Jonathan Majors, who had been enjoying an upward swing in his acting career, has reportedly been dropped by Marvel Studios.
On December 18, a Manhattan jury delivered a verdict in a trial spanning two weeks, finding Majors guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment.
These charges stemmed from a March 2023 incident involving the actor and his former partner, 30-year-old Grace Jabbari.
The jury found Majors, 34, guilty of one misdemeanor count of assault and one harassment violation following a trial in Manhattan Criminal Court, the New York Post reported. The charges stemmed from an incident earlier this year when Jabbari and Majors had an argument in the back seat of a black Cadillac Escalade. Majors was acquitted on three other charges.
The legal proceedings followed Majors' arrest on March 25, where he faced accusations of assaulting Jabbari in the backseat of a private car. The incident reportedly occurred after Jabbari took Majors' phone to read a text message from another woman.
According to Jabbari, Majors forcefully retrieved his phone, causing significant injury to her right middle finger. When she exited the car, Majors allegedly struck her on the back of her head and attempted to force her back into the vehicle, resulting in a cut behind her right ear.
Now, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter - among other outlets - have reported that Marvel Studios have dropped Majors, despite his character being a focal point of recent and future projects. A spokesperson for the Walt Disney-owned company confirmed to Sky News that Majors will no longer appear in any of the studios' future projects.
Majors' legal woes come as a substantial blow to his career, especially considering his pivotal role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Prior to his arrest, he was positioned as a central figure in Marvel Studios' ongoing narrative, with Kang the Conqueror at the heart of the studio's plans. Kang, a time-traveling villain portrayed by Majors, played a significant role in this year's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and both seasons of Loki.
Additionally, Majors was set to lead Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, scheduled for release on May 1, 2026. As of now, the project is in the scripting phase, with no attached director.
Marvel Studios now faces a critical decision regarding the future of Kang the Conqueror.
One option is to recast the role. Although Marvel has recast roles in the past (James Rhodes in Iron Man, Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk etc), it remains uncertain how this public response could impact any casting process.
Alternatively, the studio could opt to rework its plans and introduce a new villain into the MCU.
While Marvel has not disclosed its course of action, there are hints that the studio has already begun exploring alternative paths. In November, Marvel enlisted Michael Waldron, the creator of Loki, to rework the script for what was originally intended as "Kang Dynasty." However, sources now refer to it as "Avengers 5," suggesting a potential shift in focus.
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