The Marvel Cinematic Universe's next big bad has been cast: Jonathan Majors will be making his debut as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man 3!
Majors has been cast in a lead role alongside Paul Rudd as Ant-Man and Evangeline Lilly as the Wasp, which sources say is likely Kang. Majors leads the HBO's new hit series Lovecraft Country alongside Jurnee Smollet-Bell, who DCEU fans know as Black Canary from Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. It's unknown how Kang will be featured in the film, but given how big of a villain he is in the comics, it's safe to assume that his story won't end here.
Kang the Conqueror is Nathaniel Richards, the supposed descendant of Reed Richards, A.K.A. Mr. Fantastic. He hails from the 31st century and has battled the Avengers across time and space, while an alternate version of himself goes on to become Iron Lad on the Young Avengers team in a bid to avoid his villainous future.
Ant-Man 3 will be directed by Peyton Reed, director of the first two Ant-Man films, but not much else is known about the film at this time. An early draft of the script written by Rudd himself featured M.O.D.O.K. and A.I.M. as the villains. With Kang the Conqueror being cast so far in advance (the movie isn't expected to release until 2022), it's likely that he'll show up in another project before Ant-Man 3, such as Loki. The Disney+ series is dealing with time travel and introducing the Time Variance Authority, which monitors the multiverse, while Kang himself was rumored to be appearing in the show earlier this year.
Be on the lookout for the Young Avengers to assemble in Ant-Man 3 as well - Scott Lang's daughter, Cassie, was aged up in Avengers: Endgame and follows in her father's footsteps in the comics, taking on the mantle of Stature, while several members of the team are being brought into the MCU through other movies and Disney+ series. WandaVision will introduce Scarlet Witch's twin sons Wiccan and Speed, Miss America is rumored to be making her debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Kamala Khan is getting her own Ms. Marvel series, and Kate Bishop is taking over from Clint Barton in Hawkeye. Hulkling is on the horizon with WandaVision and Captain Marvel 2 coming up, Iron Lad could make his debut with Kang's arrival, and Ironheart is rumored to have a Disney+ series in development as well.
I'm very excited about Kang coming into the MCU! Ant-Man 3 is not where I expected him to debut at all, but it looks like the movie is becoming bigger than expected, much like every Phase Four movie. I really hope we see the Young Avengers assemble as well, since the original Ant-Man and the Wasp didn't found the original Avengers in the MCU the way they did in the comics.
What do you think about this casting? Are you excited for Ant-Man 3? Comment below!
Ant-Man 3 is expected to release in 2022.
Source: Deadline