Avengers: The Kang Dynasty just got a big update for its superhero team. Who might comprise the Avengers’ first offense against Kang the Conqueror?
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is set to debut a brand-new Avengers team as they battle the villainous Kang the Conqueror. However, ever since the events of Avengers: Endgame, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes haven’t exactly been as present as they were in the earlier days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The current membership of the Avengers remains mostly unknown, though certain recent comments from Disney CEO Bob Iger give the best idea of what the team’s next lineup might look like. According to the latest news, certain fan-favorite characters might find themselves absent from The Kang Dynasty in favor of Marvel’s all-new lineup of superheroes.
The Avengers and Kang the Conqueror will come to blows in The Kang Dynasty, which will act as the first in a two-part finale to the ongoing Multiverse Saga of the MCU. Already, Phase 5 has introduced several Kang variants, all portrayed by Jonathan Majors, including the villainous Council of Kangs. These otherworldly variants will presumably be the catalyst that brings the Avengers back together after years apart, putting the very fate of the multiverse in peril. When The Kang Dynasty premieres, it will bring with it a brand-new lineup of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, ushered in by select members of the previous heroes on the team.
RELATED:The Marvels’ Delay Hints That The MCU Is Learning The Right Lessons
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAYClose8Captain America
After becoming Captain America, Sam Wilson is now an integral part of the MCU’s new Avengers team. Following in the footsteps of Steve Rogers, Anthony Mackie’s Avenger can supply worthwhile leadership to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes despite not possessing superpowers of his own. Moreover, Sam’s place on The Kang Dynasty‘s Avengers squad is the best way for the former Falcon to earn the shield given to him by his predecessor. As a hero, as a symbol of the nation of America, and as an Avenger, Sam is sure to be one of the most valuable pieces in the team’s upcoming battle against Kang the Conqueror and his variants.
7Black Panther
After the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Letitia Wright’s Shuri is next in line to join the Avengers as the new Black Panther after T’Challa’s untimely death. The Kang Dynasty screenwriter Jeff Loveness appears to have indicated that Shuri is planned to appear in the next Avengers film (via CBR). Shuri’s place among the Avengers means that she can test her mettle as part of a team, earning her late brother’s place among the strongest superheroes in the world. Moreover, Shuri’s presence is terrific news for the Avengers themselves, who will not only gain the new Black Panther’s supreme intellect, but also her access to Wakanda’s chief resource: vibranium.
6She-Hulk
As one of several legacy heroes joining the MCU, Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. She-Hulk, is a perfect addition to the Avengers in The Kang Dynasty. Tatiana Maslany’s superhero lawyer already has a close connection to the Avengers in her cousin, Bruce Banner, and has even been mistaken for one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes after her Hulk transformation. Furthermore, She-Hulk has always been a vital part of the Avengers in Marvel Comics, making her induction into the live-action team not only inevitable but absolutely necessary.
5Shang-Chi
Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi may be key to the Multiverse Saga, making his place among the Avengers in The Kang Dynasty inevitable. Not only is Shang-Chi one of Phase 4’s most popular new superheroes, but his powerful Ten Rings also appear to have a deeper connection to Kang and his multiversal variants. Moreover, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton has been officially tapped to helm The Kang Dynasty, signaling a deeper connection between the two films. And, after Shang-Chi’s meeting with key Avengers like Bruce Banner, Captain Marvel, and Wong, all that remains is for him to be officially inducted onto the team.
RELATED:Shang-Chi Can Make Spider-Man Even More Powerful In The MCU
4Spider-Man
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is becoming his own hero in the MCU, having finally come out from Iron Man’s shadow. As a result, the web-slinging superhero is a sure bet for the next iteration of the Avengers. While the memory wipe spell at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home may mean that the other Avengers have forgotten who Peter Parker is, he can still find his way onto the team in the midst of their latest crisis. Moreover, given his immense popularity, Marvel Studios will be sure to put Spider-Man front and center in their next Avengers lineup, making the most of his remaining MCU tenure.
3Ant-Man And The Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp seem quite likely for The Kang Dynasty, especially considering the fact that they are the only two Avengers who have beaten Kang at this point in the MCU. Their connection to Kang the Conqueror will prove vital not only in alerting the other Avengers to his existence but also in defeating him once more. In this way, Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne can fulfill Hulk’s role in Avengers: Infinity War, warning Earth’s other heroes of the coming threat. Furthermore, The Kang Dynasty can especially give Hope a more substantial chance to shine after she played a very minor role in helping the Avengers defeat Thanos.
2Kate Bishop
Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop may finally find her way into the Avengers during their next team-up. The young archer is currently poised to take Hawkeye’s place on the Avengers, and while many expect her to become a part of the MCU’s Young Avengers, she may appear on the original team first. The character proved quite popular following Hawkeye‘s run on Disney+ and also happens to fit quite nicely with Bob Iger’s indication of forming an Avengers team with plenty of fresh faces. Kate Bishop’s appearance in The Kang Dynasty could even hint at her forming her own team of Young Avengers later on in the MCU.
1Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is in many ways the anchor of the Multiverse Saga, much like Iron Man was in the Infinity Saga. As such, it is almost certain that Benedict Cumberbatch’s powerful sorcerer will play a pivotal role in The Kang Dynasty. With Strange would also come his allies, including Wong, the new Sorcerer Supreme and America Chavez, a multiversal traveler who will prove pivotal to the Avengers’ coming battle as well. Strange’s incredible power also makes him one of the biggest threats to Kang’s conquest, suggesting that the time-traveling supervillain will have the former Sorcerer Supreme in his crosshairs during the events of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
MORE:These Heroes Can Make Up MCU’s West Coast Avengers Team
Key Release Dates
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date:2023-05-05
The Marvels / Captain Marvel 2
Release Date:2023-11-10
Captain America: New World Order
Release Date:2024-05-03
Marvel’s Thunderbolts
Release Date:2024-07-26
Blade 2024
Release Date:2024-09-06
Deadpool 3
Release Date:2024-11-08
Marvel’s Fantastic Four
Release Date:2025-02-14
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Release Date:2025-05-02
Jordan Iacobucci is an avid reader and movie fan, and has been since childhood. Jordan is known among his friends as the Marvel and Star Wars nerd, and even wrote a thirty-page college dissertation about Spider-Man! He is currently obtaining an English degree and lives outside Raleigh, North Carolina with his family. His other interests include working with children, reading, and music.
Armor Wars May Feature A Kang Variant Subtly Introduced In QuantumaniaBYJORDAN IACOBUCCIPUBLISHED MAR 4, 2023
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’s mid-credits scene may have just subtly introduced the main antagonist for the upcoming Armor Wars film.
Armor Wars may feature a variant of Kang the Conqueror secretly introduced during Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s mid-credits scene. Armor Wars, which acts as the first solo project starring Don Cheadle’s Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a.k.a. the War Machine, was recently transitioned from a Disney+ series to a full-fledged film, indicating that it will serve a greater importance in the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe than initially thought. While little is known about the film, including its release date, an easily missed Easter egg at the end of Quantumania could provide a hint at where the MCU intends to take Rhodey in his upcoming solo film.
Quantumania‘s mid-credits scene unveiled the Council of Kangs, a mysterious group of Kang variants from all across the multiverse. Three major variants are featured, including Pharaoh Rama-Tut, the Scarlet Centurion, and Immortus, all of whom are portrayed by Jonathan Majors. In the electrifying scene, Immortus summons every Kang variant in the multiverse to a celestial arena, where they will plot the destruction of the Avengers. Thousands of variants appear as the Council convenes, all of whom are more than ecstatic at a chance to defeat Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In a single scene, Quantumania promises that Kangs will run rampant in Phase 5 and Phase 6 of the MCU.
RELATED:Hawkeye May Have Secretly Set Up The MCU’s Armor Wars
Mr. Gryphon Cameos In Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania
Although the MCU has yet to introduce some famous Kang variants from the comics, one supposedly missing version of the supervillain may have made a secret cameo in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania after all. The film’s mid-credits scene intentionally focuses on the most famous variants from Marvel Comics, teasing their appearance in future titles within the Multiverse Saga. However, as Immortus summons his variants from across the multiverse, the scene becomes filled with fun cameos from lesser-known versions of Kang from Marvel’s history. As such, one Kang can be seen in the background sporting a business suit and loafers, perfectly resembling Kang’s Mr. Gryphon identity from the comics.
The true identity of this well-dressed Kang variant has not yet been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios. In the weeks since Quantumania hit theaters, director Peyton Reed has only confirmed the identities of the main members of the Council of Kangs, leaving the periphery variants up to speculation. However, even without official confirmation, the identity of the suited variant seems to be a clear homage to Kang’s Mr. Gryphon identity in the comics. Despite his relatively minor appearance in Quantumania, the Mr. Gryphon tease may actually be much more than a simple cameo, but rather an indication of a major storyline yet to come featuring the character.
Who Is Mr. Gryphon In Marvel Comics?
Of all Quantumania‘s surprise Kang variant cameos, Mr. Gryphon is perhaps the most intriguing. Mr. Gryphon is an alternate identity adopted by the 31st-century scientist Nathaniel Richards, a.k.a. Kang the Conqueror, in Marvel Comics. Unlike many of Kang’s other identities, who often engage in bloody conquests throughout history, Mr. Gryphon’s conquests took place in the realm of business. Gryphon, who first appeared in 2015’s All-New, All-Different Avengers #1, became the CEO of Qeng Enterprises a direct competitor of Stark Industries. The Kang variant used his vast corporate empire in a desperate attempt to return back to his home timeline after becoming trapped in the 21st century.
In his ongoing battle against the Avengers, Mr. Gryphon enlisted the help of the supervillain Equinox, as well as several of his variants from across the multiverse, to help expand his corporate empire. Eventually, Gryphon became the new owner of Avengers Tower in New York City in an attempt to uncover any Stark tech that would assist him in returning home. After a lengthy guerilla war with the Avengers, Mr. Gryphon was eventually defeated by Thor, who used the mighty power of his hammer Mjolnir to cast the villainous Kang variant out of Earth and into the distant timestream, having failed in his mission to return to the 31st century.
RELATED:MCU Phase 5 Twist Could Restore Iron Man’s Original Villain Ending
The MCU Already Hinted At Mr. Gryphon’s Debut
Interestingly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe hinted at Mr. Gryphon’s appearance long before Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ever hit theaters. The first season of Loki featured a massive Easter egg in its fifth episode that perfectly foreshadowed the arrival of Mr. Gryphon. Loki shows a pruned Avengers Tower in the Void at the end of time, but the structure sports a very different name than its Earth-616 counterpart. Instead of sporting the Avengers Tower’s massive “A,” the building declares itself the headquarters of Qeng Enterprises, the company most commonly associated with the Kang variant Mr. Gryphon, hinting at his arrival two years before Quantumania came out.
The Qeng Enterprises tower was pruned, meaning that it had to have come from a different timeline than Earth-616, where Avengers Tower is still clearly standing. However, this certainly doesn’t mean that Mr. Gryphon and Qeng Enterprises can’t still find their way to the Sacred Timeline. Their presence may even solve the ongoing Avengers Tower mystery, which has gone unsolved ever since Spider-Man: Homecoming revealed that the building had been purchased by an unknown buyer all the way back in 2017. If Mr. Gryphon bought Avengers Tower in an alternate timeline, the same could very well have been the case in the MCU, which may finally solve this six-year-old mystery.
How Mr. Gryphon Could Fit Into Armor Wars
Mr. Gryphon may yet have a major role to play in the MCU, possibly including Armor Wars. The film is set to follow Rhodey as he attempts to preserve Tony Stark’s legacy after his advanced technology falls into the wrong hands. While other evil characters like Justin Hammer and Sharon Carter could be Armor Wars‘ villains, Mr. Gryphon is the most exciting choice for the film’s main antagonist. Not only is the Kang variant heavily influenced by Tony Stark’s public persona, but Mr. Gryphon’s potential purchase of Avengers Tower could also explain exactly how he got his hands on Stark’s technology.
Furthermore, including a Kang variant as the main villain of Armor Wars would better tie the film in to the rest of the Multiverse Saga. Although the film’s release date is not yet confirmed, it is safe to assume that it will hit theaters only a short time before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. As a part of Phase 6 of the MCU, Armor Wars should add to the Multiverse Saga’s story in anticipation of its conclusion. Including Mr. Gryphon as its villain would give Rhodey the fight of his life, while also setting up yet another variant for the Avengers to face in The Kang Dynasty.
Mr. Gryphon’s presence in Armor Wars would also explain several ongoing rumors concerning the movie itself. Originally announced as a Disney+ project, Marvel Studios surprisingly converted the idea into a feature-length film, claiming that its story was just too big to be relegated to a streaming series. This switch naturally sparked wild rumors, including the idea that Armor Wars would introduce a new Avengers team. A Kang variant like Mr. Gryphon would explain Marvel’s decision to change the series into a film, while simultaneously justifying the possibility of Rhodey forming a new team to combat the rising threat, making Armor Wars one of the most important entries in Phase 6.
MORE:How Armor Wars Can Bring Back Ultron (& Why It’s Necessary)
Key Release Dates
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date:2023-05-05
The Marvels / Captain Marvel 2
Release Date:2023-11-10
Captain America: New World Order
Release Date:2024-05-03
Marvel’s Thunderbolts
Release Date:2024-07-26
Blade 2024
Release Date:2024-09-06
Deadpool 3
Release Date:2024-11-08
Marvel’s Fantastic Four
Release Date:2025-02-14
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Release Date:2025-05-02
Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date:2026-05-01
ShareTweetShareShareShareCopyEmailLink copied to clipboardRelated Topics
- ARMOR WARS
- ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (2023)
- ANT-MAN (2015)
- MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE
About The AuthorJordan Iacobucci(775 Articles Published)
Jordan Iacobucci is an avid reader and movie fan, and has been since childhood. Jordan is known among his friends as the Marvel and Star Wars nerd, and even wrote a thirty-page college dissertation about Spider-Man! He is currently obtaining an English degree and lives outside Raleigh, North Carolina with his family. His other interests include working with children, reading, and music.
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