Kang The Conqueror’s Most Famous Variant Returns to MCU Without Jonathan Majors

Marvel has made one of its boldest post-Majors moves yet, and it’s buried inside X-Men ’97 Season 2. The official trailer confirms (at the 0:25 mark) that Rama-Tut, Kang the Conqueror’s ancient Egyptian pharaoh incarnation, will appear in the upcoming season alongside the main villain, Apocalypse. It’s a clear signal that Marvel isn’t done with Kang’s story, just without Jonathan Majors. In Season 2, Rama-Tut is woven directly into Apocalypse’s origin, making this his most meaningful Marvel appearance to date.

In the comics, Rama-Tut traveled back in time to ancient Egypt and ruled as a god-king, placing him directly in the orbit of Apocalypse, whose own mythology is deeply rooted in that era. With Apocalypse confirmed as a looming presence in the season, this is a storyline built with purpose.

X-Men ’97 Season 2 Will Introduce Rama-Tut as Its Major Villain

A still from X-Men ’97 | Marvel Animation

When Jonathan Majors was fired in December 2023 following his conviction, the ripple effect was enormous. The Kang Dynasty was shelved, Doctor Doom absorbed the “next big bad” mantle, and Kang’s entire narrative arc was thrown into uncertainty. Rama-Tut, who appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s mid-credits scene as part of the Council of Kangs, seemed destined to be quietly retired alongside the rest of Majors’ legacy in the franchise.

X-Men ’97 changes that calculus entirely. By planting Rama-Tut at the center of its Season 2 conflict, Marvel is signaling that the character has value independent of the man who played him. The series’ original showrunner, Beau DeMayo, had envisioned Majors for the role before his termination, and while the recasting details, including reported conversations with John de Lancie, remain fluid, the character’s survival is now firmly on the record. (via Direct)

What makes this particularly significant is the format. Animation has always been Marvel’s creative sandbox. It will be a place to test ideas, rehabilitate narratives, and plant seeds for live-action. Rama-Tut being reintroduced here, given weight and a full villain arc, reads less like a consolation prize and more like a proof of concept. If audiences respond, the door to a live-action return with a new actor creates a better future possibility for Kang The Conqueror’s Most Famous Variant.

Rama-Tut is back, and if Marvel Animation plays its cards right, a live-action return for Kang’s most iconic variant could be next. Who would you cast in the role? Let us know in the comments.

Season 2 of X-Men ’97 will premiere on July 1, 2026, exclusively on Disney+.