According to IGN, Marvel is now referring to the next Avengers film as “Avengers 5” instead of “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” after parting ways with Kang actor Jonathan Majors.
“The Kang Dynasty” Becomes “Avengers 5”
Marvel cut ties with Majors after he was found guilty of reckless assault and harassment on Monday in a New York trial.
Majors made his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kang the Conquerer variant He Who Remains in the season one finale of “Loki.” He reprised that role and appeared as another variant, Victor Timely, in “Loki” season two. He portrayed the villainous Kang in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and was set to be the big villain of the current Multiverse Saga.
Majors was dropped by his management team and PR firm earlier this year after assault allegations first surfaced, but Disney and Marvel refrained from making any public announcements until he was found guilty. Sources said Marvel executives have considered replacing Kang with another villain character, possibly Dr. Doom. Doom is most known as a villain of the Fantastic Four, who will get their own MCU film in 2025.
Marvel could also recast the role of Kang and his variants, but it seems discussions are more focused on replacing the character.
The next two Avengers films were delayed amid this summer’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. “Avengers 5” (“The Kang Dynasty”) is currently scheduled for release on May 1, 2026. “Avengers: Secret Wars” is scheduled for May 7, 2027.
Marvel Studios had already begun to shift directions before Majors’ verdict. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” writer Jeff Loveness was previously attached to write “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” but it was recently announced that “Loki” creator and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” writer Michael Waldron would write the film instead.
Destin Daniel Cretton was originally set to direct “The Kang Dynasty,” but he exited the project on good terms to focus on the Marvel TV series “Wonder Man.” No director is currently attached to “Avengers 5.”
Here is the current slate of upcoming MCU films following “The Marvels,” which was released this November:
- “Deadpool 3” – July 26, 2024
- “Captain America: Brave New World” – February 14, 2025
- “Fantastic Four” – May 2, 2025
- “Thunderbolts” – July 25, 2025
- “Blade” – November 7, 2025
- Avengers 5 / “The Kang Dynasty” – May 1, 2026
- “Avengers: Secret Wars” – May 7, 2027
Cretton is also attached to direct a “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” sequel. Marvel is also planning “Armor Wars” starring Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, another “Spider-Man” sequel, and an X-Men film as part of the MCU. None of these films have release dates.
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