Key Takeaways:
- Kang was being replaced before Majors’ legal issues, due to internal doubts about his long-term viability as a villain.
- Robert Downey Jr. is set to play Doctor Doom, with early talks beginning before Quantumania’s release.
- Avengers: Doomsday will not include many expected Marvel characters, suggesting a major shift in focus for the MCU’s next chapter.
Robert Downey Jr. Was Already in Talks to Play Doctor Doom Pre-Quantumania
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has clarified that the studio’s decision to replace Kang the Conqueror with Doctor Doom as the main villain of Avengers: Doomsday was not solely due to Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles. Speaking during a roundtable interview, Feige confirmed that talks with Robert Downey Jr. to portray Doctor Doom began before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hit theaters in early 2023.
Feige noted that Marvel had started to feel Kang “wasn’t big enough” to follow in Thanos’ footsteps, and said the acquisition of Fox’s Marvel properties made Doctor Doom a more compelling option. “It was a long plan that we had,” Feige said, calling Downey Jr. one of Marvel’s greatest actors suited for one of their most legendary villains.
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Kang’s Diminishing Role Began Before Legal Troubles
Feige was careful not to name Jonathan Majors directly but acknowledged that “what had happened to the actor” wasn’t the trigger for Marvel’s creative pivot. In fact, Kang’s diminished role began before Majors’ March 2023 arrest and long before Kang Dynasty was retitled Avengers: Doomsday in July 2024.
Despite Kang being hyped as the MCU’s next major villain through his roles in Loki and Quantumania, the lukewarm response to Quantumania’s box office and narrative reportedly accelerated Marvel’s plans to sideline the character.
Downey Jr. Returns as a Villain, Not Iron Man
In a major twist, Robert Downey Jr. — synonymous with Tony Stark/Iron Man — is returning to the MCU not as a hero, but as Doctor Doom. This marks a bold reimagining for the franchise, turning its most iconic face into its most fearsome villain.
The Russo brothers, directors of Infinity War and Endgame, are back to helm Doomsday and Secret Wars, the culmination of Phase 6. Feige also hinted that Secret Wars will serve as a “reset” for the MCU, with a new X-Men cast set to emerge post-event.
Big Names Missing From Doomsday’s Roster
Despite five hours of casting announcements, fans were stunned by notable absences from Avengers: Doomsday. No Spider-Man, Hulk, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, or even newer Guardians of the Galaxy characters were included. X-Men favorites like Wolverine and Storm were also missing, with only Loki confirmed among the former Asgardians.
What Happens to Kang Now?
Marvel hasn’t confirmed how Kang’s absence will be handled in-universe. While the Loki finale seemingly concluded one version of Kang, many variants were left unresolved. Whether Doctor Doom steps over their remains or Kang is quietly retired remains unknown.
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