Avengers 5 has definitely been talked about a lot for some time, especially since the ouster of the actor playing Kang, Jonathan Majors. What’s new?
In a context where the superhero film industry still seems to attract audiences, Marvel Studios is not sitting idle. Despite a series of setbacks at the box office and controversies which have damaged its brand image, the firm, under the direction of Kevin Feige, does not intend to deviate from its trajectory, but rather to adjust its strategy. This notably includes the reflection around Avengers 5.
A big change for Avengers 5
Last year, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was to mark a new stage in the expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing a new villain: Kang. However, this film, far from meeting the expected success, ushered in a difficult period for Marvel, which had until then experienced fifteen years of almost uninterrupted success at the box office. In addition to the impact on theatrical revenue, the company also had to deal with the legal case involving its actor Jonathan Majors, forcing it to make the decision to fire him. This put a huge stop to the project of making Kang the new Thanos.
One of the most significant changes concerns the upcoming Avengers 5 film, which will have its original title Avengers: The Kang Dynasty changed. According to the very serious media Hollywood Reporter, even before this affair, Marvel was already considering reducing the presence of this character following the disappointing performance of Quantumania. This therefore calls into question all the previous rumors which suggest a recast of Kang, potentially with actor Colman Domingo in the role.
Change of villain on the program?
Now, there are more than 36 possibilities left for Marvel and its Avengers 5, it will be necessary to change its big bad. It’s a safe bet that Doctor Doom could now be part of the equation, especially when we know the rumors surrounding the potential presence of Mads Mikkelsen in the role. In short, the future is still uncertain.
However, Marvel has seen some encouraging signs recently, including the runaway success of the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer during the Super Bowl, which broke viewing records. This rebound comes as the last film in the franchise, The Marvels, recorded the lowest revenues in the history of the MCU. In this context of recovery, Marvel has also made several notable strategic moves. On the one hand, the revelation of the cast of the new Fantastic Four film and the start of an X-Men ’97 animated series have sparked enthusiasm.