Marvel Officially Cuts Ties With Jonathan Majors — Will Kang Be Recast?

The Gist:

• On Dec. 18, 2023, Jonathan Majors was found guilty of assault and harassment against his ex-girlfriend.
• This conviction led to Marvel Studios firing him the same day and dropping him from future projects.
• Marvel could recast the part of Kang the Conqueror or refocus on a brand new villain.

Phases 4 and 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have already proven to be a roller coaster of events. Following the monumental success of Avengers: Endgame, the franchise has expanded significantly, incorporating exclusive Disney Plus shows and charting a course for the next five years of films and storytelling. While recent projects have garnered mixed reviews in terms of quality, expectations persist for the franchise to adhere to its planned timeline.

Regrettably, a fresh dilemma has emerged for the MCU with the controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors. Initially cast to play a pivotal role as the next major antagonist in the franchise, Majors was scheduled to feature in multiple films from 2021 to 2025, culminating in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, speculations now abound that Majors might face recasting in the wake of his recent assault guilty verdicts.

Jonathan Majors made his MCU debut with a notable guest appearance in Loki. He portrayed "He Who Remains," an entity that created the Time Variance Authority (TVA) to prevent his malevolent alternate reality selves from starting a catastrophic multiverse conflict. Following this cameo, Jonathan Majors was initially set to feature in numerous films across Phases 5 and 6 of the MCU, portraying the character Kang the Conqueror.

However, Majors' participation took an unforeseen turn, culminating in an abrupt end to his collaboration with Marvel Studios due to controversy. On March 25, 2023, he was arrested for assault, strangulation, and harassment following an alleged domestic dispute with a 30-year-old woman, later identified as his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.

The assault trial began on Nov. 29, 2023, with the actor pleading not guilty to misdemeanor assault and harassment charges. On Dec. 18, 2023, Majors was found guilty of one count of reckless assault in the third degree and a charge of harassment as a violation. Sentencing is set for Feb. 6, 2024.

This conviction prompted Marvel Studios to sever ties with Majors on the same day, removing him from all upcoming projects. Consequently, speculation about his potential recasting as Kang has already started circulating.

According to a Dec. 18, 2023 report from The Hollywood Reporter, the future steps for Marvel Studios and its wildly popular franchise remain uncertain/ At this time, the studio has two options: It could recast the part, or "redevelop its plans and refocus on a brand-new villain."

The report highlights the unclear stance on whether actors are willing to step into a role from which its predecessor was so publicly fired. This raises questions about the studio's pursuit of a fresh start.

Although Marvel sources remain tight-lipped, there are indications that the studio is starting over. In November 2023, Michael Waldron, the creator of Loki, was hired to rework what was originally known as Kang Dynasty. According to insider sources, the film is being referred to as Avengers 5.