Kevin Feige recently reflected on Marvel Studios’ shifting plans for its next major villain in the Multiverse Saga and beyond. In a new press interview, he discussed the early decision to replace Kang the Conqueror, the rise of Doctor Doom as the new central threat, and how the Fox acquisition reshaped the MCU’s future.
Kevin Feige explains why Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom had to replace Kang
Referring to Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles, Kevin Feige said, “Even before what had happened to the actor, we had started to realize that Kang…wasn’t Thanos.” He added, “There was only one character that could be that because he was that in the comics for decades and decades, and because of the Fox acquisition, we finally had it, and that’s Dr. Doom.” (via Deadline)
Feige confirmed that internal discussions about replacing Kang with Dr. Doom were already underway prior to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s release in 2023. “We had started talking about Dr. Doom even before we officially pivoted from Kang,” he said, adding, “In fact, I had started talking with Robert [Downey Jr.] about this audacious idea before Ant-Man 3 even came out.”
The shift in villain strategy was made possible by the Disney-Fox merger, which gave Marvel access to previously unavailable characters. Feige stated, “A positive one was to finally have those characters back and the X-Men.” He emphasized that Dr. Doom would play a major role in future Avengers films, including Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Marvel Studios now prioritizes fewer, higher-quality projects with reduced connectivity between films and TV series. Feige talked about pausing Blade to rework its script and confirmed that it remains in development, with Mahershala Ali still attached and the setting finalized as modern-day.
The upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps movie, which Feige described as “a no-homework-required” standalone film, will serve as the cinematic launch of Phase Six. Feige set Marvel’s timeline through 2032 and listed upcoming releases including Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Secret Wars.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
