Young Avengers vs. Inexperienced Kang: The Wild Storyline That Almost Was

Before Avengers: Doomsday became the next big MCU event, there was Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and now we're getting a peek at a hilariously unique Young Avengers pitch that almost made it to the big screen!

TL;DR: Here's the Scoop!

Original plans for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty included the Young Avengers defeating an inexperienced Kang variant.
This Kang would've carried a "first day" card, a funny twist revealed by writer Michael Waldron.
With Jonathan Majors' departure and the pivot to Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, this specific storyline is now a "what if."

Alright, fellow Marvel fanatics, gather 'round! The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to epic battles and groundbreaking team-ups. From the original Avengers assembling in 2012 to the multiverse-shattering events we're seeing now, we've witnessed some incredible stories. But sometimes, the stories we don't get are just as fascinating, especially when they involve our favorite heroes. And boy, do we have a juicy "what if" scenario for you today involving the Young Avengers and a very green Kang!

Unveiling the Scrapped Plans for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

Cast your minds back to July 2022. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige stood on the San Diego Comic-Con stage and blew our minds by announcing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The plan was for Earth's Mightiest Heroes to re-assemble on May 2, 2025, to face off against Kang the Conqueror and his daunting multiversal council of evil variants. Kang was set to be the next big bad, a terrifying successor to Thanos, with his presence already building in shows like Loki and the movie Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

However, as we all know, things took a sharp turn. Jonathan Majors, the actor portraying Kang, faced legal issues and was eventually convicted on assault and harassment charges in December 2023. This, coupled with the underperformance of Quantumania where Kang had his big screen debut, led Marvel to a massive creative pivot. Feige himself later revealed that discussions about moving away from Kang began even before Majors' legal troubles became public, stating that Kang simply "wasn't big enough" compared to Thanos. Instead, Marvel started talks with a certain MCU legend, Robert Downey Jr., about an "audacious idea" involving Doctor Doom.

So, The Kang Dynasty was scrapped, and in its place, we now have Avengers: Doomsday, set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026. The new film will feature Doctor Doom as the main antagonist, with acclaimed directors Joe and Anthony Russo reportedly at the helm for both Doomsday and its successor, Avengers: Secret Wars. But what exactly did we miss out on from that original Kang-centric vision?

A Hilarious First Encounter for the Young Avengers That Almost Happened

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Thanks to Michael Waldron, the brilliant mind behind Loki and a co-writer on the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (and formerly on The Kang Dynasty), we’ve gotten a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain. During a recent Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session where he was promoting his new series, Chad Powers, Waldron spilled some beans about the initial drafts for The Kang Dynasty.

He revealed a pitch he cooked up with fellow writer Jeff Loveness (who penned Quantumania) that would have been a truly unique moment for the MCU's burgeoning young heroes:

"Jeff Loveness and I spent an afternoon pitching on the Young Avengers defeating a version of Kang and being so stoked about it...only to discover that that particular Kang carried a little card that said to Be Patient with him, it was his first day as a Kang. And then they were so bummed."

— Michael Waldron (via Reddit AMA)

Talk about a gut punch! Imagine the Young Avengers, hyped up after their first big win against a major supervillain, only to find out they essentially fought the intern version of Kang. Waldron even mused that this "first day" Kang might have been the "Lizard Kang" variant glimpsed in the post-credits scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, adding another layer of absurdity to the potential scene. This kind of irreverent humor would have been a delightful nod to Waldron's work on shows like Rick and Morty, offering a fresh take on a supervillain battle.

While we might never see this specific moment play out, it highlights the creative directions Marvel was exploring before the big pivot. It also confirms a significant detail: the Young Avengers were definitely on track for a major debut in The Kang Dynasty.

The MCU's Long Road to Assembling the Young Avengers

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Even without this specific Kang encounter, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been subtly, and not-so-subtly, building towards the Young Avengers for years. This isn't just a sudden idea; many of their core members have already made significant appearances across various Disney+ series and films:

Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel: Introduced in her own Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel, and later seen actively recruiting at the end of The Marvels.
Kate Bishop / Hawkeye: Debuted in the Hawkeye series, taking up the mantle from Clint Barton. She was Kamala's first recruit in The Marvels' post-credits scene.
Billy Maximoff / Wiccan: Wanda Maximoff's son, introduced in WandaVision, and recently reappeared in Agatha All Along.
Tommy Maximoff / Speed: Billy's twin brother, also introduced in WandaVision, with an upcoming appearance teased in VisionQuest.
Cassie Lang / Stature: Scott Lang's daughter, who grew up and gained Pym Particle powers, seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Riri Williams / Ironheart: Debuted in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and is getting her own upcoming series, Ironheart.
America Chavez: The dimension-hopping hero from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Monica Rambeau: Though sometimes considered a more experienced hero, she has strong ties to this younger generation.
Yelena Belova: The new Black Widow, another potential mentor or member of a new, younger team.

In the comics, the Young Avengers first assembled in 2005 after the original Avengers disbanded. They were brought together by a mysterious figure known as Iron Lad, who was, in fact, a younger version of Kang the Conqueror trying to prevent his future self from turning evil. This deep comic book connection with Kang made their planned appearance in The Kang Dynasty particularly fitting.

Avengers: Doomsday is Looming: What's the Young Avengers' Fate?

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With the MCU's major pivot, the question now is: what role will the Young Avengers play in Avengers: Doomsday? While Michael Waldron's pitch for the "first day" Kang is off the table, the team's presence in the upcoming film seems highly likely.

According to reports based on leaked concept art, the Young Avengers will seemingly have a role in Doomsday. The rumored lineup includes Cassie Lang, Billy Maximoff, Tommy Maximoff, Kamala Khan, and Kate Bishop. However, the exact nature of their involvement and who they will face off against remains a bit of a mystery, as Marvel is keeping plot details under wraps.

Instead of a council of Kang variants, Doomsday will introduce Doctor Doom as the central threat. While Kang's multiversal variants offered an easy way for different hero teams to fight different versions of the villain, Doom's introduction will likely focus on establishing one formidable version of the character. This means a different dynamic for how the various hero teams might operate. Some reports suggest Doomsday will feature many MCU villains, including a King Thanos multiversal variant, hinting that Earth's Mightiest Heroes might be divided into multiple teams (New Avengers, Young Avengers, etc.), each facing a different part of Doom's massive army.

The Shift to Doctor Doom: A New Era for the Multiverse Saga

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The decision to pivot from Kang to Doctor Doom was a colossal one, signaling a new direction for the entire Multiverse Saga. Kevin Feige's comments about Kang not being "big enough" and his reveal that talks with Robert Downey Jr. about Doom began before Quantumania even released, underline the strategic nature of this change. Marvel wants a villain with the gravitas and long-standing comic book history to truly challenge the Avengers on a Thanos-level scale, and Doctor Doom fits that bill perfectly.

For decades in the comics, Doctor Doom has been one of Marvel's most iconic and formidable antagonists. His complex motivations, genius intellect, and mastery of both science and magic make him a truly terrifying adversary. Bringing him to the forefront, especially with the rumored casting of Robert Downey Jr., elevates the stakes significantly. It's a bold move, but one that many fans believe could inject new life and excitement into the overarching narrative leading to Secret Wars.

The transition means we might see a more consolidated villain presence rather than a deluge of variants right off the bat, as was planned with Kang. Establishing Doctor Doom's power and motivations will likely take center stage, making his eventual clashes with not just the main Avengers, but also newer teams like the Young Avengers, all the more impactful.

Looking Ahead: Will the Young Avengers Get Their Moment to Shine?

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While the "first day as a Kang" gag is a delightful piece of MCU trivia we'll never see in action, the original plan to introduce the Young Avengers in a major film still holds promise for Avengers: Doomsday. Despite the change in central villain, the groundwork for these young heroes has been meticulously laid out across various projects, and it would be a missed opportunity not to capitalize on that build-up.

Whether they face Doctor Doom directly, fight his lieutenants, or have a more supporting role, fans are eagerly anticipating seeing this new generation of heroes finally unite on the big screen. Their collective journey, which began with individual stories, is poised to converge, potentially leading them into the heart of the Multiverse Saga's climax in Avengers: Secret Wars. Only time (and Marvel's tight-lipped creative team) will tell how their story truly unfolds, but one thing's for sure: the future of the MCU is looking bright with these fresh faces.

Frequently Asked Questions About the New Avengers Saga

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When is Avengers: Doomsday officially hitting theaters?

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026.

Who is the main villain in Avengers: Doomsday?

The main antagonist for Avengers: Doomsday is Doctor Doom, replacing the originally planned Kang the Conqueror.

Will the Young Avengers appear in Avengers: Doomsday?

While an official confirmation hasn't been made, leaked concept art and previous MCU teases strongly suggest the Young Avengers will have a role in Avengers: Doomsday. The exact extent of their involvement is still unknown.

Why did Marvel switch from Kang to Doctor Doom as the main villain?

Marvel made the creative pivot due to Jonathan Majors' legal troubles and subsequent firing, combined with internal assessments that Kang wasn't a powerful enough antagonist to follow Thanos, according to Kevin Feige.