The introduction of Kang the Conqueror could bring drastic changes to Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ant-Man 3 has reportedly cast Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. Although little is known about the villain's debut, his eventual incorporation into the larger landscape of the MCU is definitely an event fans have looked forward to for a long time. It's even possible the Ant-Man sequel will give him a minor villain role while setting him up for Avengers 5 in Phase 4 or even as the main villain for the entirety of Phase 5.

The first three phases of the MCU, known as the Infinity Saga, utilized Thanos as the franchise's overarching villain. The Mad Titan always pulled the strings before his role as the main antagonist of Avengers: Infinity War and his crushing defeat in Avengers: Endgame. This proved to be a successful method to keep the audience hooked, if the MCU's evergrowing box office is anything to go by. Now that Thanos has been defeated, another big bad can take his place. Cue Kang, a time-traveling villain with a long-standing feud with the Avengers and the Fantastic Four in the comics. His complex backstory derives from the fact that he comes from the 30th century and his obsession with hopping through different eras, always hellbent on winning historical battles and leaving his mark on history.

Related: Eternals' Thanos Connection Could Set Up A New Avenger For Phase 5

Kang's debut in Ant-Man 3 is just the tip of the iceberg. The nature of his time-traveling antics can influence the future of the MCU as much as its past. Besides Ant-Man's tinkering with the Quantum Realm, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and WandaVision will also rely heavily on alternate realities, while the Loki Disney+ show deals with time-travel. With all of these dimensions existing simultaneously, Kang faces the opportunity to modify historical MCU events like the final battles of the Avengers movies or even the chance to bring threats like Thanos and Ultron to the present timeline (these are two characters that fans would love to see return). Depending on what Phase 4 establishes through its different dimensions, Phase 5 could easily be the perfect time for Kang to take over.

Kang the Conqueror in MCU's Loki, Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange, and Ant-Man 3

In the comics, Kang's real name is Nathaniel Richards. He's a distant descendant of Reed Richards, better known as Mr. Fantastic. After Disney's purchase of Fox and all of its properties, it's only a matter of time until the Fantastic Four join the MCU and battle alongside the new Avengers. Their introduction has always been a hot subject of debate, as the iconic First Family has lots of connections to other important parts of the Marvel Universe in different eras that can't be overlooked. Kang the Conqueror could establish them as a known superhero team in the 1960s from another timeline and give them the opportunity to introduce them in the MCU without the need for yet another origin story. On top of that, Kang could also adopt the "Iron Lad" moniker he has in the comics, thus putting an unexpected twist on the anticipated Iron Man replacement that the MCU so desperately needs.

Phase 4 has been laid out until 2022 with a varied assortment of outings. Marvel is making Phase 4 feel smaller in comparison to its 23 previous movies. For now, a villain the size of Kang wouldn't fit in the beginning of the MCU's new saga. Making Kang the main antagonist right after Thanos would be like pitting the Mad Titan against the Avengers in their first ensemble film. So, the time-traveling villain must wait until Phase 5 to become the next biggest threat in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (unless Marvel comes up with a surprise duo of main antagonists or a villain team-up beforehand).

Next: Every Marvel Villain Appearing In MCU Phase 4

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