X-Men '97's Beau DeMayo considered replacing Jonathan Majors' Kang with Star Trek's John de Lancie amidst legal issues.
Marvel Studios initially planned to continue featuring Jonathan Majors’ portrayal of Kang the Conqueror, including an appearance in the animated series X-Men ’97 Season 2. However, after Majors was convicted of third-degree harassment and assault, Marvel decided to move away from Kang entirely and pivot the MCU’s focus toward Doctor Doom, marking the anticipated return of Robert Downey Jr. to the franchise. This dramatic change reflects Marvel’s efforts to recalibrate its villain strategy going forward.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that the pivot away from Kang was already under consideration before Majors’ legal issues became public. In an interview, Feige stated,
“We had started to realize that Kang wasn’t big enough”
to match the impact of past villains like Thanos and added,
“started talking about Doctor Doom even before we officially pivoted from Kang.”
Beau DeMayo’s Insight Into Kang’s Role in X-Men ’97 Season 2
Beau DeMayo, creator of X-Men ’97, contradicted Feige’s statement by detailing that Kang was very much part of the original Season 2 plans, with Jonathan Majors slated to voice the character. DeMayo explained that after news of Majors’ pending trial emerged, he cast John de Lancie—known for his role as Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation—as a backup voice for Kang. DeMayo saw de Lancie’s portrayal of Q as an ideal inspiration for an animated Kang.
DeMayo also shared personal context from March 2023, recalling a conversation with a Marvel executive around the time Majors’ legal troubles became public. He said,
Image of: Jonathan Majors
“I remember seeing John Wick 4 in March 2023 with a top exec at Marvel at the Americana movie theater in Glendale the weekend the news broke about Majors’ legal trouble, discussing how Kang was def the gameplan and the studio was afraid.”
Season 2 of X-Men ’97 continues without DeMayo, who was removed from the show after allegations of sexual misconduct. The season is set to feature a lineup of classic villains such as Magneto, Danger, Lady Deathstrike, Sabretooth, and Apocalypse, alongside the introduction of Kang, had Marvel maintained the original storyline.
Possible Connections Between Kang and Fantastic Four’s Future Plotlines
DeMayo’s comments further revealed that Kang was intended to play a significant role beyond X-Men ’97, possibly within the upcoming Fantastic Four storyline, tentatively called The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He suggested Kang’s involvement would align logically with the character’s deep comics history related to the Richards family.
DeMayo explained,
“Also, and this should be obvious, Kang has massive connections to the Fantastic Four . It actually makes far more sense both logically and emotionally for KANG to come back to kidnap Franklin Richard’s (his ancestor) than it does Doom.”
This insight contrasts with rumors surrounding Avengers: Doomsday, where Doctor Doom is expected to abduct an infant Franklin Richards. In Marvel comics, Kang’s real name is Nathanial Richards, linking him genealogically to the Richards family, specifically Reed Richards and his father. This lineage has often created complex storylines positioning Kang near the heart of Fantastic Four lore.
While DeMayo’s public criticisms of Marvel Studios’ choices since his departure may influence his perspective, these revelations suggest the MCU was considering a far-reaching role for Kang which extended well into the universe’s next phase, had Marvel not altered its villain strategy.
What This Means for the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel’s decision to replace Jonathan Majors as Kang and redirect focus toward Doctor Doom signals a significant recalibration for upcoming MCU projects. Shifting from Kang, who was positioned as a major time-traveling antagonist, to Doctor Doom reflects Marvel’s aim to introduce a villain with expansive narrative and emotional depth connected to key characters like the Fantastic Four.
This change could reshape story arcs for the next Avengers films and beyond, especially given the rich family dynamics that Kang’s and Doom’s characters bring. The evolving landscape in the MCU will likely impact casting, character development, and overarching storylines leading into 2026 and later phases.
