Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantum Mania Might Kill Off Kang
The first film of Phase Five, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, could end up bending the tables on fans’ expectations by killing Jonathan Major’s Kang the Conqueror. Since his introduction in Loki and the announcement over the summer at Comic-Con of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Kang has been set up as the next Thanos-level big-bad – although there are still some other challengers when it comes to Avengers: Secret Wars. Given his cruelty, capabilities, and past throughout the comics, knowledgeable viewers are expecting some irreversible casualties as the heroes of the MCU face Kang, so the opposite occasion so early would be a thrilling shock.
In the MCU, there is already precedent for Kang being defeated. Loki detailed the multiversal war between Kang and his variants, with He Who Remains living up to his moniker in the end. Probably, Kang has even lost to the Avengers already, just a different universe’s Avengers. Nevertheless, early footage notes Kang has also won his fair share of scrapes, saying he’s killed Avengers before. All in all, as a major growth in a multiversal story, nearly anything is possible. The third Ant-Man movie could subvert expectations by killing Kang – or rather, a Kang – as part of his official foreword, and in doing so demonstrate his complex, villainous potential.
Kang Can Die To Prove How Threatening He Is
Kang the Conqueror
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania looks extremely tonally different from previous Ant-Man films based on the trailer, catalyzing theories that some familiar faces won’t be making it out alive. Scott Lang is at the top of many lists, but Kang is also a feasible contender. The big question, therefore, is who could do it, since Kang is so difficult to defeat. It would be surprising for that to fall to Ant-Man, unless sufficiently motivated – perhaps in revenge for Kang slaying Hank or Janet, as some theorize. However, more likely is that Kang would do it himself – or rather, that a variant Kang could kill the Ant-Man 3 version.
Were Kang to kill one of his variants, regardless of if they were familiar or hostile to him, it would perfectly demonstrate his vast and dangerous potential. Such would further heighten the stakes for successive films all leading into Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, wherein Kang will shine in all his chaotic glory. The inherent possibilities of Kang’s fate in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania proves why Kang is the perfect multiversal villain. If he or a variant were to fall now, another Kang would likely pop up in their place, and they could be even more vicious and deadlier than the last.
Every Kang Variant That Could Appear After Ant-Man 3
Kang in front of Marvel character art.
The possibility of Kang killing a variant of himself, then, begs the question of which variant. He has many iconic and incredibly powerful variants throughout the comics, some of which could presumably fit in well in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and beyond. His most significant counterpart is Immortus, who served as the inspiration for He Who Remains in Loki – and as such, he likely won’t feature. However, this could be an opportunity to introduce some of Kang’s younger variants. Integrating them, whether significantly in the plot or as part of Kang’s backstory, would help build up Kang to be a better villain than Thanos.
As such, possibilities include Rama-Tut, Egyptian Pharaoh; Scarlet Centurion, a moniker also used by Kang’s son, Marcus, who could feature in the MCU soon too; Mr. Gryphon, a 21st Century businessman; and Iron Lad, Kang’s heroic younger self. Indeed, Iron Lad would be an opportune choice, given the work Phase Four has done to set up a Young Avengers project, which Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is also continuing with Cassie Lang becoming Stinger. However, even if these recognizable Kang variants don’t feature in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, they can still have significant roles to play going forward as the Multiverse Saga continues to unfold.