Jonathan Majors Was Fired from Marvel Studios Following the Assault Verdict
Marvel Studios is officially parting ways with Kang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors, following news of his conviction in the recent criminal trial. The news came just hours after a Manhattan jury found Majors guilty of both harassment and third-degree reckless assault in connection with an altercation with his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari. Majors was found not guilty of two other charges: third-degree intentional assault and second-degree aggravated harassment. Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2024, and Majors could face up to a year in prison on these charges.
Jonathan Majors Was Fired from Marvel Studios
It’s unclear at this point whether Majors’ role as Kang the Conqueror and his subsequent variants in the Marvel multiverse, will be remade or whether Marvel Studios will move away from the character entirely. Previous reports have indicated that the studio is looking to move away from the character and towards another Marvel Comics villain, such as Doctor Doom, following the arrest. Majors was expected to reprise his role in the upcoming fifth Avengers film (initially titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty) and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. As was confirmed on Monday, Marvel Studios is still moving forward with Avengers 5 in some capacity, with Michael Waldron attached to write the latest iteration of the script. Majors has appeared in the MCU twice this year, as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and as Victor Timely and the Remains in Loki Season 2, both of which were filmed before his arrest.
At the moment I know as much as you do. It felt rushed to do something without knowing how the story would unfold.
Loki producer Kevin Wright told Variety about Majors’ future on the big screen.
What Happened Between Majors and Jabbari
It has been confirmed that the March 25 altercation between Majors and Jabbari led to her hospitalization: an NYPD spokesperson revealed that the woman “has suffered minor injuries to her head and neck and was taken to an area hospital in stable condition”. Charges related to this case were brought by New York State, and other alleged victims of Majors’ abuse have come forward to cooperate with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, according to reports in April. Manhattan District Attorney Michael Perez argued in opening statements at the trial that Majors exhibited a “pattern of cruel and manipulative abuse” in his relationship with Jabbari, whom he met on the set of Quantumania. Majors has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Marvel Studios’ decision comes after several entertainment companies or brands parted ways with Majors shortly after news of the arrest became public in March. The actor has reportedly parted ways with his management Entertainment 360 and public relations firm Lede Company, with Entertainment 360 citing the actor’s “personal behavior issues.” Majors has also been dropped from two upcoming films – The Man in My Basement and an as-yet-untitled Otis Redding biopic – and advertising campaigns involving the Texas Rangers and the US Army. The next film starring Majors, the boxing drama Magazine Dreams, was due to hit theaters on December 8 but has been postponed indefinitely by Disney. Jonathan Majors‘ future seems sealed right now, but what will become of Kang’s character? Tell us what you think in a comment!
What Happened to Jonathan Majors?
Last March 25, Jonathan Majors was arrested following an alleged argument with a 30-year-old woman: the woman allegedly said to police officers that she had been attacked by the actor: taken to hospital, she was treated for “minor injuries to her head and neck”. Following the arrest, Majors was formally charged with three counts of third-degree assault. These charges were in addition to those of second-degree aggravated harassment, three counts of attempted third-degree assault, and second-degree harassment.
According to documents from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, police say Majors struck “[the victim] in the face with an open hand, causing significant pain and a laceration behind the ear. Furthermore, he allegedly grabbed her hand and neck, ‘causing bruising and significant pain’.”
Following the arrest, several directors came forward and revealed their experiences of the actor’s “sociopathic” behavior. At the same time, Hollywood’s distrust of him began to grow more and more, with Majors being fired from several projects, dumped by his agency (Entertainment 360), and fired by his public relations firm (the Lede Company).
Marvel’s Recasting
Marvel has done recasting in the past, but over creative and financial disputes, not legal issues. Terrence Howard played James Rhodes in the first Iron Man, while Edward Norton starred in The Incredible Hulk, both released in 2008. Howard declined to return for the 2010 Iron Man sequel, citing retribution reasons, and Don Cheadle took over the role. Meanwhile, Norton fell out with Marvel for The Incredible Hulk and Mark Ruffalo reprised the role for The Avengers (2012). More recently, the late William Hurt was replaced by Harrison Ford, who will appear in the upcoming Captain America: New World Order as Thunderbolt Ross.
Majors was considered one of Hollywood’s best up-and-coming actors. In addition to Quantumania, he starred in Creed III in 2023. Having risen to prominence with The Last Black Man in San Francisco, he starred in On the Wings of Honor, Lovecraft Country, The Harder They Fall, and Da 5 Bloods. Bodybuilding drama Magazine Dreams premiered at Sundance in January 2023, though its fate remains in limbo, as distributor Searchlight removed it from the calendar due to the actor’s legal troubles. Majors was arrested on March 25, after calling 911 saying he found his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari, unconscious in their New York apartment. Police said they found injuries on Jabbari, including a bruised and fractured finger and a cut behind an ear. Majors has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The verdict was reached by a six-person jury after approximately four hours of deliberation spread over three days. Majors was present as the verdict was read, with his lawyers, family members, and his fiancée Meagan Good behind him. Sentencing is set for February 6. The charges carry up to a year in prison. In a statement released after the verdict, the actor’s lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, said Majors “looks forward to fully clearing his name”, hinting that he may appeal. “Mr. Majors is grateful to God, his family, his friends, and his fans for the love and support they have given him over these heartbreaking eight months”.
The Charges Against Jonathan Majors
In total, Majors faced four charges of assault, aggravated harassment, and harassment and has pleaded not guilty to them all. Jabbari, who testified in the first four days of the trial, said Majors had caused her injuries during a car altercation several hours before her. She testified that the alleged incident occurred in a private car when she saw a message on Majors’s phone that read: “Oh, I wish I could kiss you”. Jabbari said she tried to wrestle the phone away from Majors, who violently removed her finger from the phone, grabbed her right arm and hand, twisted her forearm, and hit her in the head to push her away. the phone from her.
The first three charges are misdemeanors and relate to alleged incidents that occurred in a car. The fourth harassment charge, which is a violation (the lightest of the charges), refers to the allegation that Majors pushed Jabbari into the car as she tried to get out. The defense argued that the actor put her back in the car to stop her from running into traffic. This action was captured by surveillance videos, while the altercation inside the car was not captured by cameras. The charges against Majors were brought by the State of New York and not by Jabbari herself. The case was a criminal trial, not a civil one, meaning the burden of proof was higher on the jury, which had to find proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on each charge. Following his legal troubles, the public relations firm The Lede Company and his managers at Entertainment 360 dropped the actor. The actor is still supported by WME, but the situation could change in light of the verdict.
