Kang the Conqueror looks set to be the big bad of Marvel Studios' Multiverse Saga, and if what we saw from Jonathan Majors in Loki is any indication, we're in for one heck of a ride.
The first trailer for Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania pulled back the curtain on the MCU's Kang and he certainly looks like a formidable threat. Desperate to escape the Quantum Realm, the villain is taking aim at Earth-616, a story we're guessing will play out over the next few years and into Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
While this teaser featured its fair share of talking points, we're focusing on Kang here as it revealed a lot about him. From his home to what we believe to be the threequel's McGuffin, there's plenty to delve into and we have you covered with this guide.
To check out this breakdown, simply click on the "Next" button below!
5. Welcome To Chronopolis
In the comic books, Chronopolis is Kang the Conqueror's time-spanning stronghold. Located on the outskirts of Limbo, which is timeless, it exists simultaneously there and in reality.
The city serves as an access point to all the time eras that Kang had managed to conquer or is in the process of conquering, but something has clearly gone wrong and he's unable to leave the Quantum Realm (we'll get to our theory on why that might be soon).
Now, he wants to head to the MCU, and that's obviously going to be a problem for Scott and his stranded family. The second he arrives on Earth-616, he's going to try and conquer it, and that's bad news for the heroes we know and love.
Kang has also amassed a massive army, presumably of Quantum Realm citizens. We know Marvel Studios loves pitting The Avengers against disposable baddies like the Chitauri and Ultron's drones, so that's not a shocker.
4. The Importance Of The Rings
Well, this could be very telling.
Rings have become a big part of The Multiverse Saga, whether it's the Ten Rings, Kamala Khan's bangles, or even the visuals used by He Who Remains to explain how time works in Loki's finale. The visual similarities here are undeniable, and we're guessing these are all items created by Kang the Conqueror for some reason.
There's a beacon inside the Ten Rings sending a signal out into the cosmos, and all signs currently point to these being the MCU's new Infinity Stones.
Remember, when trademarks revealed the titles of movies like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Thunderbolts, Shang-Chi and the Wreckage of Time was among them. You can probably see how these stories will begin tying together, right?
3. Is The Quantum Realm Actually The Negative Zone?
The answer to the question above has to be yes. While it's probably a retcon on Marvel Studios' part, the fact the Quantum Realm has been revealed as a whole other universe beneath ours (inhabited by all manner of creatures and societies) strongly suggests it's the MCU's take on the Negative Zone.
Fantastic Four fans will be all too familiar with the N-Zone, particularly as it's the home of iconic villains such as Annihilus and Blastaar.
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania director Peyton Reed is a huge fan of the team, and we wouldn't be remotely surprised to see this movie lay the groundwork for the debut of Marvel's First Family.
We'd bet on Kang making some interesting allies and enemies while stuck in the N-Zone. Hopefully, that means we're getting some big Easter Eggs and a better exploration of what the "Quantum Realm" really is.
2. The Heart of Forever
Janet Van Dyne clearly knows something about Kang, and common sense says they must have crossed paths while she spent decades trapped inside the Quantum Realm.
This mysterious device is almost certainly the Heart of Forever, a trans-chronal engine that enabled Chronopolis to exist in every branch of the timestream simultaneously. The comic book Kang could have used Chronopolis to change past events without creating divergent branches but his obsession with conquest caused him to refuse to use such methods.
The Heart of Forever is probably Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania's McGuffin, and we'd put money on Janet having done something to stop Kang from using or finding it. After all, while she wanted to get back home, it wouldn't have been at the cost of her reality being conquered.
Needless to say, this threequel is definitely shaping up to be more important than first expected.
1. Is This Kang The Conqueror Or Another Variant?
In Loki, He Who Remains told the God of Mischief that countless Variants of himself will go to war in an effort to rule over all reality. That likely means we're going to be spending time with many different versions of this villain, but is this one the Kang the Conqueror?
Many fans have questioned why Marvel Studios would introduce its next Thanos in an Ant-Man movie, but this adventure will likely provide some much-needed backstory.
It doesn't make sense to jump from Kang to Kang ahead of those upcoming Avengers movies, and we wouldn't be surprised if Loki season 2 follows this Variant before he got trapped inside the Quantum Realm. It will be tough not making all of this too confusing for regular moviegoers, but it can work if done right.
Anyway, we're guessing this guy is the MCU's Kang the Conqueror and he looks perfect so far.