It took around three years for Marvel to finally confirm the next Thanos for MCU phase 5. After the Infinity Saga (Infinity War and Endgame), it was challenging for the franchise to follow up the saga’s peak. Although there were several characters and storylines from which Marvel could pick up, the MCU Phase 4’s future remained ambiguous. As a result, MCU had to choose the next super threat very carefully to meet viewers’ expectations.
Moreover, the induction of multiverse in MCU has been a center of attention throughout the Phase 4 movies and series. It suggests that Marvel’s next combat would be something in the mood of Secret Wars. MCU also introduced a variant of Kang in the early stages of Phase 4 via the Loki series. As per Marvel comics, Kang’s character is associated with time travel rather than the multiverse. It raises the question that how MCU will incorporate him as the next big threat of Phase 5. The confirmed news about a team of young Avengers and Thunderbolts movies is already revolving among the MCU fans.
After stepping into the multiverse in Phase 4, Marvel has confirmed that Kang will replace Thanos as the next main villain. Jonathan Majors as Kang is set to appear as the antagonist in the first two movies of Phase 5. We know that MCU will open Phase 5 with Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantumania and Avengers 5: The Kang Dynasty. No other main villain has appeared in Marvel’s two movies from different phases before. Although it indicates Kang’s pivotal role in the MCU, how Kang’s time travel origins will connect to the multiverse remains a mystery. In any case, we can clearly see Kang as the next bad guy in the Avengers saga.
Suppose we see Kang’s entrance into the saga from a microscopic view. In that case, he will definitely tie some loose ends from the “Endgame” climax. The movies and series timeline of MCU Phase 5 and 6 are announced, including two Avengers movies. Now, it is clear that the plan was already set in motion. Not only that, Marvel has officially titled its Phases 4, 5, and 6 “Multiverse Saga,” like Phases 1, 2, and 3 were titled “Infinity Saga.” It definitely confirms the long-term narrative throughout the phases. The only loose end was the question of the main antagonist of the Multiverse saga. The recent announcement of Kang as an extraordinarily powerful villain connected to the multiverse solved that too.
Kang’s character is entirely different from Thanos. However, extraordinary power, pragmatic mind, and intelligence are the common traits of both characters. That said, Doctor Doom is the twist in the Secret Wars comic book. So, we can expect the classic villain from Fantastic Four to be part of the Multiverse Saga villain.
All in all, MCU was not short of options in anyways after the end of the Infinity saga. They could have gone anywhere. But at the same time, it was crucial to follow up with a theme that could correlate with the end of Endgame. Also, the audience was expecting something really big in Phase 5 after the peak of the infinity saga climax. A multiverse adventure with Kang the Conqueror is an inspired decision.
Moreover, it will certainly set up a significant difference between the Avengers movies of past and upcoming phases. Kang’s appearance in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will explain more about how MCU will combine time travel and multiverse concepts. Above all, how the conqueror will prove to be a big threat to the Avengers is also a big question. We expect that his mastery of time will allow more gut-wrenching villain moments. Also, his omnipresence will add the required stakes to the broader narrative we came across in Phase 4.
