Even though the narrative of the Multiverse Saga has been changed, Marvel Studios still has one hugeKang the Conquerormystery to address in theMCU. In the wake of Thanos' defeat and the Infinity Saga’s conclusion, Marvel Studios introduced Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror and his villainous variants, the new villains for the Multiverse Saga. Several projects in Phase 4 set the stage for Kang’s conquest across the multiverse in thethen-titledAvengers: The Kang Dynasty, so Marvel Studios now has loose ends to resolve.
Jonathan Majors' arrest and conviction in 2023culminated in him being fired from Marvel Studios, which threw the emerging Kang-centric storyline into jeopardy. During 2024’s SDCC,Marvel confirmedThe Kang Dynasty’sretitle toAvengers: Doomsday, with the Phase 6 crossover movie focusing on Doctor Doom instead of Kang the Conqueror. While this makes sense, there are now many unanswered questions and unexplored storylines concerningKang the Conqueror in the MCU, and Marvel still needs to address these before the Multiverse Saga ends with 2027’sAvengers: Secret Wars.
MCU’s Ten Rings & Quantum Bands Have A Clear Kang The Conqueror Connection
Theories Connected Kang To The MCU’s Most Powerful New Relics
Although Marvel Studios never actually confirmed that Kang the Conqueror and his variants would somehow be connected to some of the MCU’s newest and most powerful relics,eagle-eyed viewers spotted huge similarities shared by these artifacts that hinted at a link. 2021’sShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsintroduced the titular mystical bangles, while 2022’sMs. Marvelseries debutedKamala Khan’s Quantum Band, and this was developed in 2023’sThe Marvels. While these relics seemed separate, 2023’sAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniamay have confirmed a connection.
The inscriptions on the ten rings and Kamala Khan’s Quantum Bands look strikingly similar, and these are also reminiscent of the writing onKang the Conqueror’s base of operations in the Quantum Realm. The rings surrounding Kang’s base inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumanialooked incredibly similar to Xu Wenwu and Shang-Chi’s ten rings themselves.Because of these similarities, theories emerged suggesting these relics, and others, would be important for Kang’s variants' plans inAvengers: The Kang Dynasty, but this narrative has now gone nowhere.
Phase 6’s Refocus Means These Huge Kang Connections May Not Be Explored
Marvel Has Refocused The MCU Onto Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom
It initially seemed as though these relics and Kang’s storyline would develop gradually before coming to a head inAvengers: The Kang Dynasty. Marvel Studios' refocus away fromKang the Conqueror and his variantsmeans it’s possible thatthis narrative could be forgotten about and resigned to not being explored, which would be a dire shame. This would leave huge loose ends in the MCU, and would mean that new meanings would have to be given to the ten rings and the Quantum Bands, which will both be seen again in the MCU’s future.
Doctor Doom Replacing Kang In Avengers 5 Is Bigger Than Just RDJ According To Major MCU Theory
An exciting new MCU theory suggests that Doctor Doom replacing Kang the Conqueror in Avengers 5 is much bigger than Robert Downey Jr. alone.
It made some sense that Marvel Studios simply chose to move on from Kang following Jonathan Majors' conviction, as the studio would surely want to distance the MCU from any character associated with Majors.Kang may be recast in the MCU’s future, with the exploration of the multiverse making this possible, butthe new storyline centered around Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom and other returning MCU veterans seems to have garnered more excitement and anticipation. This does leave the fates of the ten rings and the Quantum Bands uncertain, however.
How Marvel Can Still Explain The Ten Rings & Quantum Bands’ Connection To Kang
The Multiverse Saga Could Still End Kang’s Story
Even though the Multiverse Saga’s evolving storyline has seemingly been transformed completely to remove Kang the Conqueror and introduce Doctor Doom, there’s still the chance that Kang’s narrative could be wrapped up.Phase 6’s upcomingAvengersmovieshave the perfect opportunity to still address Kang’s existence, andsince the villain and his variants have a huge presence in the multiverse, it would be awkward if this wasn’t explored. This could explain the connections between Kang, Shang-Chi’s ten rings and the Quantum Bands.
LokiSeason 1
2021
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
2023
LokiSeason 2
Marvel Studios used the post-credits scene ofAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniato set up theCouncil of Kangs as the Multiverse Saga’s most threatening villain group. Kang the Conqueror found himself defeated by Ant-Man and the Wasp, though theories suggested he, too, would return. This means Kang was set up to have a huge role in Phase 6, andit would be seriously jarring if the MCU just erased this narrative.Shang-Chi 2, aYoung Avengersproject, andAvengers: Doomsdaycould establish the connection betweenKang the Conquerorand these relics, finally addressing and ending this teased storyline.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
