Highlights
- The legal troubles of Jonathan Majors may require Marvel Studios to recast him in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but there are options like using a different variant of Kang or recasting him with another actor.
- The introduction of variants in Loki provides Marvel Studios with a way to recast any character by portraying them as a variant.
- Marvel can take inspiration from the comics, where Kang has appeared in various forms, including as different heroes and villains.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is a 2026 film that may force Marvel to make some significant changes due to the legal troubles of Jonathan Majors who stars as the titular Kang the Conqueror. It is doubtful that Marvel Studios will change the villain of a film already in development, though that is a last resort option. There is, however, another option for them to pursue.
Recasting Jonathan Majors in an effort to avoid further association of the actor with the character is reasonable, even if some fans may be disappointed. But the MCU has a great way of going about it in the form of variants. While Tom Hiddleston's Loki is a fan-favorite, Sophia Di Martino's Sylvie is a well-received Loki variant, and potential replacement if Marvel were to retire Tom's reprisal of the role in favor of Sophia's Sylvie. Likewise, Jonathan Majors' Kang need not necessarily be replaced by a different villain, but rather a different variant in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Is Loki's New Time-Slipping Power The Key To Defeating Kang?
The Avengers may have their best bet in defeating Kang with Loki’s new time-slipping power. But, there may be another problem they’ll have to face.
Why Marvel Can Recast Jonathan Majors Thanks To Loki
Loki's introduction of variants in the multiverse gives Marvel Studios a lifeline to recast any character and position them as a variant. Sylvie is a female Loki variant that fans have come to accept as both a Loki and as a separate distinct character. The horde of Loki variants occupying the Void are no different. While some are portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, most are not. They are each unique and seen as different individuals, as they should be. Variants give Marvel Studios the opportunity to give new roles to familiar faces or, introduce new faces into familiar roles. Therefore, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty can move forward if Marvel were to recast Jonathan Majors' Kang with an actor to portray a variant that doesn't resemble the now established Kang.
This isn't just a quick solution for Marvel Studios should they need to recast Kang. There's precedence in the comics as well. Kang the Conqueror has appeared in the form of other heroes and villains, and not all Kang variants are supervillains. Iron Lad, for instance, was a Kang variant who chose to fight against his timeline conquering destiny by teaming with the Young Avengers. Because Kang is a villain in multiple timelines against multiple heroic teams, including The Fantastic Four and X-Men, Marvel can debut a Kang variant from any other timeline which can provide the added measure of introducing other heroes not yet established in the MCU without needing to give them a dedicated film.
Which Kang Variant From The Comics Could Be Used?
The TVA and Sylvie are searching for He Who Remains variants that presumably look all like Jonathan Majors. Throwing in Kang variants that don't resemble the actor will make their search even more complicated and entertaining. Knowing that variants could be anyone, should the Avengers begin to suspect each other, or other heroes, to be a Kang variant, this witch-hunt could lead to another Avengers: Civil War-style clash among heroes. There is, however, one Kang variant from the comics that would be better suited for such an opportunity and capable of easily evading the TVA.
Of the many known and unknown options, Kamala Khan may be the least expected choice and Dr. Doom may be the most expected comic book variant of Kang. But, The Fantastic Four's Invisible Woman, Sue Storm's variant of Kang is the most unique and least expected. She could both reintroduce The Fantastic Four to the MCU and allow a female to lead as the antagonist in the multiverse war. Considering that one version of Kang, Nathaniel Richards, is a descendant of Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards, in the comics, introducing Sue Storm as Jonathan Majors' Kang replacement could force the TVA and Sylvie to determine what to do about Sue and Richard's relationship for the sake of the multiverse should they learn their relationship leads to the eventual birth of a Kang variant. Sue as a hero-variant of Kang would make the story more emotionally compelling and morally complicated. That said, of course, Marvel Studios doesn't have to adapt Kang variants from the comics.
Marvel Studios' Other Casting Option
Marvel Studios could also dig into the wellspring of the MCU filmography and surprise fans by permitting former Avengers or MCU characters to return as Kang variants instead of being faithful to the comics. Former heroes and villains could be called upon to play a Kang variant, if not an entirely new actor. This means not even Chris Evan's Captain America would technically be exempt in this potential multiverse plot twist. A Kang variant of Captain America pitted against Anthony Mackie's in a battle for the shield, even if only briefly, would highlight the importance of why the Avengers need to help the TVA track down Kang variants.
Speculation aside, the point is that Marvel Studios has many options available to them if they were to decide to recast Jonathan Majors without upending their Avengers: The Kang Dynasty plans. Variants are a casting failsafe in the MCU multiverse that allows for new actors to assume the roles of established characters and continue their stories without rebooting any franchises. Sylvie, for instance, can continue the Loki story and crossover into the Avengers’ films without losing the love of fans in the process. In the case of Kang, whether Marvel Studios remains faithful to adapting the comics in terms of Kang variants, or take a new direction, is of little consequence so long as they cast someone that can do for Kang what Sylvie has done for Loki.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
- Cast
- Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Jeremy Renner , Chadwick Boseman , Zoe Saldana , Chris Pratt , Tom Hiddleston , Iman Vellani
- TV Show(s)
- WandaVision , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , Loki , Ms. Marvel , She-Hulk
