‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ to be helmed by ‘Shang-Chi’ director

The Kang Dynasty has found its leader in ‘Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings’ director Destin Daniel Cretton, who will continue his tenure within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the director of ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’, according to a Marvel Studios rep.

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige announced ‘The Kang Dynasty’ during the company’s wide-ranging presentation at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, as part one of the two-part conclusion to the Multiverse Saga — similar to how 2018’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ concluded the Infinity Saga.

‘Cretton will only be directing ‘The Kang Dynasty’, which is set to debut on May 2, 2025. The follow-up, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, is due to open just six months later, on Nov. 7, 2025. No director has been announced for that film.’

Unlike those films filmed and directed back-to-back by MCU veterans Anthony and Joe Russo, Cretton will only be directing ‘The Kang Dynasty’, which is set to debut on May 2, 2025. The follow-up, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, is due to open just six months later, on Nov. 7, 2025. No director has been announced for that film, though fan speculation is rife that the Russo brothers will, as they’ve expressed interest in the property in interviews before.

While there have been no screenwriter or casting announcements, the title makes clear that Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror — who will be first introduced in 2023’s ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ — will play a central role in the film. As his name suggests, Kang did indeed successfully conquer Earth in a Marvel comics run in the early 2000s, until the Avengers defeated him.

Cretton is already deeply ensconced within the MCU, having signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios and Onyx Collective in late 2021. As part of that deal, he is also working on a sequel to ‘Shang-Chi’ and is developing a ‘Wonder Man’ series for Disney+.