In a recent Variety report, it revealed the uncertainties surrounding Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
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At Marvel’s annual retreat in Palm Springs this past September, executives gathered to address the studio’s string of disappointments on screen, Major’s legal scandal, and questions about the viability of its ambitious streaming strategy. The most pressing issue discussed was what to do about Jonathan Majors, who had been set to carry the next phase of the MCU. However, he is now heading to a high-profile trial in New York on domestic violence charges, even as he maintains his innocence. And it is supposed to be, innocent until proven guilty.
Marvel had positioned Majors’ villainous character, Kang the Conqueror, as a central figure in its upcoming slate of sequels, spinoffs, and series. With the uncertainty surrounding Majors, the studio is now considering alternative plans. One of those plans includes the possibility of pivoting to another comic book adversary, such as Dr. Doom.
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The situation presents its own set of challenges, as Jonathan Majors had already made a significant impact within the MCU, particularly as the scene-stealing antagonist in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” He was also set to play a pivotal role in “Loki,” with the finale airing on Nov. 9, which sets up Kang as the titular star of a fifth “Avengers” film in 2026.
One industry insider commented, “Marvel is truly messed up with the whole Kang angle,” expressing doubts about the studio’s ability to move forward with Jonathan Majors in the role. This situation has led Marvel to reevaluate its approach, given the potential loss of audience confidence in the character due to the legal issues.
They continued: “They haven’t had an opportunity to rewrite until very recently [because of the Writers Guild of America strike]. But I don’t see a path to how they move forward with him.”
In addition to Majors’ issues, Marvel has had problems with “The Marvels.” Its the upcoming sequel to “Captain Marvel” and its reshoots, the strike have the studio worried it may not do well at the box office. But that’s not where Marvel’s troubles began. It began in 2020 when they tried to flood the market with Marvel content for Disney+. This plan had too much content and created quality problems.
To fix things, Marvel is thinking about bringing back Iron Man and Black Widow, who were thought to be done with the MCU. This could help Marvel recover.
We’ll keep you updated as to what Jonathan Majors’ future with MCU turns out to be. For the full Variety report, click here.