MCU Theory: Kang The Conqueror Is Coming To Phase 5 (Because Of Thanos)

Kang the Conqueror’s arrival in MCU Phase 5 could happen because of what happened in the battle with Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In Marvel Comics, Kang the Conqueror is a time traveler from the future and one of the Avengers’ greatest enemies, along with Ultron and Thanos. With bother Ultron and Thanos having already been defeated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Kang is the next logical choice for a major villain in the franchise.

The classic Marvel Comics villain, who has a history that goes all the way back to Fantastic Four #19 in 1963, is expected to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the next few years. It was recently reported that Lovecraft Country actor Jonathan Majors had been cast as the MCU’s Kang in Ant-Man 3, an upcoming Marvel movie that has yet to receive an official release date. Directed by Peyton Reed, Scott Lang’s third solo movie is believed to be a part of Marvel’s Phase 5 slate, which is likely to include Blade and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Another movie that hasn’t been confirmed but could be in development for Phase 5 is a fifth installment in the Avengers franchise.

If Kang the Conqueror appears in Ant-Man 3, he’s sure to be vital to Marvel’s plans for Phase 5, and quite possibly Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as well. That seems reasonable, considering that Kang – like Thanos – is easily one of the greatest threats the team has ever faced. What’s not clear is why the time-traveling villain will choose Phase 5 to make his grand entrance in modern times. It could be that the reason for his presence is explained by the events that went down in Infinity War and Endgame. The fight with Thanos could be what motivates Kang to make his big move.

Kang Will Be The Big Villain Of Phase 5

Kang the Conqueror Avengers 70 Marvel Comics

A role in Ant-Man 3 hardly feels like it could be the extent of Marvel’s plans for one of its best villains. His time travel shenanigans have put him in the crosshairs of both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four on numerous occasions. Despite only being a human, Kang been more than a challenge to the heroes of the Marvel Universe for over half a century at this point. He also shares a legendary hatred for the Avengers that couldn’t be properly captured in an Ant-Man movie.

To do justice to Kang, Marvel can’t underutilize him by making him nothing more than an Ant-Man villain. Marvel, who understands Kang’s potential, surely has a big plan worked out for the character and his future in the MCU. As someone who can travel to any place and time of his choosing, he fits in perfectly with where Marvel is currently headed. All things considered, it makes sense that Kang will be the MCU’s next big bad after Thanos. It could be that Marvel will set him up in Phase 4 with cameos or references in Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, give him a key role in Ant-Man 3, and make him the main villain of Avengers 5.

Kang's Plan Is Less Nuanced Than Thanos'

Kang The Conqueror attacks the Avengers in Marvel Comics.

When Kang does arrive, the Avengers won’t be dealing with an enemy with the same agenda as Thanos. In Infinity War, the heroes had to stop Thanos from following through on a master plan that was years in the making. After gathering all six Infinity Stones, Thanos erased half of everyone in the universe in an effort to achieve a sense of balance that would benefit the world. Kang, on the other hand, has goals that are much less complex.

In the comics, all Kang really wants is power. As a man from the distant future armed with highly advanced technology, Kang views himself as a superior being surrounded by “primitives.” Due to his arrogance, Kang wholly believes that its his right to rule over modern-day civilization, and that both the Avengers and the people of Earth should submit to him. In short, Kang is totally different to Thanos, and that’s a big part of why he’s the best character to succeed the Mad Titan as the MCU’s next major villain.

Thanos' End Created Time Travel For Kang

How Thanos was ultimately defeated is what will allow Kang to meet the Avengers in Phase 5. Thanks to Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), and scientific discoveries made by Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), a way to travel in time through the Quantum Realm is now possible. Centuries after the Avengers used time travel to find the Stones and stop Thanos in Endgame, Kang may use Stark’s technology and the Pym Particles to recreate their method and enter the timestream. If so, Kang the Conqueror could be just one more catastrophic consequence of what Thanos did. If Thanos hadn’t put the world in such a desperate situation, time travel may never have been discovered in Endgame.

Why Kang Waited To Invade

If Kang can time travel, then it would follow that he could have invaded Earth at any time. If he had showed up sometime up before 2012, conquering the Earth would have been much less difficult then than it would be in the 2020s. SHIELD and a few superheroes would have opposed him, but there wouldn’t have been a united force of superpowered characters. Most of the characters to stand against him would likely be on their own, and for that reason, the odds would have been in Kang’s favor. So why didn’t Kang invade Earth when victory would have been easier to achieve? The best answer to that question is Thanos.

Thanos had his eyes on Earth, knowing that at least some of the Infinity Stones could be found there. If a mysterious third party came onto the scene and tried to conquer the planet, Thanos could have identified him as an obstacle and eliminated him before he could become a problem. As a man from the future, Kang had to be aware of Thanos’s battle with the Avengers. Due to his knowledge of the past, he would of course have a good understanding of Thanos’s capabilities. As formidable as Kang is, it’s hard to imagine him beating the Mad Titan in a one-on-one fight. That’s why Kang’s best bet would be to let history take its course. With Thanos now out of the way, his biggest threat has been pushed aside, and what makes things even better, is that his enemies will be without their two most reliable leaders, Captain America and Iron Man. The Avengers may still be around, but they won't be at their strongest when Kang the Conqueror pays the Earth a visit.

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