Doctor Doom might be making his grand debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe a lot sooner than expected. Marvel Studios is reportedly considering a replacement for Kang the Conqueror, who is played by Jonathan Majors. Needless to say, the studio could be making the right choice by introducing Victor von Doom into the MCU before the Fantastic Four, especially because of the supervillain’s comic book connection to a major player in Loki Season 2!
It has already been established that Kang the Conqueror will be the next Big Bad of the MCU, and the supervillain even got his introduction in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania last year. However, the recent controversies involving Jonathan Majors may have caused Marvel Studios to reconsider moving forward with his character(s). A new report reveals that the executives came together to come up with a possible solution, and one of their options was the early introduction of Doctor Doom.
Doctor Doom Reportedly Top Choice to Replace Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror
According to Variety, Marvel Studios reportedly discussed replacing Kang the Conqueror with Doctor Doom in the MCU following Jonathan Majors’ arrest in March 2023. The conversations took place at the Marvel Studios annual retreat in Palm Springs, where top executives, including Kevin Feige, contemplated this major change. While Jonathan Majors’ arrest brought uncertainty to his future in the MCU, discussions about replacing Kang were influenced by other factors.
Jonathan Majors had already played three significant roles in the MCU. He was introduced as He Who Remains in Loki Season 1 before playing Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Majors’ latest role is the surprisingly innocent Victor Timely in Loki Season 2, who might be the most different Kang Variant to date. Still, this is only the beginning for Majors as he was positioned as a central character in the Multiverse Saga, with plans for him to star in the 2026 film Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, the underwhelming reception of Quantumania also led Marvel to reconsider focusing on Kang the Conqueror or any of his Variants.
Marvel Studios, faced with challenges including production delays, controversies, and lower ratings, reportedly explored the possibility of replacing Kang. Given the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of Jonathan Majors’ trial and the film’s performance, Marvel considered a significant shift in their plans and almost decided on Doctor Doom’s early arrival.
Why Doctor Doom Would Fit Perfectly as MCU’s New Big Bad
Victor von Doom has long been viewed as one of Marvel comic’s most popular villains. As the king of the fictional nation of Latveria, Doctor Doom primarily serves as the archenemy of Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four. However, he has also faced off against other superheroes in the Marvel Universe, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, the Black Panther, the X-Men, and the Avengers. In addition to that, he already has a connection to Loki Season 2 through Ravenna Renslayer.
In the comics, Doctor Doom groomed Valeria Richards, the daughter of Fantastic Four members Reed Richards and Sue Storm, to become Kang’s perfect companion. She is conditioned to become Renslayer so that Doom can manipulate Kang into merging with him. Although this storyline has not yet been introduced in the MCU, it would make sense and serve as a fitting reason for He Who Remains to erase Renslayer’s memories and keep her within the TVA in Loki Season 2.
Will Doctor Doom Replace Jonathan Majors in Loki Season 2’s Finale?
Despite these discussions, it appears that Marvel is moving forward with its current plans. Loki Season 2, in which Jonathan Majors stars as Victor Timely, has been well-received, and there are only two episodes left in the series. This suggests that no immediate changes will be made to the show. However, Kang the Conqueror’s role in future Marvel projects may depend on the verdict of Jonathan Majors’ trial.
Jonathan Majors is set to return as Victor Timely in Loki Season 2 Episode 5, which will premiere on Disney+ on November 2, 2023. The future of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU remains uncertain, awaiting developments both in Majors’ case and the reception of upcoming Marvel projects.
