How Marvel Plans to Save ‘The Kang Dynasty’ After Dropping Jonathan Majors

Summary

• Marvel Studios has parted ways with actor Jonathan Majors after the actor was proven guilty of sexual harassment. However, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is still on the cards.
• The studio might recast Kang’s role and provide an in-universe explanation.

• Marvel might also consider restructuring the script to write off Kang’s character altogether.

Marvel Studios has dropped actor Jonathan Majors from the role of Kang hours after the actor was proven guilty of sexual harassment. However, they still plan to go forward with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

Jonathan Majors first appeared as Kang in the MCU series Loki in season 1. Kang has multiple variants in the MCU, but Majors played the variant He Who Remains in the series.

Majors reprised his role as another variant, Kang the Conqueror, in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and appeared in Loki season 2.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Marvel Studios parted ways with Majors after the actor was proven guilty of sexual assault and harassment by a New York jury. He was accused by his former girlfriend in November 2022. 

As per reports by THR, Marvel Studios still “intends to move forward with” Avengers: The Kang Dynasty despite removing Majors.

The makers have been making several behind-the-scenes changes in the film since before Majors’ trial. Marvel Studios previously removed Destin Daniel Cretton as the director of The Kang Dynasty, although he stayed for other projects.

They recently signed Michael Waldron to rework the script of The Kang Dynasty. Waldron is best known for being the creator of Loki and the writer of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The massive changes in the team hint that Marvel is planning a complete rewriting of the script. The studio will be recasting Kang’s role. The studio trusts Waldron to frame the script in such a way that it provides an in-universe explanation for the same.

Loki season 1 had already established that variants can look different in different universes, so it won’t be much of a hassle to justify Majors’ recast.

However, the studio must also consider the failure of Kang’s big-screen debut, Quantumania. Quantumania was supposed to give Kang the big-screen introduction and create the hype for The Kang Dynasty. However, the film flopped at the box office and received negative reviews from critics.

The failure of Quantumania might urge Marvel Studios to rethink their decision to shape the Multiverse Saga around Kang. They might consider moving the story away from Kang altogether. In that case, The Kang Dynasty might undergo a more significant creative overhaul than just a recast. 

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is scheduled to release in May 2025, but Marvel has to postpone the date based on their decision. The team is looking to start production in early 2024, but a change of plans is inevitable.

It remains to be seen what Marvel Studios finally decide on and what becomes of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. We’ll keep you updated.

About Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is an upcoming American superhero film written by Jeff Loveness and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. It is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the fifth Avengers film.

The plot and cast are currently unknown. The film will release on May 2, 2025.