Yesterday, Disney and Marvel Studios finally decided to pull the plug on Jonathan Majors' time as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Kang the Conqueror.
They'd clearly been waiting to see how his trial played out and, after being found guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and guilty of harassment, the writing was on the wall for Majors. Is his career over? Time will tell, but his stint as the Multiverse Saga's big bad has reached its end.
All signs point to Marvel Studios recasting Kang and moving forward with its plan to focus on Kang in the next Avengers movies. That makes more sense than shifting the spotlight to someone like Doctor Doom, though it's left us wondering...who can possibly follow in Majors' footsteps?
His personal life aside, he was terrific as this villain. However, in this feature, we've picked out some possible replacements who stand a good chance of beating what he delivered in Loki and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania...
7. Leslie Odom Jr.
Leslie Odom Jr. gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, earning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He's since appeared in movies like Murder on the Orient Express, Harriet, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
A powerhouse talent on screen, Odom Jr. also has a successful music career which includes jazz and R&B albums, such as the Grammy-winning The Christmas Album.
The actor is nothing if not versatile and would be the perfect choice to play a fiercely intelligent Kang who, to put it bluntly, is a little bit mad. Odom Jr. isn't quite as physically imposing as Majors but has enough presence to make the role work for him and to put his own spin on the villain.
6. Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo has become known for his versatile performances, leaving a lasting impact after starring in movies such as Selma and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. However, many of you will remember the actor best for his standout role as Victor Strand in AMC's Fear the Walking Dead.
He's not just a force to be reckoned with in front of the camera either; Domingo is a talented playwright and has earned widespread acclaim for his work in that realm.
It makes no sense for an actor to try and imitate Majors' unique approach to Kang and his Variants, so hiring a talent like Domingo who is bound to be full of ideas will likely be key to getting the villain to resonate with fans moving forward. He'd also bring a little more maturity to the Multiversal baddie.
5. Damson Idris
Star Wars actor John Boyega is a fan favourite choice to replace Majors as Kang; unfortunately, he's already taken himself out of the running. Another name you may have seen show up frequently on social media, though, is the supremely talented Damson Idris.
The British actor rose to prominence for his lead role as Franklin Saint in the television series Snowfall, a series depicting the impact of the 1980s crack epidemic in Los Angeles. Other noteworthy credits include Farming, Black Mirror, and Apple TV+'s upcoming F1 movie.
While we do think Idris could bring a lot to the table as Kang, it's hard to escape the feeling Marvel Studios might want a bigger name to increase interest in the villain. If given a chance, though, he could knock it out of the park.
4. John Krasinski
Yes, we're veering way off the expected path here, but bear with us!
John Krasinski became a household name thanks to his role as Jim Halpert in The Office and has since transitioned to a successful film career after starring in and directing projects like A Quiet Place and the upcoming IF. He's also proven himself a bona fide action star thanks to Prime Video's Jack Ryan.
As we're sure you'll remember, the actor made a surprise appearance as a Mister Fantastic Variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Seeing as Reed Richards and Nathaniel Richards share a surname, it's long been speculated that they're distantly related and this casting could confirm that.
We'd expect Kransinki's Kang to be a mix of him and The Maker, as that would likely be the only way to explain such a dramatic change. It could also tie the next Avengers movies into Fantastic Four.
3. Daveed Diggs
Similar to Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs gained fame for originating the dual roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton, winning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Also known for his work in the experimental hip-hop group Clipping, he also boasts memorable turns in the Snowpiercer TV series and Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Diggs was even in the running to play The Thing in Fantastic Four earlier this year.
Diggs is an imposing presence on screen and could quite easily pick up where Majors left off. It's important to remember that any actor who plays Kang will need to play multiple Variants; well, here's an actor who has already nailed that!
2. Denzel Washington
Is this likely? Probably not, but we'd kick ourselves if we didn't include at least one "dream" actor here.
Considered to be among the greatest actors of his generation, Denzel Washington is a two-time Oscar-winner for "Best Actor" and has delivered powerful performances in iconic films such as Training Day, Glory, and Malcolm X. In recent years, he's headlined his own action franchise with The Equalizer movies.
Having Washington show up as an older Kang, likely Immortus, makes all the sense in the world. He could lay waste to the Council of Kangs and establish himself as the sole big bad of this Saga, perhaps even taking some cues from The Beyonder too. And the legendary actor would be phenomenal.
1. John David Washington
Yes, we're keeping it in the family for this final entry. The son of Denzel Washington, John David Washington has stolen the show in movies like BlacKkKlansman, Tenet, and Malcolm & Marie. He also impressed in Gareth Edwards' sci-fi blockbuster The Creator earlier this year.
Playing Kang would go a long way in establishing Washington as a force in the popcorn entertainment realm and we believe he'd bring added depth and his own unique approach to the time-travelling maniac.
Heck, why not let John and Denzel share the role? It's an idea, anyway, and we're sure the younger Washington could pick up where Majors left off and help make Kang every bit as compelling to watch as Loki and Thanos before him.