Why MCU’s Jonathan Majors Was Drawn To The Role Of Supervillain Kang

Jonathan Majors explains what drew him to the MCU‘s super villain Kang the Conquerer. Following the finale of Avengers: Endgame, the Marvel Cinematic Universe entered a new era of possibilities. The MCU’s previous major villain, Thanos, left an impression on audiences due to his severity and intimidation. His defeat left a giant hole that needed to be filled, but Marvel was already working on its next big saga. Theories abounded over what new adventures would unfold and what new characters would make their debut. Ultimately, all was revealed in the Disney+ series Loki with the introduction of He Who Remains, a precursor to Kang the Conqueror.

He Who Remains was introduced in the Loki season 1 finale, portrayed by Majors. While he was already announced for the role of Kang, his appearance in the series was still a surprise to many, as no one was aware that he would be making his debut then. Majors’ portrayal of the character was met with positive reviews and had viewers looking forward to his official role as Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. With the reveal that the next Avengers film is subtitled The Kang Dynasty, it’s clear that Majors is going to have a lot more to do in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While speaking with Men’s Health, Majors opens up about his future role as Kang the Conqueror and what drew him to such an important character. While Majors might have some reservations about certain types of roles, there was an element of Kang that intrigued the actor. He says:

It was the character and dimensions of Kang [that drew him to the role]. And the potential that it had. I thought, I’ll take a chance on that… I look at Kang and I go, Okay, cool. It’s a certain IP where people expect this at a bare minimum… No one should put themselves or their families in a place where they’re hurting, but your own discomfort is not necessarily a bad thing. That’s growth. It’s not comfortable, but you’re here to save the world, aren’t you? Or take over the world.

How Kang Can Be Different From Thanos In Multiverse Saga

As the MCU has only had one overarching big bad before, it’s inevitable that there will be comparisons between Thanos and Kang. Right now, it’s difficult to say exactly how they will differ seeing as audiences have yet to experience Majors’ performance. However, it’s already clear Kang’s motivations won’t be the same as Thanos’; while Thanos sought to collect all of the Infinity Stones and destroy half of all life, Kang’s plots will factor into the greater multiverse. Though He Who Remains’ brief appearance on Loki, Kang’s impressive power and formidable presence has already been teased. Kang just might be scarier than Thanos.

Majors’ performance is also likely to stand apart from how Josh Brolin portrayed Thanos, a feat that required plenty of CGI work and a serious demeanor. It isn’t yet clear how the MCU will put Majors into Kang’s shoes. Nevertheless, he has a history of being a fully committed actor and adds nuance to his prepared performances. Marvel Studios usually succeeds with casting actors who primarily work in indie features and having them bring their talents to big budget productions, creating a unique combination of performance and spectacle. Whatever Majors brings to Kang in the upcoming Ant-Man 3, it will certainly leave an impact with audiences.