Destin Daniel Cretton is stepping away from directing Marvel’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
According to Deadline, Cretton has parted ways with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The article calls it an “amicable exit,” as Cretton is still working on Wonder Man and Shang-Chi 2 for Marvel Studios and Disney.
Cretton was originally tapped to direct 2026’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in July 2022. The news of Cretton’s departure comes just after writer Jeff Loveness was reportedly taken off the project, leaving it unclear what the future has in store for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Wonder Man, and Shang-Chi 2
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2022. The MCU movie was conceived as an ensemble piece that would lead into 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars.
Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror was supposed to serve as the main antagonist of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty; however, as Majors’ legal situation continues to develop and he heads to trial for domestic violence charges later this month, Marvel is now reportedly moving away from Kang and is looking at alternate options.
Cretton is now focused on Marvel Studios and Disney+’s Wonder Man, which he co-created with Andrew Guest. With Yahya Abdul-Mateen II playing the role of Simon Williams/Wonder Man, the series — which will be released under the newly created Marvel Spotlight banner — is looking to resume production after Thanksgiving following SAG-AFTRA strike-related delays.
Additionally, Cretton is also working on a sequel to 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which he directed. Simu Liu will reprise his role as the titular Marvel hero, while further details about the Shang-Chi sequel currently remain under wraps.
As of this article’s publication, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty still has a May 1, 2026, release date.
