In 2021, a brand-new villain was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the season finale of the hit Disney+ show Loki, Kang the Conqueror made his first appearance, much to the delight of comic book fans. Kang was played by talented actor Jonathan Majors, and his villain was set to become the new big bad of the MCU.
In addition to appearing in Loki, Kang also appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Majors’ character was also set to get his very own MCU film — Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
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Majors’s career was thrown into total chaos in March 2023 when he was arrested and charged with harassment, assault, and strangulation. The actor had called police to his New York apartment, where he claimed he found his girlfriend unresponsive.
However, after investigating the incident and speaking with his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, they determined that the actor had beaten his ex. She reportedly had injuries and was transported to the hospital after an argument with Majors.
While Marvel initially remained relatively quiet on the Loki star’s arrest, it did delay a movie that he was set to star in, Magazine Dreams.
Related: Jonathan Majors’ Scrapped Film Gets New Release Date After Marvel Exit
In December 2023, Majors was found guilty of assault in the third degree and harassment. Shortly after his conviction, Marvel announced that it was parting ways with the actor.
That decision threw the entire MCU into disarray, as his character was going to be central to Phase 5. Marvel had to push back Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and figure out if Kang would still be a part of the story and if they should just recast someone else in the role.
In April 2024, Majors was sentenced to one year of attendance in a domestic violence intervention program. Ms. Jabbari was disappointed in the decision, as Mr. Majors had always claimed his innocence, and she said that he was not sorry.
Related: “Hell Yeah”: Jonathan Majors Promises to Return as Kang, Replace Robert Downey Jr.
Now, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Lovecraft Country star discusses what it was like to learn that he had been fired from Marvel not long after his conviction.
Majors says that he was sitting in his car with his legal team after the verdict when his lawyer gave him the news.
“He goes, ‘I’m just gonna tell you now,’” Majors says. “That way you’re not surprised, and you can start processing it. They fired you. Marvel fired you.’”
“There were days when it was like, ‘Is this real?’” says Majors, 35, of the period of time during and immediately after his trial, where he pleaded not guilty. “It’s a heartbreak like I’ve never experienced and it just compounded and compounded.”
Despite his conviction and being dropped by Marvel, Majors is slowly starting to rebuild his career. Magazine Dreams was purchased by Briarcliff Entertainment in October 2024 and the film will finally be released on March 21. He also revealed that he was auditioning for new roles, including a superhero role, but it will not be with Marvel or DC.
As for Marvel and Kang in the MCU, his character appears to be gone and the new Avengers film will bring in a new villain. At the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel shocked fans with the reveal that The Kang Dynasty was now Avengers: Doomsday. And in an even bigger twist, Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom.
RDJ was in the MCU for years as Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, but his character was killed off in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Do you feel bad for Jonathan Majors, or did Marvel do the right thing by dropping his character? Should he be making a comeback, or should Hollywood leave him in the rearview mirror? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The post Marvel Star Talks About Heartbreak of Shocking Firing After Conviction appeared first on Inside the Magic.
