What's Inside?
- Kevin Feige confirms Marvel dropped Kang as the main villain before Jonathan Majors’ legal issues, citing creative direction.
- Doctor Doom replaces Kang as Marvel’s next big threat, with Robert Downey Jr. making a dramatic return in the role.
- Fantastic Four: First Steps kicks off Phase Six as a standalone film, signaling a fresh start for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has finally revealed why he pulled back the curtain on the decision to move away from Kang the Conqueror as the MCU’s next big villain. Contrary to popular belief, the change wasn’t a direct result of Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles. Instead, Feige explains, the creative pivot was already in motion, and it was fueled by a larger vision for the future of Marvel’s storytelling and the newfound access to a long-coveted character: Doctor Doom.
Kevin Feige Explains Doctor Doom Is Kang’s Endgame
Kevin Feige, who is currently focused on wrapping production on Avengers: Doomsday and ramping up for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, seemed unusually upbeat despite Marvel skipping San Diego Comic-Con this year. That optimism, it turns out, stems largely from regaining control over characters formerly held by Fox, thanks to Disney’s acquisition of the studio. One of those characters, Doctor Doom, is now at the center of Marvel’s evolving plans. It begins with The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
“Why Fantastic Four? Because it’s Marvel’s first family,” Feige told Deadline, reflecting on how the Fox merger unlocked astounding possibilities. Fantastic Four: First Steps, set to launch Phase Six, is tracking to be Marvel’s biggest opener of the year, with a projected domestic haul of $100M–$110M. But for Feige, the real victory is the creative freedom. Feige explained:
“It’s a no-homework-required, go see the movie. It’s literally not connected to anything that was made before.”
The Marvel Boss confirmed that conversations about bringing in Doctor Doom began well before Jonathan Majors’ legal issues came to light.
“We had started even before what had happened to the actor happened. We had started to realize that Kang wasn’t big enough, wasn’t Thanos.”
In the comics, Kang had his moments, but never quite reached the iconic status of Marvel’s most legendary villains. And the writing was on the wall.
“There was only one character that could be that [new Thanos], because he was that in the comics for decades and decades,” Feige asserted. “Because of the Fox acquisition, we finally had it, and it was Dr. Doom.” Now, brace yourself, former Iron Man Robert Downey Jr is returning to Marvel as Doom.
For Better Or For Worse, Jonathan Majors Is Out Of Marvel Studios
While Jonathan Majors’ fall from grace, including his conviction for assault and harassment in December 2023, grabbed headlines, Feige’s latest revelations make it clear that Marvel wasn’t merely reacting to controversy. They were already evolving creatively. The planned Avengers: The Kang Dynasty has now morphed into Avengers: Doomsday, and Doctor Doom will take center stage, portrayed by none other than Robert Downey Jr., marking his high-stakes return to the MCU.
“In fact, I had started talking with Robert about this audacious idea before Ant-Man 3 even came out,” Feige revealed, hinting that discussions were already underway before Kang’s debut in Quantumania flopped with fans and critics alike.
Feige also refrained from mentioning Majors by name during the conversation, referring to him simply as “the actor.” It’s a symbolic distancing that mirrors the studio’s broader pivot. While Majors has since begun rehabilitating his public image, Marvel has officially moved on, both thematically and structurally.
