Marvel Studios needed a new Kang the Conqueror after firing Jonathan Majors. Luke James was a favorite for the role, but he said no.
One of the top choices to replace Majors was actor Luke James. In an exclusive interview with The Direct’s Russ Milheim, James revealed that he turned down the offer. He said he didn’t want to play Kang but would be open to other roles in the Marvel Universe:
“Marvel as a whole? Yes. Kang the Conqueror? No. But I wouldn’t not take the meeting. There are so many brilliant characters, because I mean, it’s so many characters. There are so many characters I would love a take at.”
James said he’s interested in playing Thrasher, a character he loved as a kid and discovered through Spider-Man:
“I know it’s going to throw people: Thrasher. As a kid, I loved Thrasher, especially when I was introduced to him via Spider-Man. I just thought that was really cool. I skateboard. I thought it was really sick.”
The actor also talked about characters he would like to play in the DC Universe. He mentioned Captain Atom as a powerful character he’d love to bring to life.
There Are Other Contenders To Consider
Marvel Studios has been searching for a new actor to play Kang the Conqueror since Jonathan Majors was fired last year. Majors was let go after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment by a New York City jury on December 18, 2023. He previously appeared as Kang in ‘Loki’ and ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’
Luke James won’t be taking on the Kang the Conqueror role, but Marvel Studios is still considering other actors. One popular option is Colman Domingo. Ginger Gonzaga from ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ already showed support for Domingo’s potential casting.
Marvel Studios is not in a rush to fill the role. Recent signs suggest that the next Avengers movie might not focus much on Kang and may not even be called ‘The Kang Dynasty’ anymore.
Luke James continues to appear in ‘Them: The Scare’ on Prime Video and in ‘The Chi’ on Showtime and Paramount+.
