We Probably Won’t See This Young Avenger in the MCU (& That’s Okay)

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Over the past few years, Marvel Studios has been hinting at the formation of the Young Avengers within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The ending of the 2023 film *The Marvels* strongly suggested that this team-up is in the works, bringing the popular comic book group – first appearing in *Young Avengers #1* in 2005 – to life on screen. While we don’t know exactly when the team will officially assemble in the MCU, several potential members have already been introduced.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to be building towards a Young Avengers team, potentially including Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Stature (Cassie Lang), Ironheart (Riri Williams), America Chavez, and Wiccan (Billy Maximoff). With the confirmation that Ruaridh Mollica will play Speed (Tommy Maximoff) in the upcoming *VisionQuest* series, the team is growing even stronger. However, one well-known member from the Marvel comics may not make the jump to live-action, due to recent developments.

Marvel Moving On From Kang the Conqueror Means Iron Lad Probably Won’t Be a Young Avenger

I was so excited when Young Avengers #1 introduced us to Iron Lad, a young Nathaniel Richards! It was a brilliant idea to show a younger version of Kang the Conqueror trying to break free from his villainous future. He really wanted to be a hero, and that’s why he helped start the Young Avengers – to stop himself from becoming that future bad guy and change his fate. I always hoped we’d see Iron Lad with the team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s starting to look like that might not happen, which is a real shame considering how important he was to the comics.

Iron Lad, a version of Kang the Conqueror, could have been a strong character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe while Jonathan Majors played the villain. Kang and his different versions caused major issues for characters like Loki and Ant-Man throughout the Multiverse Saga. However, after Majors’ arrest and conviction on assault and harassment charges in 2023, Marvel Studios decided to move away from using this villain, ultimately leading to Majors’ departure. This decision put the future of Kang and all his variations in doubt.

With Kang no longer part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the focus of the Multiverse Saga has shifted to Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. This change has sparked debate, particularly because many Kang variations remain untold, including the story of Iron Lad. He would have been a great fit for the Young Avengers, offering a unique character dynamic – a hero struggling against the possibility of becoming a villain, and trying to change his destined path.

Iron Lad’s MCU Debut Could Solve a Huge Kang Problem

As a huge MCU fan, the situation with Jonathan Majors was definitely a shock. Now that he’s out and it looks like Kang’s story is changing, a lot of us are wondering what happens next. While it might make introducing Iron Lad a little tricky, I don’t think it’s a dealbreaker. Actually, bringing him in *now* could be perfect. So many people were hoping to still see some version of Kang on screen, and Iron Lad offers a clever solution. He’s a younger character, meaning they don’t need to find someone who looks like Majors – they can just start fresh with a new actor and a new take on the character. It feels like a really smart way to keep that storyline going.

Nathaniel Richards becomes the hero Iron Lad as a teenager, trying to avoid becoming the villain he was destined to be, but that destiny still haunts him. This opens the possibility of introducing a young actor as Iron Lad in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who could eventually grow into the role of Kang the Conqueror. This would allow the MCU to move forward with Kang as a major villain, even after recasting the role, and ensure that Kang and his different versions remain a threat to the heroes for years to come, potentially even after a period of working alongside heroes like Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye.

It’s still unclear when the Young Avengers will first appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as none of the potential team members have officially been confirmed to return. Fans are eager to see actors like Iman Vellani, Hailee Steinfeld, Dominique Thorne, Joe Locke, and Ruaridh Mollica team up on screen, possibly in a future *Avengers* movie like *Doomsday* or *Secret Wars*. Many also hope to see the character Iron Lad join the group. Introducing Iron Lad could potentially bring the villain Kang back into the story and offer a fresh start for the character, separate from past issues, giving fans hope for his future in the MCU.

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2025-10-12 22:12