Jonathan Majors has reportedly been cast as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man 3 - and his appearance could have been set up in Ant-Man & the Wasp. The coronavirus pandemic may have largely brought Hollywood to a halt, but Ant-Man 3 director Peyton Reed has been working on the script through the pandemic. Given that's the case, it's no surprise there has been a burst of news on the threequel.

Marvel has reportedly cast Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors has been cast as Kang the Conqueror, a classic Marvel villain who's long been rumored to appear in the MCU. Kang is a massive figure in the comics, the self-styled Lord of time who seeks to conquer all that is, was, and ever will be. It's reasonable to assume Marvel Studios will streamline his origin story, which is frankly bewildering in its complexity.

Related: Who Is Kang the Conqueror? The MCU's New Time-Travelling Villain Explained

In fact, Kang's appearance may have already been foreshadowed in Ant-Man & the Wasp - with the subtle introduction of a mysterious city in the Quantum Realm.

Ant-Man & The Wasp Introduced A City In The Quantum Realm

Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantum Realm City

Ant-Man & the Wasp saw its titular heroes explore the Quantum Realm, a plane of existence where the laws of space and time do not operate in the same way. It's easy to miss, but there is one scene in Ant-Man & the Wasp that reveals the Quantum Realm is inhabited - because, in the background, you can see a mysterious city shielded by a dome. It's only on the screen for a split-second, almost concealed in the psychedelic effects of the Quantum Realm, and unnoticed by even Hank Pym. His wife Janet Van Dyne, however, would presumably have known all about this city and its inhabitants, given she lived in the Quantum Realm for decades.

The Quantum Realm was key to Avengers: Endgame, with Earth's Mightiest Heroes using it to travel in time. For all that's the case, though, it has actually been relatively unexplored. There have long been reports that Marvel intends to make the Quantum Realm the focus of Ant-Man 3; as far back as 2018, producer Stephen Broussard was openly admitting to behind-the-scenes discussions between the crew. "We talk a lot about the Quantum Realm and there would be perhaps more opportunity to go down there," he revealed. "Maybe there's more down there than we realized. Clearly, Janet's been up to something and has different clothes on and some weapons. Where did those come from? And similarly, if you look at the right moment and freeze the DVD in a certain place, maybe you'll see something else as well that could tip a hat to where the story could go." That last comment was clearly a reference to the Quantum Realm city. But what could that city be?

The Quantum Realm City Could Be Chronopolis

Comic book readers have pored through their books looking for anything that matches the city seen in the Quantum Realm. Surprisingly, there appears to be only one match for it - Chronopolis. In the comics, Chronopolis sits outside of time in a realm called Limbo, a unique dimension that exists outside the timestream and that any time traveler briefly passes through. Time does not exist at all in Limbo, but rather reality is comprised of a single, ever-changing moment in which everything that ever was, is, and could be coexists. There are differences between Limbo and the Quantum Realm - time does exist in the Quantum Realm, as indicated by Janet Van Dyne's aging, even if it is rather complicated - but the Quantum Realm does appear to be the MCU analog.

Related: Ant-Man & The Wasp: How Janet Survived So Long In The Quantum Realm

Chronopolis is hardly the most well-known location in the comics, but it actually has strong connections to various incarnations of Kang the Conqueror. It became the stronghold of Kang the Conqueror, the center of his ever-expanding kingdom that crosses the Multiverse. Each block of Chronopolis extends to the ends of the Earth in a different time period. The more primitive time-periods are on the outskirts, the more advanced towards the center, and the heart is dominated by Kang's Citadel. It's actually possible to get lost in Chronopolis forever because unless you find the hidden portals connecting the blocks, you'll simply become stranded there.

The Quantum Realm Could Be The Heart Of Kang's Kingdom

Kang the Conqueror fights the Young Avengers in Marvel Comics.

Peyton Reed has only given a brief update on Ant-Man 3, and he's naturally avoiding saying anything specific. He's already indicated the threequel will be "a much bigger, more sprawling movie than the first two." An exploration of the Quantum Realm, and the discovery of the city of Chronopolis, would certainly fit that description. As noted, Janet Van Dyne would presumably be aware of the city, having been there for years; her information could prompt Hank Pym to lead an exploratory mission to attempt to establish contact with Chronopolis' rulers, with less than pleasant results. Ironically, such a plot would potentially mean the MCU had delved into Chronopolis rather better than the comics, and in a lot more detail.

This would have the advantage of setting Kang up for a far more prominent role in the MCU. Ant-Man 3 would serve to introduce the villain, firmly establishing his tyranny and the idea he is a mighty conqueror who has overcome entire timelines, and whose empire spans the Multiverse itself. But Hank would have made the mistake of drawing Kang's attention to the main MCU timeline, and there can be no doubt he'd be fascinated by it. "Our very strength invites challenge," Vision cautioned the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War, and in truth, the MCU's heroes are only getting stronger. Thanos himself was only able to beat Captain Marvel by using the Power Stone, and Marvel now claims that Scarlet Witch is becoming stronger than even Carol Danvers. Meanwhile, the Eternals have always been numbered among the most powerful beings in Marvel Comics, inspiring the legends of the Greek gods. There can be no doubt Kang would leap at the challenge offered by the MCU, and that he'd waste no time marshaling his forces to conquer it. Thus Ant-Man 3 would actually serve as a setup for the MCU Phases 5 and beyond.

More: MCU Theory: Ant-Man 3 Sets Up Kang As The Villain For Avengers 5

Key Release Dates