Jonathan Major is Out as Kang the Conqueror. Following Jonathan Major’s conviction for assault and harassment, Marvel has dismissed the actor and decided to rebrand the film.
Jonathan Major, known for his portrayal of Kang the Conqueror in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, was set for a leading role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, after being found guilty by a jury on December 18, 2023, following a two-week trial, he has been removed from the project.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty Becomes Avengers 5
The Disney sci-fi action film, previously titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, will now be simply known as Avengers 5 internally. Currently in the scriptwriting phase, the film must undergo a significant rewrite, as the original storyline centered around Kang the Conqueror.
This change has led to a delay in the release date. Instead of debuting on May 1, 2025, it is now slated for May 1, 2026. Avengers 6 is also affected, with its release pushed back to May 7, 2027.
Will Kang the Conqueror Be Recast?
Marvel now faces the task of finding a new antagonist for Avengers 5, likely focusing on a completely new villain. This development suggests Marvel might be considering dropping the Kang storyline entirely from the MCU. However, there’s still a possibility of recasting Kang with a different actor.
Michael Waldron, the creator of the Loki series, has been brought in to write a new screenplay for Avengers 5. He is also set to pen the script for the follow-up film, Avengers: Secret Wars. Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, recently left Avengers 5 to focus on other MCU projects.
The plot details for the upcoming Avengers sequels remain undisclosed, but they are expected to leverage the MCU’s multiverse concept. With Kang’s name potentially being dropped from the title, speculation arises about the new antagonist, with Doctor Doom being a rumored consideration.
