When Kang the Conqueror makes his official debut in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, director Peyton Reed says it will have a huge effect on the overarching Marvel Cinematic Universe.
RELATED: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Adds William Jackson Harper
Speaking to Empire Magazine in a new profile on the film, Reed spoke about Kang, played by Jonathan Majors. According to Reed, his inclusion in the film will have a “profound impact on the MCU,” and will also have huge ripples that lead up to the highly anticipated 2025 film Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
“I think it has a profound impact on the MCU,” Reed said. “Jeff Loveness, who wrote this movie, is writing The Kang Dynasty as well, so there’s been a lot of discussion about the impact that this appearance of Kang the Conqueror makes. There are big things in store.”
For those who think they might have gotten a taste of Kang when Majors showed up as He Who Remains in Loki, don’t be so sure. Reed said that the characters will be completely different and not at all like the more laid-back and fun He Who Remains.
“Kang The Conqueror in our movie is a very different character,” said Reed. “He’s someone who has dominion over time, and he’s a warrior and a strategist.” Reed went on to call Kang “an all-timer antagonist” and said that it was interesting for him to show up in Quantumania to take on what many might consider the weakest Avenger. “That’s interesting to me: to take the tiniest, and in some people’s minds weakest, Avenger and put them up against this absolute force of nature.”
The third installment will also introduce MCU newcomer Kathryn Newton (The Society, Freaky) as she now takes over the role of Cassie Lang, a character previously portrayed by Abby Ryder Fortson in the first Ant-Man films and Emma Fuhrmann in Endgame. Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors plays Marvel villain Kang the Conqueror, while Ghostbusters star Bill Murray appears in an undisclosed role.
RELATED: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Will Permanently Change the MCU
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is once again being directed by Peyton Reed from a screenplay written by Jeff Loveness. The action-comedy superhero sequel will release on February 17, 2023.