For a brief period, Jonathan Majors seemed poised to become the centerpiece of Marvel Studios’ future.
After debuting as He Who Remains in Loki (2021), the actor quickly became one of the most important figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel introduced multiple versions of Kang the Conqueror and spent years laying the groundwork for a story that would eventually span films, Disney+ series, and multiple Avengers projects.
Today, that future looks completely different.
While Marvel continues moving toward the next phase of the MCU, every indication suggests Disney has permanently moved on from the actor once expected to lead it.
Kang Was Supposed to Lead the Multiverse Saga
Marvel’s original roadmap was difficult to ignore.
The studio positioned Kang as the next major threat after Thanos. Following appearances in Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), Kang appeared destined to become the central villain of the Multiverse Saga.
The plan culminated with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, a film that was expected to serve as one of Marvel’s biggest crossover events ever.
Instead, those plans unraveled.
Following Jonathan Majors’ 2023 conviction, Disney and Marvel Studios cut ties with the actor. The decision forced Marvel into one of the biggest creative pivots in franchise history.
Marvel Changed Course Quickly
What happened next may have surprised fans.
Rather than simply recast Kang and continue the story, Marvel largely abandoned the character’s position at the center of the MCU.
The clearest example came when Avengers: The Kang Dynasty evolved into Avengers: Doomsday. At the same time, Marvel announced that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the franchise as Doctor Doom, instantly creating a new focal point for the studio’s future plans.
Since then, Marvel has offered little indication that it intends to revisit the Kang storyline in a meaningful way.
The Council of Kangs remains unresolved. The events of Loki still exist within continuity. Yet Marvel has spent the past two and a half years building excitement around entirely different characters and threats.
Kang Isn’t Gone, But Jonathan Majors Is
Interestingly, Marvel hasn’t completely abandoned Kang-related concepts.
Recent promotional material for Season 2 of X-Men ’97 revealed the appearance of Rama-Tut, one of Kang’s most famous variants. The character has deep roots in Marvel Comics and was previously teased as part of the Council of Kangs storyline.
The major difference is obvious.
Jonathan Majors is no longer involved.
Reports surrounding the animated series suggest Marvel is moving forward with a different performer portraying the character, creating perhaps the strongest evidence yet that Disney is willing to use Kang concepts without bringing back the actor who originally played him.
That distinction matters because it shows Marvel’s issue was never necessarily with Kang himself. Instead, the company appears committed to distancing the franchise from Majors while preserving the flexibility to revisit certain elements of the mythology if needed.
Marvel’s Future No Longer Includes Majors
The contrast between Marvel’s plans in 2022 and its plans in 2026 couldn’t be more dramatic.
At one point, Majors was expected to appear throughout multiple phases of MCU storytelling. He was positioned as the face of the franchise’s future.
Today, Doctor Doom, the Fantastic Four, and upcoming Avengers films dominate Marvel’s roadmap.
Meanwhile, Majors has slowly returned to acting through smaller projects outside the Disney ecosystem. While his career continues, the possibility of an MCU return appears increasingly remote.
Marvel has had several opportunities to clarify Kang’s future, yet the studio has remained silent. That silence may be the biggest clue of all.
At this stage, Disney’s decision appears settled. The actor who once seemed destined to define the MCU’s next decade has effectively been removed from Marvel’s future, leaving Kang as one of the franchise’s most intriguing unfinished stories.
