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Kang the Conqueror seeks Ant-Man's aid to escape the quantum realm, signaling a past victory by an individual or a superhero team who subdued and held him in this peculiar dimension.
Kang the Conqueror, the impending cinematic menace of the Marvel Universe (MCU), will step onto the big screen in the blockbuster Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, set to premiere on 2/17. From the released trailers, it appears this villain is trapped in the quantum realm and needs Scott Lang's assistance to break free and pursue his plot to dominate the multiverse.
The pressing question now is: Who imprisoned Kang the Conqueror in the quantum realm? No one knows why he was sealed here or how long he has been trapped in this bizarre world. All we know so far is that Kang was defeated by an individual (or a team) many years ago. And below are the most notable names that accomplished this seemingly impossible feat.
He Who Remains
He Who Remains made a cameo in the final episode of the first season of Loki. He played the role of the founder of the Time Variance Authority (TVA), tasked with overseeing Marvel's sacred timeline, the primary universe of the MCU. The organization's mission is to monitor and eliminate any anomalies that could create branching timelines, ultimately preventing the existence of alternate realities.
In reality, He Who Remains is just one of the many variations of Kang, originating as a scientist in the 31st century. After discovering a way to open gateways between timelines, He Who Remains and other variants connected to exchange knowledge, technology, and aid the development of their realities. However, not all variants have benevolent intentions, and Kang the Conqueror is one of those.
The Loki series confirmed a multiversal war among Kang's variants, with He Who Remains emerging as the ultimate victor. This likely positions him as the one who confined Kang in the quantum realm to thwart his plot of multiversal domination.
Furthermore, the decision to imprison Kang in the quantum realm instead of eradicating him entirely may be part of He Who Remains' grander plan. As a time master with control over nearly every event in the sacred timeline, He Who Remains understands the cosmic laws of the Marvel multiverse. This variant knows that if Kang is released, the multiverse loop will restart. He will carry out a conquest across all realities, only to be defeated once again, and all timelines will converge under the rule of He Who Remains.
Time Variance Authority (TVA)
As mentioned earlier, the TVA's mission is to erase variants and timelines that could pose a threat to the sacred timeline. Therefore, it's not out of the question that the organization pushed Kang into the quantum realm because, fundamentally, he is a version of He Who Remains, overseeing the MCU's main timeline.
Typically, the TVA disposes of variants by sending them to The Void - a world located near the edge of time and considered the multiverse's 'dumpster.' However, due to Kang's exceptionally dangerous nature, they dared not risk sending him there. With his knowledge of time travel and the multiverse, Kang could find a way to break free from The Void to reach The Citadel, much like how Loki and Sylvie once did.
Now, he can effortlessly defeat He Who Remains and become the new overseer of the sacred timeline. That's precisely why the TVA had to imprison Kang in the quantum realm. In reality, the conclusion of Loki reveals that this villain, or one of his variants, assumed the role of the new ruler of the TVA after the multiverse took shape in the MCU. In other words, if Kang isn't held in the quantum realm, his ascendancy to the master of time and the multiverse is almost a certainty.
Janet van Dyne
Janet van Dyne might also be the individual who triumphed over and confined Kang in the quantum realm before the events in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. The film's trailers consistently tease the relationship between Janet and Kang. It appears these characters were acquainted previously, as Janet was trapped in the quantum realm for over 30 years after an incident in 1987, before being rescued in the blockbuster Ant-Man & the Wasp.
Some theories suggest that Janet may have worked for Kang but chose to betray him upon realizing his sinister schemes and ambitions for the multiverse. They might have collaborated in an attempt to escape the quantum realm but were unsuccessful. Until Hank Pym, Scott Lang, and Hope van Dyne rescued her, Janet decided to leave Kang behind to return to reality, knowing his inherently malevolent nature would wreak havoc if he escaped.
Regardless of the reasons, we can tentatively assert that the relationship between Janet and Kang will be more adversarial than allies in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. That's why, in the latest trailer of this blockbuster, Janet advised Scott not to trust Kang, especially not to collaborate with him, no matter how enticing his promises may be.
Reed Richards
With Marvel Studios set to release the blockbuster Fantastic Four at the end of 2025, it's plausible that Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic and his team are the ones who confined Kang in the quantum realm. Earlier, this character also appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati from the reality Earth-838. This provides the groundwork for Marvel to bring the official version of Reed Richards into the main MCU universe, Earth-616, in the near future.
The Fantastic Four has clashed with Kang on multiple occasions in Marvel comics. However, this antagonist and the leader of the Fantastic Four have a much more complex and profound relationship. In the future, Kang has a variant named Nathaniel Richards - the descendant of Reed Richards, and also a brilliant scientist living in the 30th century in the universe Earth-6311.
Therefore, it's conceivable that Kang and the Fantastic Four collided in the future of the MCU, resulting in this villain being defeated and imprisoned in the quantum realm. With this scenario, Marvel Studios will have a solid foundation to bring the Fantastic Four to its cinematic universe, also elevating their significance in preparation for two major events, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Avengers Team
In exclusive teasers revealed by Marvel Studios during live events, Kang mentioned having killed one (or more) Avenger(s) in the past. This makes him unable to recall whether Scott Lang was his victim or not. This detail indicates his familiarity with Earth's mightiest heroes, possibly being their adversary in another timeline.
Until now, the relationship between Kang and the Avengers hasn't been addressed in any official trailers of Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. This implies that this detail might be omitted from the official release, or Marvel Studios intends to keep it a surprise until the final moments.
If Kang has faced off against the Avengers in the multiverse, the impact of the Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars storylines will be heightened. Firstly, he becomes a more formidable villain with extensive combat experience against this superhero team. Secondly, Kang might have specific grievances or a notable interest in seeking revenge against certain Avengers, allowing Marvel Studios to focus on exploring those characters, similar to how they did with Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor in the blockbuster Endgame.
Based on the released trailers, Ant-Man doesn't seem to be the superhero catching Kang's attention. He simply wants the Ant-Man to help him escape the quantum realm.
Source: ScreenRant, Marvel
