Is Marvel Replacing Kang With A 'Parliament Of Dooms' In Avengers 5? With Jonathan Majors out as Kang, Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom has stepped in as the primary antagonist for Avengers 5. However, the presence of multiple distinct Doom costumes across recent trailers and post-credits scenes suggests Marvel might be setting up a multiversal threat involving several variants of Doom, rather than just a single character. This approach would echo the original plans for a Council of Kangs to confront the Avengers. Although Marvel Studios pivoted from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty to Avengers: Doomsday, I can't help but wonder if Marvel Studios has secretly reworked some of its original plans for Kang the Conqueror for Doctor Doom instead, especially after the major villain's most recent MCU appearance. Originally, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was supposed to bring the threat of Kang and his countless variants to the forefront, paying off storylines established in both seasons of Loki, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and more. Instead, Marvel made the switch to Avengers: Doomsday, bringing Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU in the very different role of Victor von Doom.That said, I have a feeling Doom's tactics in the upcoming crossover may share crucial DNA with what was initially planned for Kang. When looking at Doctor Doom's initial MCU appearances and depictions in trailers, a surprising trend becomes clear. Between The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene, Doomsday's trailers, and the brand-new footage added to Avengers: Endgame Encore, it's been rare to see the same Doctor Doom twice.As such, I have a theory that Marvel Studios is hinting at a much bigger storyline involving RDJ's Doom, one carrying much of the spirit of the original plans for Avengers 5. Avengers 5 Was Originally Going To Feature The Council of Kangs Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was designed to make Kang the central threat of the Multiverse Saga.After all, Jonathan Majors first appeared as He Who Remains in Loki's first season, revealing that a multiversal war between variants of himself nearly destroyed the entire multiverse itself. After he was murdered by Sylvie, branching timelines were unleashed, setting the stage for more Kangs to emerge. Likewise, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania introduced Kang the Conqueror as an exiled variant in the Quantum Realm seeking vengeance upon his own variants just as dangerous as himself.The Council Of KangsSure enough, the film's mid-credits scene debuted a triumvirate including the major Kang variants Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion, shown assembling countless more variants as the comic-accurate Council of Kangs ahead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, Marvel's plans drastically changed following issues with Majors and major delays involving the writers' and actors' strikes.The studio ultimately chose to move away from Kang and embrace Doctor Doom, renaming the movie, bringing back the Russos to direct, and confirming Robert Downey Jr.'s casting as Victor von Doom in 2024. Although the Council of Kangs hasn't received a fully definitive resolution beyond the TVA looking out for more variants in the wake of Loki season 2, Doctor Doom may fulfill a similar narrative role as the multiverse is set to imminently collapse.Multiple Doomsday CostumesThe MCU's Doctor Doom Has Been Seen Wearing Multiple Masks & Costumes Close The biggest reason I'm wondering whether Avengers: Doomsday is setting up a similar multiversal Doom plot is all the different versions of his mask and armor Marvel Studios has shown us ahead of the upcoming MCU crossover. Firstly, The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene introduced Doom in a brief encounter with Franklin Richards, while Doomsday's trailers have offered additional glimpses of Downey's villain with a completely different mask and costume.Additionally, Avengers: Endgame Encore and one of its new post-credits scenes saw Doom forging a completely different mask than the one seen previously. Across these appearances, Doom's masks and costumes haven't been entirely identical. On the one hand, this could be reflecting the passage of time and different stages of Doctor Doom's life.However, the multiverse offers more significant alternative explanations that should also be considered. What if these appearances aren't showing the same Doom at different points in time, but instead various variants of Victor who are possibly allied together, not unlike the Council of Kangs? At the time of writing, there hasn't yet been any confirmation from Marvel Studios, and multiple costumes alone aren't enough evidence to suggest multiple Doom variants.Doomsday Multiple VariantsHowever, it still feels worth talking about, especially when you remember that RDJ was first announced as Doctor Doom at SDCC amid a whole legion of masked Doctor Dooms. Will There Be More Than One Variant of Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday? The real question is whether Avengers: Doomsday will feature multiple Doctor Doom variants or keep Downey's version as the sole central antagonist.Marvel's comics provide plenty of inspiration for the former possibility, including stories involving the Council of Reeds and the multiverse-spanning conflicts of 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. A Parliament of Dooms would be a different concept, but the idea of multiple versions of the same brilliant, power-hungry villain working together-or fighting over supremacy-could fit the Multiverse Saga perfectly.