Marvel Distances Itself From Kang Amidst Major Reshuffle

Marvel looks set to pivot on its next primary villain.

Where Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror was established as a multiversal threat in February's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and even has a future Marvel film named after him in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, it now looks like Kang’s conquering days are over.

That’s because it’s been reported that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania screenwriter Jeff Loveness is no longer attached to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, or indeed working for Marvel. The news comes from MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios co-author Joanna Robinson, who spoke on the House of R podcast.

“I had it confirmed to me [Loveness] is no longer working for Marvel,” says Robinson. “I asked the person why, and they said the reason why is he was all wrapped up in this Kang storyline and they are likely going to be moving away from that.”

Kang was being positioned as an even more powerful 'big bad' than Thanos, able to wield time like a weapon and command an army of Kang variants.

Not only did Kang star as the antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but he’s also appeared in both seasons of Disney+ series Loki. After what Robinson said during her podcast appearance, however, Majors’ future roles in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars are now looking less certain.

There’s also Majors’ domestic violence charges. According to a Variety report from November 1, “The actor insists he is the victim, but the damage to his reputation and the chance he could lose the case has forced Marvel to reconsider its plans to center the next phase of its interlocking slate of sequels, spinoffs and series around Majors’ villainous character, Kang the Conqueror.”

It’s not the first Disney recently reshuffled its Marvel Studios slate. Which Marvel films are delayed? Hit the link to see.