Marvel Studios Has Considered Bringing Back Original Six AVENGERS And Replacing Kang With Doctor Doom

Marvel Studios Has Considered Bringing Back Original Six AVENGERS And Replacing Kang With Doctor Doom

Marvel Studios is aware the Multiverse Saga isn't quite working and have started mulling over various alternatives, including the return of the original Avengers and swapping out Kang for Doctor Doom...

By JoshWilding - Nov 01, 2023 11:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers: Secret Wars
Source: Variety

Since the release of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019, Marvel Studios has struggled to recapture the magic Infinity Saga's magic.

There have been lots of very well-received projects - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Loki, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, for example - and some which have disappointed fans (look no further than Secret Invasion and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania for proof of that).

The pandemic didn't help matters and neither did pressure from Disney to bolster their theatrical and streaming offerings amid significant financial losses. We've already seen Marvel Studios make moves to get back to where they need to be, including going back to the drawing board with Daredevil: Born Again. However, Variety reports that more sweeping changes may be coming to the Multiverse Saga. 

According to the trade's sources, there "have been talks" about bringing back the original six Avengers for a new Avengers movie. That would include Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. 

The studio "hasn't yet committed to the idea" and money could be an issue given how expensive some of those actors - mostly Downey - are likely to be. 

When it comes to Jonathan Majors' ongoing legal issues and what that means for Kang the Conqueror as the Multiverse Saga's big bad, it seems Marvel Studios has been considering moving away from the character regardless of any courtroom drama. 

"It gave people pause given that 'Quantumania' didn’t exactly land," an unnamed source reveals. Recasting is a possibility but at a recent gathering in Palm Springs, "executives discussed backup plans, including pivoting to another comic book adversary, like Dr. Doom."

For now, though, it appears the spotlight will have to remain on Kang. One insider who has seen the Loki finale tells the trade, "Marvel is truly f*cked with the whole Kang angle. And they haven’t had an opportunity to rewrite until very recently [because of the WGA strike]. But I don’t see a path to how they move forward with him."

In other words, don't expect that episode to introduce a new big bad or take Kang off the table. 

Also troubling on the Majors front is the fact he started developing a bad reputation even before his arrest for alleged domestic violence. This report notes that his former agency, CAA, is said to have dropped him for his "brutal conduct" toward staff.

Marvel Studios can bounce back from this, but doing so may lead to sweeping changes to the Multiverse Saga which completely change the current state. We've heard there are already discussions about ditching "The Kang Dynasty" as the title of the next Avengers movie, though any official announcements could be a while off yet. 

Stay tuned for updates. 

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comicfan100
comicfan100 - 11/1/2023, 11:33 AM
Not a bad decision, honestly. Kang isn't really doing it for me.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/1/2023, 11:54 AM
@comicfan100 - Kang was cool for like 10 minutes. Fast forward to now, and the majority of people just don't care. Thanos will always be God tier, they took their time with him and the payoff was amazing. Now imagine if there was hundreds of Thanos' lmao it's watered down and stupid
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 11/1/2023, 12:18 PM
@bobevanz - Yeah. So far, he isn't really feeling like the threat they've been hoping he would be. Even though Kang was one of millions of variants in Quantumania, having him defeated by ants wasn't the best move. First impressions are everything.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 11/1/2023, 1:00 PM
@comicfan100 -
It's trying to build a statue on a stack of cards.

The MCU is too far broken at this point to rectify it. Bringing in Doctor Doom would require setting him up and wasting him on two already over-packed Avengers films.

It'd also be reliant on Fanta5tic being a good film, which given the multiple delays and reluctance to announce casting and the rumors of Galactus and Terrax - it probably won't be.

At this stage they are better just ending the MCU ASAP then reboot in 2028 with the Fantastic Four, X-Men and Blade.
The1st
The1st - 11/1/2023, 1:10 PM
@comicfan100 - Majors has been fine mostly, drama not withstanding, but there should be no pivot to Doom. He should have already been planned to e an integral part...although I would pay to see that ridiculous Beyonder costume live action.
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 11/1/2023, 1:18 PM
@Scarilian - I think ending the MCU is a bit drastic. I still believe what will reinvigorate interest in the MCU is Deadpool 3 and Fantastic Four. Online reaction to Doom potentially being the new big bad is evident of that. And Deadpool 3 pretty much trends everyday.
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 11/1/2023, 1:20 PM
@The1st - Yeah, I think Kang was the one saving grace of Quantumania, but it still feels like his arc isn't going anywhere. I don't think the drip feeding of his story from Loki is doing him any favors.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 11/1/2023, 1:59 PM
@comicfan100 - Just recast. EMH proved Kang can be interesting when written well.
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Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 11/1/2023, 2:06 PM
@bobevanz - That's a bit of an assumption. I think the "majority" of people see the potential for how badass of a villain the prime Kang can be.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 11/1/2023, 11:38 AM
They kinda should just stay the course

1) you’re already pruning the output - good overextension is what brought us here

2) just recast kang all variants don’t have to look alike

3) the audience needs to understand that Kang is not thanos, he’s not annihilus, etc etc, he’s a “nuisance” he’s never ending that’s the threat that needs to explained

4) secret wars should be the doom swap point if they want to do that, introduce doom early he helps the heroes in KD and last minute swipes the gauntlet or whatever macguffin is being used and does the battle world shit

The panic move will definitely crater this whole thing
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 11/1/2023, 11:42 AM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - exactly. Doom stepping in to deliver the killing blow to Kang, only for him to create a Battleworld he could rule sounds very plausible.

Also, I really wanna see Annihilus. Perfect villain to bring together the cosmic side of the MCU imo.
RedFury
RedFury - 11/1/2023, 12:18 PM
@bkmeijer1 - I don't know much about Doom aside from the obvious stuff. But wouldn't it be a little quick to introduce him as a massive villain? I would think they'd have to skip over a ton of character building/his true intentions if he springs up as a world ending threat so quickly. And wouldn't that be a disservice to the character?
Vigor
Vigor - 11/1/2023, 12:21 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - "3) the audience needs to understand that Kang is not thanos, he’s not annihilus, etc etc, he’s a “nuisance” he’s never ending that’s the threat that needs to explained"

This is the point they need to drive home and fast. Us comic and animation fans know this. But a lot of casuals assumed Kang was just a stronger thanos when he's not. He's everything but that.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 11/1/2023, 12:27 PM
@RedFury - they have to introduce him as threat / grey area guy in another movie
RedFury
RedFury - 11/1/2023, 12:31 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - which stories do you think Doom would naturally fit well into? To me he's synonymous with the F4, but with that coming out after KD, and SW it's beyond my knowledge of where it would make sense for him to show up.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 11/1/2023, 12:54 PM
@RedFury - That is true. But with Secret Wars being three and a half years away, I think there is room to establish him in some way.

And I kinda think that isn't even necessary. Thanos only really had one major appearance before Infinity War as well, as it can quickly be made clear who he is if there is one very clear driving force to the character.

In this case, FF can be that appearance. FF premieres in 2025, and KD and SW in 2026 and 2027 respectively (all in May, unless I missed something)
RedFury
RedFury - 11/1/2023, 1:08 PM
@bkmeijer1 - that's a fair point about Thanos. It would be cool if they started teasing Doom in the post credit scene's from now until KD then have him take over.

And I must have mixed up the Xmen release window with the F4. So to your point they have some time to start establishing him, especially if F4 is right before KD.

They could also do a special presentation about him to flesh out his backstory. Give us some family history, etc. From what I understand Doom is much more than an F4 villain, so it would make sense that they get the audience used to him by having him exist outside of the F4 content.
The1st
The1st - 11/1/2023, 1:12 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - Nuisance is a good word...he was never going to be Thanos. Different motivations entirely.
The1st
The1st - 11/1/2023, 1:16 PM
@RedFury - Maybe, but Thanos was touted as a force of nature of sorts. Doom IS one. I can't imagine it would take much to a setup that is who he is gjven how he operates.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 11/1/2023, 1:20 PM
@RedFury - it’s probably too late but thunderbolts or Cap 4 could’ve been his intro, he’s still king of latveria , have them attend a UN conference or something
RedFury
RedFury - 11/1/2023, 1:30 PM
@The1st - and to your point his costume is so iconic and intimidating that I'm starting to see what you guys are saying. If they do him right, it seems like he'll carry the weight of being a massive villai easily.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 11/1/2023, 1:33 PM
@RedFury - yeah, the X-Men (or The Mutants or whatever it's called) doesn't have a release date, so I think it's fair to assume it premies after teh upcoming Avengers movies.

As for Doom, you are correct he is primarily an FF villain. Still, he is also the villain in the 2015 Secret Wars, so there is precedent for him to show up in the MCU Secret Wars as the main villain.

And if the FF movie doesn't go that deep into his history and such, a Special Presentation can definitely be a good alternative.
RedFury
RedFury - 11/1/2023, 1:33 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - having him show up in both of those would actually be perfect. Seeing as those two films will carry political, and world themes, it's the prefect opportunity to introduce Latvaria and its leader.

Also can I say.... these are the kinds of covos I miss about this website. When I first joined ages ago, it's how I learnt a ton about the side of Marvel I never read. So thanks for the knowledge and ideas.
RedFury
RedFury - 11/1/2023, 1:41 PM
@bkmeijer1 - I should really give that secret wars a read. I feel like it would answers a lot of questions I have about where the MCU us heading.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 11/1/2023, 2:09 PM
@RedFury - 2015 secret wars is pretty much what they’re trying to do exact copy and paste except Kang instead of doom
Origame
Origame - 11/1/2023, 11:38 AM
They be running from the mess they made faster than you can remind people Kang was beat by ants!
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