Marvel has recently found its new primary villain. After Thanos’ demise in the last Avengers movies, Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror was set to take the reins, but it turned out to be a poor choice for Marvel.
Majors let fame go to his head, and problems began to pile up around him. The culmination was a conviction for domestic violence and assaulting his former girlfriend, which was the last straw for Marvel. The comic book giant terminated its contract with the actor, and Majors’ career in Hollywood came to an end. However, a replacement has already been identified.
For Marvel, this posed a significant issue since Majors was meant to be the main antagonist as Kang the Conqueror in the fifth phase of the MCU. Kang first appeared in the series Loki and hinted at greater potential in the latest Ant-Man movie.
Since then, Marvel has undergone a major reevaluation of plans, which are now starting to take definitive shape. The Disney CEO recently stated that we can expect two, at most three, new films annually, which will be accompanied by two live-action series on Disney+.
We now know who the superheroes will be fighting against in these productions. The new main antagonist of the MCU will be Galactus, also known as the devourer of worlds, one of Marvel’s most powerful anti-heroes, assisted by Silver Surfer.
Marvel has confirmed that Galactus and Silver Surfer will appear in next year’s comic book movie, Fantastic Four, which has been met with positive buzz—from its unconventional setting and attractive casting to the confirmation of the main villain.
It has been confirmed that British actor Ralph Ineson, known from Game of Thrones and the Harry Potter film series, will portray Galactus in Fantastic Four. According to Hollywood Reporter, this will not be a one-time role, and Galactus will appear in other MCU films, underscoring the theory that he will be the primary villain in upcoming additions.
Interestingly, Spanish actor and Oscar winner Javier Bardem was initially considered for the role, but that collaboration did not come to fruition. It has also been known for some time that the role of Silver Surfer will be played by actress Julia Garner, known from hits such as Inventing Anna and Ozark. In addition to the pair, John Malkovich has recently joined the cast of Fantastic Four. The outlook for the new MCU film is excellent, and we will see how it turns out when Fantastic Four hits theaters on July 25.
