Summary

• Avengers 5 may replace Kang with multiverse threats, like the Council of Reeds or Infinity Ultron.
• Doctor Strange 2 set up the remaining Earth-838 Illuminati and their closed ones as possible Avengers 5 antagonists.
• Avenger 5 could introduce villains from different universes through incursions to replace Kang.

Avengers 5 seems ready to let go of Kang the Conqueror, and with the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s latest projects in the Multiverse Saga and the wide breadth of Marvel Comics stories, there are exciting replacements for the villain. The MCU was ready to make Kang the Conqueror its next Thanos, with the villain’s variants terrorizing the multiverse in Disney+’s Loki and the main Kang appearing in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, with Kang actor Jonathan Majors fired from the MCU, it is looking increasingly likely that the villain is out of Avengers 5.

That was reinforced by a new report, which claimed Avengers 5 would get a new name and focus, no longer being called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. If that is accurate, then Marvel could have two ways to replace Kang. Several characters fit the multiverse requirements for Avengers 5, and the MCU has enough setup in the Multiverse Saga to come up with interesting replacements, while Marvel Comics offers even more options for Avengers 5‘s new story focus.

10 Avengers Vs Fox X-Men

Mutants Have Been Appearing In The MCU

With the X-Men now under Marvel Studios, it is only a matter of time before the mutants start sharing the screen with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and more. Before the MCU introduces its own version of the X-Men, Marvel could use a multiverse version of the team in Avengers 5, bringing to life the major Avengers vs X-Men storyline.

An easy way to do it would be to have the Fox X-Men universe and Earth-616 collide through an incursion. The X-Men and the Avengers then would have to fight it out to save their universes, letting the Fox version of the mutants play a final role before being recast. The Marvels‘ post-credits scene even introduced a possible Fox X-Men alternate universe with Kelsey Grammer as Beast, so it could be that universe that crosses over instead of the main Fox X-Men one.

9 Earth-838 Illuminati Get Revenge

Doctor Strange 2 Set Up The Perfect Avengers 5

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness gave fans a peek at multiple different universes, choosing to delve deeper into a couple. One of them was where Doctor Strange and America Chavez found themselves on Earth-838, where Benedict Cumberbatch’s character came face to face with the Illuminati. The team was made up of characters like a multiverse version of Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier, as well as John Krasinski’s Reed Richards, the Inhumans’ Black Bolt, and more.

Sadly, Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch went on a rampage and murdered the Illuminati. That could connect to Avengers 5 in a major way. The Illuminati could have more members that are now set to hunt down Earth-616’s Avengers to retaliate for Wanda Maximoff’s actions, as she was part of the team. The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and even the Inhumans of that Earth could even get involved, resulting in a major multiverse affair.

8 Robert Downey Jr. Returns As Doctor Doom

A Rumored Possibility

The end of the Infinity Saga meant the final appearances for Chris Evans’ Captain America, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow. However, it is very likely that Marvel will try to get the actors to reprise their beloved roles in Avengers: Secret Wars, which should have the MCU’s largest cast yet. Before that, RDJ could return in Avengers 5 with a surprising twist.

It has been reported that Downey could appear as Doctor Doom in future movies. The way that would work is the MCU veteran would play a Tony Stark variant that became Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man. If Avengers 5 truly ditches Kang, having RDJ play Doctor Doom and make him the biggest villain of the Multiverse Saga would guarantee that the film is an unforgettable event for fans. It could also set up Doom to fill his Secret Wars villain role from the comics.

7 Avengers 5 Becomes Secret Wars Part 1

The Major Event Could Easily Be A Two-Parter

Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars is a big enough story that warrants two movies to fully do it justice. Instead of focusing on Kang the Conqueror and the Council of Kangs, Avengers 5 could just become Avengers: Secret Wars Part 1. The movie could then follow the multiverse falling ill to incursions, with characters from all over Marvel’s live-action history colliding with the MCU as their worlds come to an end.

This would allow Marvel to flesh out its large cast of characters and properly set up a major element of Avengers: Secret Wars. Like Infinity War‘s impactful ending, Avengers 5 could directly set up the next movie for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a shocking fashion. The movie would have a perfect ending with Doctor Doom creating Battleworld from the comic book event, with Avengers: Secret Wars — Part 2 in this case — taking place in the location that unites several iconic lands.

6 Cassandra Nova Survives Deadpool & Wolverine To Threaten The Multiverse

The Villain Has A Key Connection To The Multiverse Saga

Deadpool & Wolverine is a major movie for the MCU in multiple ways, with the film likely being the biggest exploration of the multiverse yet on the big screen. Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova is a huge part of that as Deadpool & Wolverine‘s villain. If Charles Xavier’s twin sister were to survive her MCU debut, then the character could come back for revenge in Avengers 5, using a major MCU connection.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s trailers have cemented that Cassandra Nova has raised an army of variants in the Void from Disney+’s Loki. That means the villain must have been pruned by the TVA and is aware of the organization and its role within the multiverse. Avengers 5 could have Cassandra Nova and her villain army attempt to take over the TVA and the multiversal Yggdrasil tree to rule over the multiverse, being how Tom Hiddleston’s Loki returns to the MCU, as he is now the protector of the multiverse.

5 Enter Annihilus And The Negative Zone

A Major MCU Debut

During the press tour for Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed new details about the Nova series. According to the executive, the project is three or four years away and will feature the Richard Rider version of Nova. That could connect to a possible major villain who could replace Kang as the main threat of Avengers 5 — Annihilus.

In Marvel Comics, Annihilus is a conqueror who comes from the Negative Zone, a different universe/dimension. Annihilus is mainly a Fantastic Four villain, which means the character could be teased in next year’s The Fantastic Four, setting up Annihilus to be the main threat of Avengers 5 and leading to Nova’s MCU debut. The reason for that is Annihilus’ armada of ships obliterates the Nova Corps and Xandar, which could end up with Richard Rider becoming Nova, as he inherits the power of the full Nova Force, and coming to Earth-616 alongside potentially the Fantastic Four and others.

4 Several Incursions Threaten The Multiverse

Multiple Universes Appear

One of the easiest ways to replace Kang the Conqueror and his variants in Avengers 5 would be not to focus on a single villain. Instead, Marvel could continue to develop the concept of incursions that debuted in the MCU in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Avengers 5 could then set up Avengers: Secret Wars by showing several different universes as they collide with others and die.

The movie could follow different Avengers teams as they try to stop Earth-616 from being destroyed in incursions with other universes. The Avengers could face off against known universes from past Marvel live-action projects, as well as new versions with popular characters. This way, instead of using Kang, the movie’s villains could end up even being multiverse heroes, as they would be fighting to destroy the MCU so their universe could survive, making Avengers 5 a unique affair.

3 The Council Of Reeds Enters The Picture

The Team Can Be Morally Gray

With Kang reportedly out of Avengers 5, Marvel could find an easy replacement for the Council of Kangs. The MCU debut of the Fantastic Four and the multiverse teases for the team’s first film could lead to the Council of Reeds being established. Like the team of multiverse Kang variants, the Council of Reeds is made up of different versions of Mr. Fantastic from all over the multiverse.

The team could include Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards from the 2000 Fantastic Four movies, Miles Teller’s from the 2015 Fantastic Four, and even the return of the MCU’s John Krasinski as another Reed variant after Earth-838’s died. In Marvel Comics, the Council of Reeds’ first iteration was not simply up to do good, with the characters lobotomizing multiverse Doctor Doom variants and more. That macabre aspect of the team could lead to the Council of Reeds taking the place of the Council of Kangs as foes in Avengers 5.

2 Galactus Is Revealed To Traverse Universes

The Fantastic Four Could Be A Multiverse Movie

While it has yet to be confirmed, there have been many teases that lead to believe that The Fantastic Four will take place in a different universe. The team will fight Galactus in their MCU debut. If the Fantastic Four really come from an alternate Earth, which would explain why they have not shown up in the MCU up to this point, then the film could end with Galactus eating their world.

Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards could find refuge for the team in Earth-616. However, in the MCU, Galactus could be revealed to have the power to traverse universes and come after the team. Galactus offers a big enough threat to serve as a factor that unites the new Avengers and the rest of the MCU’s heroes. They could band together to save Earth-616 from being eaten in Avengers 5.

1 Infinity Ultron Comes To Live-Action

Using The Full Power Of The Multiverse Saga

Ultron has only been a threat in the proper MCU in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. After the movie, the biggest role the character played came in animated form, through Disney+’s What If…? The animated series allowed a new and more exciting version of the Marvel villain to come forward. Ultron came to possess the Infinity Stones, becoming known as Infinity Ultron and posing a threat to the very fabric of the multiverse.

After being trapped in the animated series with Arnim Zola taking over his body, a different version of Infinity Ultron could come to live-action. That would allow the MCU to finally bring back one of the Avengers’ biggest villains and give the character a good plot. Ultron would be a threat to all realities, serving in the same role Kang the Conqueror would have had in Avengers 5.