Kang Controversy: Was Jonathan Majors Almost Replaced by Doctor Doom in the MCU?
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Marvel.com | Marvel Studios/Disney
The new multiversal saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe resulted in a PR and financial disaster for the corporation. Kang was supposed to be the MCU’s big daddy villain after the events of Avengers: End Game, but things got out of hand when the actor playing the role, Jonathan Majors became embroiled in issues. The producers were at risk and needed to know whether they should maintain him as the face of the next major villain or bring in another actor. Following Kang the Conqueror actor Kang the Conqueror was imprisoned in March, Marvel execs considered switching to a Doctor Doom plot, according to a new source.
Marvel has reportedly considered replacing Jonathan Majors’ Kang with Doctor Doom pic.twitter.com/RkUMLHY2k8
— Marvelsecretwars1984 (@Marvelsecretwar) November 1, 2023
The MCU’s next major enemy was scheduled to be Kang the Conqueror, but the actor performing the role’s future is now in doubt due to Majors’ ongoing legal situation & forthcoming trial for domestic abuse charges and allegations. According to a new Variety report, Marvel Studios explored replacing Kang in the MCU with Doctor Doom, potentially affecting future stories. It was thought to be a backup plan in the aftermath of Majors’ domestic abuse allegations, but the actor has maintained his innocence, and Marvel is allegedly still exploring other possibilities owing to the harm to his reputation or if he loses the trial. In addition, not only was there controversy around the actor, but his performance also failed to create an uproar and a projected Box Office number in the MCU. “Marvel is absolutely f—ked with the entire Kang angle,” a Marvel insider told the site.
After looking into it I can confirm that NO, Doctor Doom is not replacing Kang https://t.co/SSgQncsrgd
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) November 2, 2023
In The Aftermath Of Jonathan Majors’ Controversies & Lacklustre Appearances, Would Doctor Doom Replace Avengers’ Next Villain Kang In The MCU?
After Jonathan Mayor arrest in March 2023, Marvel Studios explored replacing Kang the Conqueror with Doctor Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, according to a new source. Majors debuted in Loki season 1 as a version of Kang the Conqueror, He Who Remains, before becoming set up to be the primary villain of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. However, back in March 2023, Jonathan Majors was arrested on assault charges, putting his career in the MCU in doubt, though Marvel Studios has not officially commented, maybe awaiting a clear ruling from the case. Following months of production delays, Hollywood strikes, disputes, and dismal ratings at Marvel Studios, Variety reports that executives, including Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, addressed ideas for replacing Kang the Conqueror in the MCU at the studio’s annual retreat in Palm Springs. Kang the Conqueror would have apparently been replaced with renowned Marvel Comics antagonist Doctor Doom, drastically altering plans for the MCU’s next stories.
Doctor Doom was already rumoured to make his MCU debut in the Multiverse Saga, but he may have played a larger part if these plans had been realised. Majors has already featured in three major MCU projects: Loki season 1 as He Who Remains, Ant-Man as well as the Wasp: Quantumania as Kang the Conqueror & the Council of Kangs, and Loki season 2 as Victor Timely. He has been advertised as being crucial to the extension of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, culminating in his appearance in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in 2026. The revelation that plans were explored to replace Kang the Conqueror in the MCU with Doctor Doom is stunning, but reasonable, given Marvel Studios may have been under pressure to establish the MCU’s future without knowing the outcome of Majors’ trial. According to Variety’s story, Marvel pondered shifting away from emphasising Kang before the actor’s arrest owing to the reception of Quantumania. “It gave folks pause given that Quantumania failed to exactly land,” a Variety insider said. With Majors’ arrest, his case going to trial later in November, plus the terrible reception of Quantumania, it’s understandable that Marvel Studios could reconsider, despite the “headaches.”
