Jonathan Majors' Kang Performance Forces Marvel to Revamp MCU Plans

The focus of the Multiverse Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 5 & 6 was originally not planned to revolve around Kang. However, after Jonathan Majors' outstanding performances as He Who Remains in Disney+'s Loki and as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Marvel was compelled to make a change. Majors' acting in both roles garnered immense praise, and it was his portrayal of the lead villain in Quantumania that sealed the deal for Kang to become the center of the upcoming phases. Nevertheless, the recent news of Majors' arrest on assault charges has left Marvel in a state of uncertainty on how to proceed. Joanna Robinson, the author of the forthcoming MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios book, shared this insight on The Ringer's The Big Picture podcast.

"I was informed by a Marvel insider that originally, Kang the Conqueror was not intended to be the focal point of the upcoming film 'Quantumania' or the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, after seeing his impressive performance in 'Loki,' the decision was made to pivot and make him a central figure in the future of the franchise. This is a departure from Marvel's typical approach, as they usually do not rely so heavily on one character. As a result, there is some uncertainty about what the future holds for Kang. There have been conflicting reports about whether he will be replaced or if he will continue to be a key player. It remains to be seen what the ultimate outcome will be."

Marvel's plans for Phase 5 & 6 of the MCU have yet to be disclosed. However, recent revelations about Kang's prominence in the Multiverse Saga indicate that other major players from Marvel Comics, who are involved in the multiversal Secret Wars storyline, may have been considered for Phase 5 & 6. These phases will ultimately lead up to 2026's Avengers: Secret Wars.

The original plans for MCU Phase 5 & 6 were centered around either the Beyonder or Doctor Doom as the primary antagonist of the Multiverse Saga. These characters are vital to different storylines in the comics, and in the event that Majors' legal situation leads Marvel to move away from Kang as the ultimate villain of the Multiverse Saga, the Council of Kangs could be defeated with a different actor in the role for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, allowing Avengers: Secret Wars to focus on a different antagonist altogether.

Reports suggest that Marvel had to revise their plans for the MCU's Phase 5 & 6 after seeing Majors portray Kang. However, it seems that there is a previous path that the studio could revert to if needed. Marvel has yet to announce their decision regarding Majors' legal situation. While conflicting stories are circulating, it is unclear what Marvel's next move will be. What is known is that the Loki season 2 trailer shown to Disney did not feature Majors, despite his pivotal role in the show. Depending on the outcome of Marvel's decision, the MCU could undergo significant changes in the coming months.