8 Villains Who Could Replace Jonathan Majors' Kang The Conqueror As The Multiverse Saga's New Big Bad

There's a lot of chatter surrounding Jonathan Majors' future as Kang the Conqueror, but if a new villain is needed to take centre stage in the Multiverse Saga, then we have some compelling suggestions for you!

By JoshWilding - May 25, 2023 12:05 PM EST

Filed Under: Marvel Studios

After his standout performances in Loki and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, it's fair to say we were all excited to see what the future held in store for Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror in the MCU.

Unfortunately, the actor has since found himself in the midst of domestic abuse allegations. While he remains innocent until proven guilty, things don't look good, and there's already been chatter about Marvel Studios making changes to Loki season 2. It's unclear whether that means a recast or replacement is in the works, but if it's the latter, then Kevin Feige and company have heaps of options.

Kang and his Variants may have been positioned as the MCU's new major threat, but there are ways to replace him with a new villain who can still end the Multiverse Saga in style (even if it requires a couple of title changes...).

You can find our suggestions for those by clicking on the "Next" button below.

8. Maestro

Maestro-Future-Imperfect-Marvel-Tales-Vol-1-1-Virgin-Variant-copy

This would be a major pivot, but if an even greater threat than Kang is about to emerge from the Multiverse, why not this formidable Hulk Variant?

Hailing from a post-apocalyptic reality, Maestro is a brutal tyrant who is stronger, more experienced and far more ruthless and sadistic than his current self. Despite not having the most stored history on the page, he could quite easily serve as the basis for turning The Kang Dynasty into World War Hulk.

His intelligence alone undoubtedly makes him a threat every bit as terrifying as Kang, a villain whose technology he could take full advantage of when Earth's Mightiest Heroes rise up to stop him.

7. Doctor Doom

The comic books have long toyed with the idea of Doctor Doom and Kang the Conqueror being related. Either way, the latter is definitely inspired by the Fantastic Four villain's technology and if Victor is currently plotting in Latveria, why not have him show up to kill Kang?

Once he's done so, Doom could take the time traveller's powers for himself in order to reshape the world as he sees fit.

Now, there's no denying it would be tough to just throw this villain into the mix if his history with Marvel's First Family isn't explored beforehand, but that's not necessarily the case. In fact, his defeat at Reed Richards' hands could even be what prompts Doom to target the team in their future adventures!

6. Ultron

Marvel Studios would need to tread carefully here, particularly as they would run the risk of repeating what we've already seen in What If...?

However, Ultron's return is long overdue and a live-action Infinity Ultron might just be the way to go if Kang needs to be replaced. The story could be changed a little (let's face it, though, the vast majority of moviegoers probably haven't watched the animated series) and the results stand a chance of being truly epic.

This story could still head down the Multiverse route. Just put Earth's Mightiest Heroes in a scenario where they need to rewrite reality and seek out help as part of a team-up even more epic than the animated "Guardians of the Multiverse" brought together by The Watcher!

5. Annihilus

Annihilation-Scourge-Alpha-Vol-1-1-Lim-Variant-Textless-copy

The Fantastic Four villain received a major upgrade on the page when he headed into outer space and assembled an army that laid waste to the cosmos.

The Annihilation Wave was ultimately a game-changer for characters like Star-Lord, Ultron, and even Thanos. Marvel Studios could easily make it so that Earth-616's Annihilus has gathered his own Variants into an unstoppable army he first uses to kill Kang and then unleashes on every single reality in existence.

That would play into the destruction of various Earths and would explain why heroes from several different realities need to assemble to counter the threat. The Fantastic Four could be put front and centre too, perhaps resulting in an even better story.

4. Loki

Loki was where we were first introduced to the MCU's take on the Multiverse, and so it seems oddly fitting for the God of Mischief to ultimately emerge as this Saga's true big bad.

It won't be Avengers: Endgame Variant who has taken centre stage in that Disney+ series, but another Loki who emerges to wrest control of the Multiverse from Kang makes perfect sense. We'd like to see Tom Hiddleston play this Variant, particularly as it would bring the MCU full circle after 2012's The Avengers.

This Loki will need a major power upgrade and a good reason to destroy Kang and take aim at all reality beyond just wanting to rule all. However, that may well be enough if the pieces all come together in the right way.

3. Iron Lad

Nathaniel-Richards-Iron-Lad-Earth-6311-from-Avengers-Vol-5-34-0001-copy

In the comic books, Iron Lad was a member of the Young Avengers who was later revealed to be a teenage Kang. He travelled back in time to become a superhero in the hope of escaping his villainous future, and the MCU could put an exciting new spin on his story.

If Iron Lad is initially introduced as one of the heroes who quickly dispatches Kang, the general audience would be downright gobsmacked when he reveals himself as a villain who plans to usurp his older self and rule the Multiverse. He'd have gained the trust of moviegoers and his fellow heroes by that point too.

This would be an easy recast too and might add a fun new wrinkle to Kang's story if Marvel Studios plans to keep him at the forefront of these stories.

2. Apocalypse

X-Men-Vol-5-13-Asrar-Variant-Textless-copy

Mutants have begun making their presence felt across the MCU, but what if there's a good reason for that? The emergence of En Sabah Nur, perhaps?

If Kang rewrote history to rid Earth-616 of mutants, then He Who Remains' demise may well have allowed Immortus' old foe to reawaken. While not a villain we necessarily think of when it comes to the Multiverse, a late pivot could see us taken to a new "Age of Apocalypse" timeline.

There, The Avengers could meet a future version of the X-Men before reality is rewritten to create a new MCU that restores their rightful place on Earth-616. We're sure this is something the majority of fans would appreciate too.

1. The Beyonder

It's previously been rumoured the ultimate villain of the Multiverse Saga will be The Beyonder, with the twist being that he too is a Kang Variant.

The prevailing theory right now is the Kang we saw "die" in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is going to return with near-limitless powers to reshape reality, but it wouldn't be remotely difficult to abandon that idea. Instead, The Beyonder can deal with Kang in a mere moment before setting his sights on The Avengers.

The rebirth of the Multiverse and Kang's continuing machinations would potentially be what brings The Beyonder into his existence and, once that happens, the villain can create a world where heroes and villains from across all realities are pitted against each other!

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