As the curtain calls on Jonathan Majors’ assault allegation case, Marvel Studios recently released an announcement, claiming that they have officially dropped the actor from every future project. Majors’ future at the MCU has been put under scrutiny ever since he was arrested in March, and the studio also faces immense pressure from the public.
This comes as a great surprise for many Marvel fans, as the studio has already revealed Majors as Kang the Conqueror, the next big bad villain in the Multiverse Saga. Now, with the actor gone, the fate of Kang and all of his variants is uncertain, as Marvel hasn’t announced their next step for the franchise yet. Let’s learn more about Jonathan Majors’ case in this article, and how Marvel can deal with the character from now on.
#1. Marvel Studios Made The Decision Right After The Result Went In
Source: ABC News
The shocking decision was made just hours after the trial came to an end. On December 18, Majors was found guilty of third-degree reckless assault and harassment against his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari in March. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 6, 2024. For now, Majors’ party hasn’t commented anything regarding the drop.
Marvel Studios’ instant decision further proves that they already have plans to replace Majors for a long time, should the trial go sour. The Hollywood Reporter claimed that in November 2023, the studio hired Loki director Michael Waldron to work on Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, now being referred to as Avengers 5.
#2. Kang’s Future In The MCU Is Now Uncertain
Source: Marvel
Marvel parting ways with Jonathan Majors leaves fans wondering about the fate of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU. Obviously, the studio only has two paths to choose from here: They can either recast the character just like they did with James Rhodes and the Hulk, or they can ditch Kang completely and work on a brand-new villain from scratch.
Either way, Marvel will have a hard time dealing with Kang, as they already introduced the character at the start of Phase 5 as the next Thanos-level supervillain. Therefore, replacing him with a new bad guy or recasting the performer will surely cause a huge uproar in the fandom.
Source: Marvel
For now, recasting the actor seems like the most plausible option, as Marvel won’t have to rewrite the script for the whole Phase 5 and 6 all over again. Besides, Kang is a complex character with much potential, so it would be a waste to ditch him for another villain. There’s also a chance that Marvel already looked for replacements before the trial takes place.
However, judging by how Marvel Studios already referred to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty as Avenger 5, it seems like they have already considered replacing Kang completely as well. There have been some rumors about Doctor Doom being picked as the next big bad villain to replace Kang in the MCU, should Majors get declared guilty in the trial.
#3. Majors’ Adventure So Far In The MCU
Source: Marvel
Jonathan Majors was first introduced to the MCU in 2021 as a Kang variant, He Who Remains, in Loki Season 1. He then appeared as another variant called Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In a post-credit scene of the movie, thousands of other Kang variants, such as Immortus or Scarlet Centurion, are introduced as the Council of Kang, ready to take on the Avengers in a future title.
After getting arrested in March 2023, Majors still appears in Loki Season 2 as both He Who Remains and Victor Timely. His performance so far has been widely praised by Marvel fans, as he manages to portray different personalities playing different variants of the character. Therefore, many would feel sad hearing the news.
#4. Marvel Studios Has Already Replaced Actors Before
Source: Marvel
#5. The Guilty Charge Could Cost Majors His Hollywood Career
Source: Getty Images
Majors’ career was already on the rise before the allegations, as he was one of the most sought-after actors back then. Aside from his MCU projects, the 33-year-old performer rose to fame thanks to movies such as The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Lovecraft Country, Da 5 Bloods, Creed III, and The Harder They Fall.
Amid his allegations, Jonathan Majors was also dropped from multiple other projects. His PR firm, The Lede Company, and his Entertainment 360 managers also dropped the actor, leaving his Hollywood future in huge doubt.
Do you think Marvel will simply replace Jonathan Majors with another actor as Kang, or they will rewrite the story for the whole Phase 5 and 6? Share your thoughts in the comments.