The actor is all set for his first big-screen outing as MCU’s new villain Kang the Conqueror
Mihir Bhanage (BOMBAY TIMES; February 16, 2023)

Thanos is long gone and the position of the antagonistin-chief in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had been vacant for a while. In walks Kang the Conqueror! For those of you who watched the series Loki, Kang made a brief appearance there, paving way for his big screen debut in Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantamania. It’s the dawn of a new era and who better than the man of the hour, Jonathan Majors, aka Kang, to hear more about it from? Excerpts from an exclusive chat with the actor who speaks to us about taking over from Thanos, his love for RRR and more.

‘A BIG HUMBLING EXPERIENCE’
Right from the time that the upcoming Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania was announced, fans of the superhero genre have been going gaga over Kang. Understandably, Jonathan is kicked about the initial response that the character has been getting. “There’s a lot going on,” he says.

Ask him if he expected this and he replies, “I had no expectations going into the film. But for my lack of expectations, I have been pleasantly surprised, even bowled over, by the response to Kang. Just with the material that’s out there – the trailer, the posters – there’s a lot happening and it’s all a big and humbling experience.”

‘THE IMPACT OF MCU’S VILLAINS WAS MOTIVATING’
Kang is the multiverse’s next big bad guy, a position that Thanos made legendary. Speaking on comparisons with Thanos and the responsibility the role brings, Jonathan says, “Well, Thanos is massive in size. Kang is only six feet one inch. So, it’s an unfair comparison. If you ask Thanos to get into Kang’s shoes, then that will be a difficult situation I reckon (laughs). But honestly, I thank god for Thanos. Anyone who watches films is grateful for the contribution that Thanos made to the cinematic experience and, chiefly, what Josh Brolin (who played Thanos) could achieve with the character. It’s really motivating for me to know the kind of impact that the big-bad position in the MCU has. Like Thanos, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki had a solid impact and character arc. So, I think the opportunity to step in the big-bad position is a great thing. As for the comparison between Thanos and Kang, I invite it, because Kang is only here because Thanos was. But Kang’s here now and hopefully he can continue the legacy.”

‘OPEN TO INDIAN MOVIE SUGGESTIONS’
We ask Jonathan about Indian films and whether he has watched any. To that, he says, “Do I watch Indian films? Yes!” Did he watch RRR, we follow up, and it’s safe to say that the S S Rajamouli film has ‘conquered’ Kang the Conqueror’s attention.

“I watched it multiple times, and that says a lot because it’s a three-hour-long film! I enjoyed the experience and I really loved watching both the actors (Jr NTR and Ram Charan) on screen,” says Jonathan adding, “I am open to recommendations for Indian films to watch.”