MCU Shakeup: Avengers 5 No Longer "Kang Dynasty", Villain Change Possible?
The name of the next Avengers movie is now being referred to as Avengers 5, which may suggest that Kang's villainous role has changed.
According to reports, the upcoming MCU film Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is going by a different moniker, which could indicate the franchise is planning to completely move away from Kang. When Jonathan Major, a Kang actor, was arrested in March 2023, allegations of abuse and harassment became public. Majors' affiliation with a number of initiatives and organizations was severed in the weeks and months that followed, but his employment with Disney and Marvel Studios persisted until the final decision was made. But on December 18, Majors was found guilty, and Disney fired him practically right once. It's unknown right now what will happen to Kang and his intended franchise future.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is apparently still in development at Marvel Studios, though it's not quite clear what that entails. Although the continuation of the film was always a certain, it's unclear if the plot would change to include a different antagonist or if Majors' Kang will just be replaced. Nevertheless, a recent allegation claims that Marvel Studios internal correspondence has removed Kang's name from Avengers 5.
The title change for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was first revealed by THR in December 2023
Avengers 5 New Title Isn't Official & Doesn't Mean Anything Yet
The most recent version of the project originally known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is simply referred to as Avengers 5, according to a THR story. This is in line with the movie's appointment of Michael Waldron as writer. Waldron is well-known in the MCU for his contributions to the creation of Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Naturally, this may indicate that Kang will either be completely eliminated from the play or have his position drastically reduced. But it's just too early to tell.
The Avengers 5 title change is currently solely internal, and THR's "sources" are the only reason it has been made public. There has been no formal confirmation of the title. That's not to say that can't be true, but it is evident that neither Disney nor Marvel Studios intended for the linguistic shift to become widely known. It's too soon to draw broad conclusions about the tweak's significance at this stage, and it's very likely that the film will eventually adopt the same subtitle—or something similar—after the screenplay is revised.
The other problem is that changing Avengers 5 to focus to a new villain now risks rushing the new antagonist's story. Doctor Doom is a popular Kang replacement choice after a report indicated Marvel Studios already considered swapping him in, but a character like Doom is immensely popular and nuanced in his own right. Using him as a filler may mean Doom - or whoever else is used - doesn't get the fully developed narrative they deserve. Recasting Kang may be challenging with the role's new baggage, but right now, it seems easier to continue with that character than close his story prematurely and altogether.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against the omnipotent Kang the Conquerer. The Kang Dynasty will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Studio(s): Marvel Studios
Writers: Michael Waldron
Cast: Kathryn Newton , Iman Vellani , Mark Ruffalo , Hailee Steinfield , Anthony Mackie , Benedict Wong , Simu Liu , Benedict Cumberbatch , Dominique Thorne , Xochitl Gomez , Chris Hemsworth , Brie Larson
Franchise(s): The Avengers
