What Happened to Kang?
Updated
Kang the Conqueror was supposed to be the Thanos of the Multiverse Saga. Then, in December 2023, Marvel Studios parted ways with Kang actor Jonathan Majors, and the saga pivoted to Doctor Doom. Here's the full story, with the facts kept separate from the guesswork.
Who Kang was in the MCU
Jonathan Majors first played a version of Kang in the Loki Season 1 finale (2021). Who that variant is, and how the episode ends, is the season’s big reveal.
Spoiler Spoilers for Loki Season 1: tap to reveal
Kang debuts as He Who Remains: a weary variant who had won a multiversal war and founded the TVA to keep a single "Sacred Timeline", pruning every branch to prevent his own variants from rising again. Sylvie kills him, unleashing the branches.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) introduced the exiled Kang the Conqueror proper, and its post-credit scenes pointed at something much bigger. The plan was clear: Kang was the saga's endgame villain, with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty on the calendar.
Spoiler Spoilers for Quantumania’s post-credit scenes: tap to reveal
The mid-credits scene reveals the Council of Kangs, thousands of variants preparing for war, and the end-credits scene introduces Victor Timely, who leads into Loki Season 2.
Loki Season 2: Kang's last stand (so far)
Loki Season 2 (2023) followed the variant Victor Timely, a 19th-century inventor. Its finale changed the TVA and the multiverse for good, and Kang's variants were left scattered across the branches, their war unresolved. Follow it in our Loki watch order.
Spoiler Spoilers for Loki Season 2: tap to reveal
Victor Timely was unknowingly seeded by He Who Remains. The season ends with Loki taking He Who Remains' seat at the End of Time, but instead of pruning anything, holding the branching timelines together himself and becoming the God of Stories, with the multiverse woven into Yggdrasil.
The real-world change: December 2023
In December 2023, Marvel Studios parted ways with Jonathan Majors following his conviction. Marvel has not recast the role and has not announced any future plans for Kang. Those are the confirmed facts. Anything we say below about Kang's future is our own read, and we've marked it.
The pivot to Doctor Doom
At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Marvel announced that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was retitled Avengers: Doomsday, with Robert Downey Jr. cast as Doctor Doom and the Russo brothers directing. The Multiverse Saga's endgame villain is now Doom, not Kang.
Where Kang stands now (our read)
Kang's story looks effectively shelved. The in-universe threads (the Council of Kangs, the exiled Conqueror) were never resolved on screen, and Loki Season 2's ending works as a soft cap, with Doom as the incoming threat. Whether Kang ever returns is unannounced. For the saga's actual endgame, see what to watch before Doomsday and our multiverse explainer.
FAQ
Why was Kang replaced by Doctor Doom?
Marvel Studios parted ways with Kang actor Jonathan Majors in December 2023. In July 2024, Marvel retitled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty to Avengers: Doomsday, with Doctor Doom as the saga’s villain.
Was Kang recast?
No. Marvel has not recast Kang and has announced no future plans for the character.
Is Kang dead in the MCU?
The variants we’ve met each get an ending in Loki and Quantumania, but the bigger threat Quantumania teased was never resolved on screen. The details are in the reveal boxes above.
Do I need to watch the Kang stories before Doomsday?
Loki Seasons 1–2 are still essential; they establish the multiverse rules Doom’s story runs on. Quantumania is optional for Doomsday prep.