Life comes at you fast, comic book movie fans! When Marvel Studios made itsblockbuster announcements at Comic-Con, fans naturally expectedAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgamedirectors Anthony and Joe Russo to return for the fifth and sixth films in the franchise. Instead,The Hollywood Reporteris bringing word that the director ofAvengers: The Kang Dynasty(the fifth movie) will be helmed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
If that name sounds familiar, it may be because Cretton has already directedShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsfor Marvel. The studio was so impressed with Cretton’s work that it signed himto direct aShang-Chisequel, and he is also on board Marvel’sWonder Manseries for Disney+. Curiously, neitherShang-Chi 2norWonder Manhad a slot in Marvel’s Phase 5 and 6 announcements at Comic-Con. But that info may come during Disney’s D-23 Expo in September.
Cretton is stepping into some big shoes because, collectively, the fourAvengersmovies are among the biggest box office hits ever made. That’s a lot of trust for Marvel to place in Cretton. But for now, there’s no word on whether he will directAvengers: Secret Warsas well, or if another director will step in for the sixth film in the franchise.
We don’t know a lot aboutThe Kang Dynasty, but the title character has already appeared in the MCU. In the season finale ofLoki,Lovecraft Country‘s Jonathan Majors guest starred as He Who Remains, the last living member of the TVA at the end of time. He Who Remains is a variant of Nathanial Richards, a man who is better known by his alter ego: Kang the Conqueror.
Nathanial is not directly related to Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, but there is a familial connection through Reed’s father, who is also named Nathanial Richards. The other important thing to remember about Kang is that he hails from the far future of the Marvel Universe where he is the unquestioned ruler of an empire. And he often attempts to conquer the past for sport.
Majors will next appear as Kang in the upcoming sequel,Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, on August 15, 2025. We would place good money on a bet that he will show up multiple times after that film before returning inAvengers: The Kang Dynastyon June 01, 2025.
