‘Tenet’ star John David Washington is recently rumored to be a top contender for the role of Kang the Conqueror following Jonathan Majors’ exit from the franchise.
John David Washington, known for his roles in films such as Spike Lee’s ‘BlacKkKlansman’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet,’ emerged as a potential successor to portray Kang. According to FandomWire’s recent tweet, movie scooper Daniel Richtman reported that the actor is currently considered for the role.
You can see the tweet below.
John David Washington is reportedly being considered for the role of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU.
(via @DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/dhENtTDOor
— FandomWire (@FandomWire) January 27, 2024
Colman Domingo Was Another Potential Replacement
Speculation around the future of Kang in the MCU has been going on for a while, with names like Colman Domingo also being mentioned as potential replacements. Domingo addressed these rumors at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala but confirmed no concrete offers have been made:
“I don’t know; I’m always looking at what I have to do right now… I know there’s talk and conversations around, and I don’t know how much is true. I don’t even get that from my team; I can’t tell if it’s true or not.”
Washington Previously Said He’s Open For Superhero Roles
In a 2020 interview with Nerd Reactor, Washington was asked if there were any superheroes he would like to play on screen. While the actor didn’t officially comment on his interest in the Kang role, he indicated a willingness to explore opportunities:
“I think it depends on who’s asking and what director wants to do it with me. We’ll see; I want to stay open. I don’t want to box myself in. Maybe there are characters that haven’t been mentioned yet, or maybe even developed, that haven’t been introduced in any of the films yet. I’d like to see what they come up with if I ever get asked.”
If the rumors are true, this openness positions him as a strong candidate for the role.
While John David Washington has been the subject of speculation, in the past, some advocated for his father, Denzel Washington, to play Kang.
Why Jonathan Majors Won’t Play Kang?
These recasting rumors began to circulate following Jonathan Majors’ departure from the MCU. Majors, who faced legal issues leading to a guilty verdict on charges of assault and harassment, was removed from his role. This had an impact on several MCU projects, including the rebranding of ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ to ‘Avengers 5.’
You can read more about Majors’ firing here.
Meanwhile, Washington’s only upcoming project in post-production appears to be ‘The Piano Lesson,‘ where he stars as Boy Willie. On the other hand, Marvel Studios is continuing its lineup of releases, including ‘Deadpool 3’ (2024) and ‘Fantastic Four’ (2025), with ‘Avengers 5‘ slated for a May 1, 2026 release.