Marvel fans, brace yourselves. Kang the Conqueror is officially returning to the MCU in 2026 — just not the way anyone originally planned. Here’s everything you need to know about Marvel’s bold pivot and what it means for the Multiverse Saga’s most controversial villain.
Kang the Conqueror in the MCU
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Original Actor | Jonathan Majors |
| MCU Appearances | Loki S1 & S2, Ant-Man 3 |
| Fired | December 2023 |
| Kang Variant Returning | Rama-Tut |
| Returning In | X-Men ’97 Season 2 |
| Premiere Date | July 1, 2026 (Disney+) |
| New Avengers Villain | Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) |
What Happened to Jonathan Majors in the MCU?
Marvel Studios had staked the entire Multiverse Saga on Jonathan Majors’ Kang — and it looked like a brilliant bet. That was until December 2023, when Majors was found guilty of third-degree assault and second-degree harassment and was swiftly fired by Disney. His MCU career — which spanned two seasons of Loki and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania — came to an abrupt end.
To fill the enormous villain-shaped hole, Marvel pivoted to Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom for Avengers: Doomsday, shelving The Kang Dynasty entirely. What had once been the MCU’s five-year plan was now wiped off the slate overnight. For context on the character’s rich comic history, Wikipedia’s page on Kang the Conqueror is an excellent deep-dive.
Rama-Tut: Kang Returns — Just Not as Jonathan Majors
Here’s where things get fascinating. Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 Season 2 trailer, released ahead of its July 1 Disney+ debut, has officially confirmed the return of Rama-Tut — a Kang Variant who, in the comics, travelled back in time to rule Ancient Egypt as a pharaoh. He was one of three Kang Variants teased in Ant-Man 3‘s mid-credits scene, alongside Immortus and Centurion.
The catch? He clearly won’t be voiced or portrayed by Jonathan Majors — making this a full visual and vocal reimagining of the character. Notably, X-Men ’97‘s fired original showrunner Beau DeMayo had once planned to use Majors in the role, before later pivoting to Star Trek: The Next Generation legend John de Lancie as a replacement, though whether de Lancie remains attached is still unclear.
Rama-Tut’s inclusion in X-Men ’97 is also deeply fitting story-wise — the villain has a long history with Apocalypse in Marvel Comics, having once attempted to raise the ancient mutant as his own heir. That directly ties into Season 2’s main antagonist.
What Is Jonathan Majors Up To Now?
Despite the industry fallout, Majors hasn’t disappeared. In April 2024, he avoided jail time and was sentenced to probation and a 52-week domestic violence intervention program. On a personal note, he married Shazam actress Meagan Good in March 2025.
Professionally, he’s made a cautious comeback — beginning filming on Run Hide Fight Infidels (produced by The Daily Wire), with Merciless and the political thriller Dinner at Nick’s also in the pipeline. A full Hollywood rehabilitation remains to be seen.
Does Kang Have a Future in the MCU Beyond X-Men ’97?
Honestly? It’s complicated. Rama-Tut’s return in animation suggests Marvel isn’t completely closing the door on Kang Variants — but a live-action Kang arc with a new actor seems unlikely in the near future, given Doctor Doom is now firmly the centerpiece of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. The Council of Kangs thread introduced in Ant-Man 3 may simply remain unresolved for now.
For more MCU updates, superhero movie news, and everything X-Men ’97 Season 2, check out TechnoSports’ entertainment section and our latest Marvel coverage.
FAQs
Q: Why was Jonathan Majors removed from the MCU as Kang?
Q: Which Kang Variant is appearing in X-Men ’97 Season 2?
Rama-Tut — Kang’s Ancient Egypt-ruling alter ego — is set to appear in Season 2, premiering July 1 on Disney+, portrayed by a new, as-yet-unconfirmed voice actor.
