carried out the abuse alleged, there’s far too much at stake for the company to sit on its hands while his name is potentially cleared. Additionally, proven innocent in court does little to affect the arguably more important (from the studio’s perspective) court of public opinion, making Majors an unlikely choice for the overarching villain of the Multiverse Saga despite already being in the role. It’s clear now that there’s much reshuffling around the MCU to make the phase work out well.
WithAvengers: Secret Warsreportedly Feige’s MCU reset button, the film has greater significance. How well this all works out for Marvel Studios remains to be seen.
Avengers: Secret Warsis currently set for a theatrical release on May 15, 2025.
The Avengers
The Avengers is a group of comic book characters that consists of some of the world’s most iconic superheroes, such as The Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor.The Avengers have been a powerful force in Hollywood for over a decade now, both as a collective and individually. The group has also starred in video games, such as LEGO Marvel’s Avengers and Marvel’s Avengers by Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix.
