The bombshell landed like a freight train. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige just shattered the biggest misconception about the MCU’s most controversial pivot. The Kang Dynasty wasn’t killed by scandal. It was already dying.
In explosive new comments, Feige reveals the truth. Marvel was abandoning Kang before Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles even surfaced. The studio chief broke his silence about losing their would-be Thanos successor. His confession rewrites everything fans thought they knew about the MCU’s direction.
Feige Finally Speaks: MCU’s Kang Was Already Dead Before Majors’ Downfall
Feige admits the studio “started to realize that Kang wasn’t big enough, wasn’t Thanos” even before Majors’ controversies erupted. The revelation exposes a stunning strategic shift that predates any scandal. Marvel executives were quietly plotting Doctor Doom’s rise while Kang still ruled their public narratives. This wasn’t damage control. It was calculated evolution.
Kevin Feige says “even before what had happened to Jonathan Majors, we had started to realize that Kang wasn’t Thanos.”
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) July 20, 2025
(Via: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/rkNYXkfwp8
The Fox acquisition changed everything. Disney’s blockbuster purchase unlocked Marvel’s most iconic villain. Doctor Doom suddenly became available. Feige seized the opportunity immediately. “We had started talking about Dr. Doom even before we officially pivoted from Kang,” he revealed. The studio chief was already in secret discussions with Robert Downey Jr. about the audacious casting before Ant-Man 3 hit theaters.
The timing demolishes every theory about reactive decision-making. Majors faced his legal battles in March 2023. But Feige’s Doom conversations began months earlier. The MCU architect was orchestrating this massive pivot while audiences still believed in Kang’s destiny. Marvel’s silence wasn’t about protecting a damaged actor. It was about concealing a master plan already in motion.
Now the truth emerges. Quantumania’s underwhelming reception exposed Kang’s limitations as a franchise villain. The Multiverse Saga struggled to match the Infinity Saga’s momentum. Feige recognized the problem early. Doctor Doom offered the perfect solution. A legendary antagonist paired with Marvel’s greatest star returning in an unexpected role. The Majors controversy simply accelerated an inevitable transformation that would redefine the MCU’s future.
