Summary
Avengers 5seems ready to let go of Kang the Conqueror, and with theMarvel Cinematic Universe’s latest projects in the Multiverse Saga and the wide breadth of Marvel Comics stories, there are exciting replacements for the villain.The MCU was ready to make Kang the Conqueror its next Thanos, with the villain’s variants terrorizing the multiverse in Disney+‘sLokiand the main Kang appearing inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, withKang actor Jonathan Majors fired from the MCU, it is looking increasingly likely that the villain is out ofAvengers 5.
That was reinforced by a new report, which claimedAvengers 5would get a new name and focus,no longer being calledAvengers: The Kang Dynasty. If that is accurate, then Marvel could have two ways to replace Kang. Several characters fit the multiverse requirements forAvengers 5, and the MCU has enough setup in the Multiverse Saga to come up with interesting replacements, while Marvel Comics offers even more options forAvengers 5’s new story focus.
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10Avengers Vs Fox X-Men
Mutants Have Been Appearing In The MCU
With the X-Men now under Marvel Studios, it is only a matter of time before the mutants start sharing the screen with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and more. Before the MCU introduces its own version of the X-Men,Marvel could use a multiverse version of the team inAvengers 5, bringing to life the majorAvengers vs X-Men storyline.
An easy way to do it would be to havethe Fox X-Men universe and Earth-616 collide through an incursion. The X-Men and the Avengers then would have to fight it out to save their universes, letting the Fox version of the mutants play a final role before being recast.The Marvels’ post-credits sceneeven introduced a possible Fox X-Men alternate universe with Kelsey Grammer as Beast, so it could be that universe that crosses over instead of the main Fox X-Men one.
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9Earth-838 Illuminati Get Revenge
Doctor Strange 2 Set Up The Perfect Avengers 5
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessgave fans a peek at multiple different universes, choosing to delve deeper into a couple. One of them was where Doctor Strange and America Chavez found themselves onEarth-838, where Benedict Cumberbatch’s character came face to face with the Illuminati. The team was made up of characters like a multiverse version of Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier, as well as John Krasinski’s Reed Richards, the Inhumans' Black Bolt, and more.
Sadly,Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch went on a rampage and murdered the Illuminati. That could connect toAvengers 5in a major way. The Illuminati could have more members that are now set to hunt down Earth-616’s Avengers to retaliate for Wanda Maximoff’s actions, as she was part of the team. The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and even the Inhumans of that Earth could even get involved, resulting in a major multiverse affair.
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8Robert Downey Jr. Returns As Doctor Doom
A Rumored Possibility
The end of the Infinity Saga meant the final appearances for Chris Evans' Captain America, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. However, it is very likely that Marvel will attempt to get the actors to reprise their beloved roles inAvengers: Secret Wars, which should have the MCU’s largest cast yet. Before that, RDJ could return inAvengers 5with a surprising twist.
It has been reported thatDowney could appear as Doctor Doom in future movies. The way that would work isthe MCU veteran would play a Tony Stark variant that became Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man. IfAvengers 5truly ditches Kang, having RDJ play Doctor Doom and make him the biggest villain of the Multiverse Saga would guarantee that the film is an unforgettable event for fans. It could also set up Doom to fill his Secret Wars villain role from the comics.
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7Avengers 5 Becomes Secret Wars Part 1
The Major Event Could Easily Be A Two-Parter
Marvel Comics' Secret Wars is a big enough story that warrants two movies to fully do it justice. Instead of focusing on Kang the Conqueror and the Council of Kangs,Avengers 5could just becomeAvengers: Secret WarsPart 1. The movie could then follow the multiverse falling ill to incursions, withcharacters from all over Marvel’s live-action history collidingwith the MCU as their worlds come to an end.
This would allow Marvel to flesh out its large cast of characters and properly set up a major element ofAvengers: Secret Wars. LikeInfinity War’s impactful ending,Avengers 5could directly set up the next movie for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a shocking fashion.The movie would have a perfect ending with Doctor Doom creating Battleworldfrom the comic book event, withAvengers: Secret Wars— Part 2 in this case — taking place in the location that unites several iconic lands.
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6Cassandra Nova Survives Deadpool & Wolverine To Threaten The Multiverse
The Villain Has A Key Connection To The Multiverse Saga
Deadpool & Wolverineis a major movie for the MCU in multiple ways, with the film likely being the biggest exploration of the multiverse yet on the big screen. Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova is a huge part of that asDeadpool & Wolverine’s villain. If Charles Xavier’s twin sister were to survive her MCU debut, thenthe character could come back for revenge inAvengers 5, using a major MCU connection.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s trailers have cemented that Cassandra Nova has raised an army of variants in the Void from Disney+‘sLoki. That means the villain must have been pruned by the TVA and is aware of the organization and its role within the multiverse.Avengers 5could haveCassandra Nova and her villain army attempt to take over the TVA and the multiversal Yggdrasil treeto rule over the multiverse, being how Tom Hiddleston’s Loki returns to the MCU, as he is now the protector of the multiverse.
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5Enter Annihilus And The Negative Zone
A Major MCU Debut
During the press tour forDeadpool & Wolverine, Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feige revealed new details about the Nova series. According to the executive, the project is three or four years away andwill feature the Richard Rider version of Nova. That could connect to a possible major villain who could replace Kang as the main threat ofAvengers 5— Annihilus.
In Marvel Comics,Annihilus is a conqueror who comes from the Negative Zone, a different universe/dimension. Annihilus is mainly a Fantastic Four villain, which means the character could be teased in next year’sThe Fantastic Four, setting up Annihilus to be the main threat ofAvengers 5and leading to Nova’s MCU debut. The reason for that is Annihilus’ armada of ships obliterates the Nova Corps and Xandar, which could end up with Richard Rider becoming Nova, as he inherits the power of the full Nova Force, and coming to Earth-616 alongside potentially the Fantastic Four and others.
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4Several Incursions Threaten The Multiverse
Multiple Universes Appear
One of the easiest ways to replace Kang the Conqueror and his variants inAvengers 5would be not to focus on a single villain. Instead, Marvel could continue to develop the concept ofincursions that debuted in the MCU inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.Avengers 5could then set upAvengers: Secret Warsby showing several different universes as they collide with others and die.
The movie could follow different Avengers teams as they try to stop Earth-616 from being destroyed in incursions with other universes. The Avengers could face off against known universes from past Marvel live-action projects, as well as new versions with popular characters. This way, instead of using Kang,the movie’s villains could end up even being multiverse heroes, as they would be fighting to destroy the MCU so their universe could survive, makingAvengers 5a unique affair.
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3The Council Of Reeds Enters The Picture
The Team Can Be Morally Gray
With Kang reportedly out ofAvengers 5, Marvel could find an easy replacement for the Council of Kangs. The MCU debut of the Fantastic Four and the multiverse teases for the team’s first film could lead to the Council of Reeds being established. Like the team of multiverse Kang variants,the Council of Reeds is made up of different versions of Mr. Fantastic from all over the multiverse.
The team could include Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards from the 2000 Fantastic Four movies, Miles Teller’s from the 2015Fantastic Four, and even the return of the MCU’s John Krasinski as another Reed variant after Earth-838’s died. In Marvel Comics,the Council of Reeds' first iteration was not simply up to do good, with the characters lobotomizing multiverse Doctor Doom variants and more. That macabre aspect of the team could lead to the Council of Reeds taking the place of the Council of Kangs as foes inAvengers 5.
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2Galactus Is Revealed To Traverse Universes
The Fantastic Four Could Be A Multiverse Movie
While it has yet to be confirmed, there have been many teases that lead to believe thatThe Fantastic Fourwill take place in a different universe.The team will fight Galactus in their MCU debut. If the Fantastic Four really come from an alternate Earth, which would explain why they have not shown up in the MCU up to this point, then the film could end with Galactus eating their world.
Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards could find refuge for the team in Earth-616. However, in the MCU, Galactus could be revealed to have the power to traverse universes and come after the team. Galactus offers a big enough threat to serve as a factor that unites the new Avengers and the rest of the MCU’s heroes. They could band together to save Earth-616 from being eaten inAvengers 5.
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1Infinity Ultron Comes To Live-Action
Using The Full Power Of The Multiverse Saga
Ultron has only been a threat in the proper MCU in 2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultron. After the movie, the biggest role the character played came in animated form, through Disney+‘sWhat If…?The animated series allowed a new and more exciting version of the Marvel villain to come forward. Ultron came to possess the Infinity Stones, becomingknown as Infinity Ultron and posing a threat to the very fabric of the multiverse.
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After beingtrapped in the animated series with Arnim Zola taking over his body, a different version of Infinity Ultron could come to live-action. That would allow the MCU to finally bring back one of the Avengers’ biggest villains and give the character a good plot. Ultron would be a threat to all realities, serving in the same role Kang the Conqueror would have had inAvengers 5.
