What Was Marvel's Original Kang Dynasty Plot?

TL;DR

The Young Avengers were planned to defeat a reptilian Kang variant, then discover from his card that it was only his first day as Kang. Writer Michael Waldron described this humorous sequence from early story discussions, connecting it to the Lizard Kang shown in Quantumania's mid-credit scene and suggesting that the younger heroes could remain relevant after Marvel shifted Avengers 5 from Kang Dynasty to Doomsday.

Transcript

Welcome back to New Rockstars. I'm Eric Boss and we have finally learned part of the original plan for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty before Marvel Studios moved away from Kang as the big bad in the multiverse saga to Dr. Doom. And screenwriter Michael Waldron, the one guy involved with both the Kang and the Doom versions of the fifth Avengers movie, c... Read More

Key Insights

• The Young Avengers were part of an early Kang Dynasty story discussion, according to Michael Waldron. He and Jeff Loveness spent an afternoon developing a sequence where the younger heroes defeated a Kang variant, providing the clearest disclosed detail about their possible role in the abandoned film.
• The defeated Kang was probably the reptilian variant shown near the end of Quantumania's mid-credit scene. Waldron said he thought it was Lizard Kang, while the video's host interpreted that placement as potential setup for an early conflict in the planned Avengers story.
• The scene's joke depended on undermining the Young Avengers' apparent victory. After celebrating their defeat of Kang, the heroes would discover a card asking them to be patient because it was his first day as Kang, leaving them disappointed by how unimpressive their opponent had been.
• Quantumania's mid-credit scene supplied the clearest public setup for Kang Dynasty. Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion discussed the Avengers killing the exiled Kang and interfering with the multiverse, then summoned a vast arena filled with variants from across existence.
• He Who Remains controlled the Sacred Timeline by using Alioth, establishing the TVA, and pruning branches that could produce rival variants. His death ended that arrangement, while Loki season 2 concluded with Loki replacing him as the god of stories responsible for all existence.
• Kang the Conqueror was exiled to the Quantum Realm by other Kang variants before confronting Scott Lang. Ant-Man defeated him by forcing him into a probability storm, although the film ended with Scott questioning whether that victory had truly resolved the threat.
• Marvel's shift away from Kang followed Jonathan Majors's legal troubles, his December 2023 conviction, and his dismissal by Marvel Studios. The studio had already discussed Doctor Doom as an alternative during a September 2023 retreat and confirmed the new direction in July 2024.
• Michael Waldron connects the abandoned and current Avengers plans through his involvement in conversations about Kang Dynasty and his later work on Doomsday and Secret Wars. After completing Chad Powers, he returned to support directors Joe and Anthony Russo and writer Stephen McFeely.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the original plot of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty?

Only one specific story idea has been disclosed. Michael Waldron said that he and Jeff Loveness spent an afternoon discussing the Young Avengers defeating a Kang variant. The heroes would initially feel thrilled, but then find a card asking them to be patient because it was the villain's first day as Kang. Waldron thought the defeated character was Lizard Kang from Quantumania's mid-credit scene.

Q: How were the Young Avengers involved in Kang Dynasty?

The Young Avengers were discussed as the heroes who would defeat one version of Kang in an early story idea developed by Michael Waldron and Jeff Loveness. Their victory would become a comedic disappointment after they learned that the variant was inexperienced and serving his first day as Kang. The disclosure supports the idea that the younger team was intended to have a meaningful role in the abandoned Avengers film.

Q: Who was the Lizard Kang in the planned Avengers story?

Lizard Kang was the reptilian variant briefly shown among the assembled Kangs near the end of Quantumania's mid-credit scene. Michael Waldron said he thought this was the version that the Young Avengers would defeat in the sequence he discussed with Jeff Loveness. The identification was not stated as certain, but it connects the proposed scene to a character already introduced on screen.

Q: Why would the Young Avengers be disappointed after defeating Kang?

The Young Avengers would discover that their opponent was not an established or especially formidable Kang. According to Michael Waldron's description, the defeated variant carried a card asking others to be patient with him because it was his first day as Kang. That revelation would puncture the team's excitement and turn an apparently impressive victory into a joke about defeating an inexperienced villain.

Q: What did Quantumania set up for Kang Dynasty?

Quantumania ended with uncertainty about whether Scott Lang had truly defeated the exiled Kang after forcing him into a probability storm. Its mid-credit scene then showed Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion worrying that the Avengers were interfering with the multiverse. They summoned a huge gathering of Kang variants, including the reptilian Kang whom Waldron later associated with the Young Avengers sequence.

Q: Why did Marvel replace Kang with Doctor Doom?

Marvel's Kang plans changed during the period surrounding Jonathan Majors's legal troubles, which began in March 2023 and ended with his conviction in December 2023. Marvel Studios then fired him. The studio had discussed changing the saga's central villain to Doctor Doom at a September 2023 retreat, and it publicly confirmed the new Doomsday and Secret Wars direction at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024.

Q: What role did Michael Waldron have in the Avengers films?

Michael Waldron was originally attached to write Avengers: Secret Wars and participated in conversations surrounding Jeff Loveness's Kang Dynasty screenplay. He later worked on what became Doomsday and Secret Wars before leaving temporarily to make Chad Powers. After the Russo brothers and Stephen McFeely took control of the Avengers projects, Waldron returned to help their team with both films.

Q: Could the Young Avengers still appear in Avengers: Doomsday?

The transcript presents their possible appearance as an interpretation, not a confirmed casting or plot announcement. Because Waldron revealed the abandoned Young Avengers idea while answering a question about lessons that moved from Kang Dynasty to Doomsday, the video's host suggests that the team may remain involved. Waldron's response itself only confirms the earlier brainstorming session and does not explicitly confirm their presence in Doomsday.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Marvel originally announced Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in July 2022, with Jeff Loveness writing and Destin Daniel Cretton directing. The developing Multiverse Saga had introduced Kang variants through Loki and Quantumania, while the latter film's mid-credit scene assembled a vast council led by Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion.

• Michael Waldron revealed that he and Jeff Loveness discussed a scene in which the Young Avengers defeated a version of Kang. Their excitement would collapse when they found a card explaining that the defeated villain needed patience because it was his first day as Kang. Waldron thought this character was Lizard Kang.

• Marvel's plans changed amid Jonathan Majors's legal troubles and December 2023 conviction, after which Marvel Studios fired him. The studio announced Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars in July 2024, with Doctor Doom replacing Kang as the central threat. Waldron later returned to support the Russo brothers and writer Stephen McFeely.