Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has officially addressed the long-rumored shift in the MCU’s main villain arc. Contrary to popular belief, Marvel didn’t pivot from the Kang storyline because of Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles. Feige revealed that the studio had already begun planning the move toward Doctor Doom well before the controversy surfaced.
Kevin Feige Confirms Early Exit from Kang Storyline
Feige revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that Marvel began discussing a shift away from Kang well before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania premiered. The studio realized that Kang simply didn’t hold the same weight or presence as Thanos did during the Infinity Saga.
“We had started even before what had happened to the actor happened,” said Feige. “We had started to realize that Kang wasn’t big enough, wasn’t Thanos, and that there was only one character that could be that, because he was that in the comics for decades and decades.”
According to Feige, the change in direction wasn’t reactionary. Instead, Marvel aimed to match or even surpass the high stakes and narrative power of the Infinity Saga. The studio sought a character with greater mythos and legacy — and found it in Doctor Doom.
Doctor Doom Replaces Kang Storyline as Central Threat
With Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Marvel finally gained access to iconic characters like the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Doctor Doom. This acquisition opened doors for new creative possibilities.
“Because of the Fox acquisition, we finally had it and it was Dr. Doom,” Feige said. “So we had started talking about Dr. Doom even before we officially pivoted from Kang. And in fact, I had started talking with Robert [Downey Jr.] about this audacious idea before Ant-Man 3 even came out.”
Feige’s statement confirms that Marvel had already begun discussions to cast Robert Downey Jr. as a multiversal version of Victor Von Doom. This marks a bold departure from his original role as Iron Man.
Downey Jr. as Doom Reshapes the MCU’s Future
The idea of casting Downey Jr. as Doom may sound shocking, but it fits the MCU’s growing interest in multiverse-driven storytelling. Replacing the Kang storyline with Doctor Doom doesn’t just resolve a casting issue — it completely reshapes the upcoming phase of Marvel films.
Now, the franchise is headed toward two major milestones:
- Avengers: Doomsday, which will introduce Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
- Avengers: Secret Wars, based on the 2015 comic run where Doom becomes the multiverse’s god-emperor
Why Marvel Abandoned the Kang Storyline
Although Kang played a major role in Loki and Quantumania, audience response and overall execution were underwhelming. With Jonathan Majors facing serious allegations and his eventual dismissal from the franchise, Marvel had even more reason to quietly phase out the Kang storyline.
More importantly, Feige and his team saw greater narrative potential with Doom. The character brings deeper connections to beloved Marvel teams and a legacy of fearsome intellect and ambition.
The New Multiversal Villain Era Begins
Doctor Doom isn’t just a replacement — he’s an upgrade. He has long been hailed as one of Marvel’s most iconic villains. His rise in the MCU brings fresh stakes, darker themes, and a renewed focus on character-driven storytelling.
Ending the Kang storyline may seem controversial to some fans. However, it clearly signals a bigger and bolder future for Marvel. With Robert Downey Jr. returning in a transformative role, the MCU is poised for one of its most ambitious chapters yet.
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