The month of May has always been significant for Marvel’s Avengers films. The original movie hit theaters on May 4, 2012, followed by Age of Ultron on May 1, 2015. Although Earth’s Mightiest Heroes were set for a major return this weekend with Thunderbolts, it would have otherwise marked their first theatrical appearance since Avengers: Endgame.
At the San Diego Comic-Con panel on July 23, 2022, Marvel Studios announced the release dates for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars: May 2 and November 7, 2025, respectively. This ambitious duology was expected to conclude the Multiverse Saga, which began in Phase Four with the release of Black Widow in 2021, and expanded through several TV series and films.
The launch of this multiverse concept was sparked by the first season of Loki, which introduced Kang the Conqueror, played by rising star Jonathan Majors. The multiverse theme continued with What If…? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but Majors did not appear as Kang until Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023—a turning point that led to unforeseen complications.
Just announced in Hall H:
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, in theaters May 2, 2025. #SDCC2022 pic.twitter.com/kCxeyYwgN5
— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) July 24, 2022
On March 25, 2023, just weeks after the premieres of Quantumania and Creed III, Majors was arrested for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. This, coupled with further allegations from outlets like Rolling Stone, led to his management and PR teams severing ties with him. Advertisements featuring Majors, including collaborations with the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, were also pulled. The film Magazine Dreams, which Disney’s Fox Searchlight had slated for possible Oscar contention, was left in limbo for two years before being acquired by Briarcliff Entertainment and released in March.
As the initial allegations unfolded, Marvel largely stayed silent about Majors, who had already wrapped filming for the second season of Loki. After he was found guilty of assaulting Jabbari, Marvel officially cut ties with him. The project Kang Dynasty was then rebranded as Doomsday, with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom to fill the villainous role. This indicated a clear shift away from Kang and toward a more familiar, albeit different, narrative direction.
Marvel had heavily invested in Kang at the time. The villainwas featured prominently in two Timeless one-shots that teased various comic events in 2022 and 2023. He also appeared consistently in Jed Mackay and CF Villa’s Avengers title. The marketing for Quantumania promoted it as the dawn of a “new dynasty,” culminating in a triumphant gathering of Kangs. Marvel was all in on this villain leading the charge into the multiverse, only to have its plans dismantled due to external circumstances.
Unlike Thanos, who made only brief appearances prior to Avengers: Infinity War, Kang was integrated into the Multiverse Saga in a way that makes his removal feel both awkward and humorous. In hindsight, Kang was not effectively presented as a legitimate threat. In his appearances, he often met his demise at the hands of unlikely foes, such as ants or the chaotic encounter with the Time Variance Authority. Kevin R. Wright, an executive producer on Loki, stated that Majors’ legal issues were not a factor in how Kang’s character would evolve, leaving the future of Kang and his portrayal in Secret Wars uncertain.
Similar to the Inhumans, it seems unlikely that Kang will resurface in the MCU any time soon. With the cloud of Majors’ allegations hovering over the role, and the character’s weak foundation, it appears Marvel is ready to move past this chapter. For fans who close their eyes and imagine what might have been, there’s always Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to revisit.
What are the upcoming Marvel movies in 2025? Marvel has slated Avengers: The Kang Dynasty for May 2, 2025, followed by Secret Wars on November 7, 2025.
Will Jonathan Majors return to Marvel after his legal troubles? Given the current circumstances, it’s highly unlikely Marvel will bring Majors back into the fold, as they have officially moved on from his role as Kang.
How significant is the character of Kang in Marvel Comics? Kang is a complex character with a rich history, often portrayed as a formidable foe for the Avengers, making his inclusion in the MCU a sizable decision for the franchise.
What does the rebranding of Kang Dynasty to Doomsday imply? This change indicates Marvel’s shift in focus away from Kang, introducing a new direction with Doctor Doom as a prominent antagonist.
When did the concept of the multiverse begin in the MCU? The multiverse concept was primarily introduced during the first season of Loki, laying the groundwork for a broader narrative in the Multiverse Saga.
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