In a shocking turn of events, Jonathan Majors, who was set to play the next main villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), was recently convicted of assault and harassment. Marvel Studios wasted no time and swiftly fired him. This development marks the culmination of a tumultuous year for the MCU, which has struggled both creatively and in terms of audience interest. The entire MCU slate has been delayed for a year while the powers-that-be regroup. With Majors out, the immediate question arises: what will Marvel do with the character Kang the Conqueror, who was supposed to be the next Thanos for this era of the MCU?
One obvious solution for Marvel is to recast the role of Kang the Conqueror, a strategy they have employed in the past with actors like Terrence Howard and Ed Norton. While Majors has had more screen time than his predecessors, it is unlikely that audiences have become deeply attached to his portrayal. Therefore, recasting Kang may not significantly disrupt the current status quo. However, I propose a different idea that Marvel may have already set in motion: it is time for Ravonna Renslayer to step into the spotlight.
The exact events of Loki Season 2 remain shrouded in mystery, as the final two episodes felt somewhat stripped down. While Ravonna, played by the talented Gugu Mbatha-Raw, did not have as prominent a role as anticipated in Season 2, her storyline took an intriguing turn. She broke free from the clutches of He Who Remains and Kang, her former boss. In the season, Ravonna and Miss Minutes traveled back in time to deliver a TVA manual to a child named Victor Timely, a variant of He Who Remains. Unfortunately, their subsequent attempts to recruit Victor were thwarted by Loki’s interference. Miss Minutes quickly dismissed Victor as unworthy and declared, “We don’t need him.”
Throughout the season, Ravonna continued to oppose Loki until she was pruned and transported to the end of time by Sylvie. There, she discovered He Who Remains’ lifeless body and learned about her own forgotten past. In a stunning revelation, Ravonna discovered that she had been He Who Remains’ top general during a previous multiversal war. He repaid her loyalty by erasing her memories and forcing her to work at the TVA. This newfound knowledge proved to be the final straw for Ravonna. Sadly, she was conspicuously absent from the Season 2 finale, appearing only in a brief and enigmatic shot lingering at the end of time. Her plotline was left unresolved.
These revelations and motivations position Ravonna as a wildcard within the MCU, making her the perfect candidate to replace Kang as the new antagonist. Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s exceptional acting abilities would undoubtedly breathe new life into the role of a supervillain, offering a stark contrast to the characters of Thanos or Kang. Ravonna’s sympathetic backstory, coupled with her belief that she can perform her duties better than her former boss, instills relatable motivations that audiences can understand and engage with. These are precisely the qualities we desire in the MCU’s key antagonist.
In contrast, Kang’s overarching story was being withheld for an Avengers movie slated for release in 2025, leaving audiences with limited knowledge about the character. Ravonna, on the other hand, has already been established in a grounded manner, something that the multiversal mad scientist Kang is unlikely to achieve. Marvel already has a replacement villain ready in the wings, waiting to seize the spotlight, and Ravonna would undeniably excel in that role.
Marvel Studios currently finds itself in a precarious position following the disappointing reception of “The Marvels” and the lackluster performance of the rest of the 2023 slate. The franchise has experienced significant fractures over the past couple of years, lacking a clear central narrative thread connecting all the films. Kang/He Who Remains was never even hinted at outside of “Loki” and “Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania.” Consequently, Marvel has the freedom to pivot in any direction it desires.
From a storytelling perspective, shifting the focus to Ravonna as the primary antagonist would be the easiest and most organic choice. Marvel has already laid the groundwork for her character and her potential transformation into a formidable and complex villain. Rather than facing the challenge of recasting Kang, they can build on the existing narrative threads and allow Ravonna to evolve into a force to be reckoned with.
While the departure of Jonathan Majors creates uncertainty for the future of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU, Marvel has an exciting alternative within reach. Ravonna Renslayer’s untold story and compelling motivations position her as a suitable replacement, infused with the talent and depth of Gugu Mbatha-Raw. As Marvel wrestles with the aftermath of recent setbacks, embracing Ravonna as the new big bad could rejuvenate the franchise and provide a fresh and captivating direction for its beloved universe.
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