Marvel’s firing of Kang actor Jonathan Majors caps a unheroic year for the MCU
Another day, another headache for Marvel Studios
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Marvelhas fired Jonathan Majors after the actor was convicted of domestically abusing his ex-girlfriend.
DeadlineandThe Hollywood Reporter(THR) were among the outlets to confirm Majors' axing by the Disney subsidiary yesterday (December 18) after he was found guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree. Marvel reportedly dropped the star, who was set to continue portrayingKang the Conquerorand his many variants across the Multiverse Saga, soon after the verdict was announced.
Majors was arrested on March 25 following reports of a domestic disturbance involving the actor and his ex-partner Grace Jabbari. He was later charged with numerous offenses, including strangulation, assault, and harassment – allegations Majors denied. After his trial was delayed multiple times, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) actor’s court hearing began on December 4 and, just two weeks later a six-person jury found Majors guilty of two of the four charges leveled against him.
(WATCH) Jonathan Majors leaving the courthouse after conviction in domestic violence caseFull details here: https://t.co/6Wgxz6mecN pic.twitter.com/tlRyzbK9KwDecember 18, 2023
The jury acquitted Majors on the other charges – intentional assault in the third degree and aggravated assault in the second degree – but theCreed 3andLovecraft Countrystar still faces up to a year in prison as part of his sentence. He’ll be sentenced for at a later date.
When asked for comment by THR, a Marvel spokesperson confirmed it had severed ties with Majors. However, the studio declined to say whether it would recast the role of Kang, whose numerous variants – many of whom appeared in one ofAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s post-credits scenes– were positioned as the archvillains ofAvengers: The Kang DynastyandAvengers: Secret Wars. That film duo will bring the Multiverse Saga to a close, but it’s unclear if Kang will remain the MCU’s new big bad.
Before his sacking, Majors had appeared in two Marvel projects – the aforementioned MCU movieQuantumania, as well asLokiseasons 1 and 2 onDisney Plus. As mentioned, he was also set to star inAvengers 5andAvengers 6, with possible cameos in other upcoming films and TV series, too, ahead of being dropped.
Marvel’s Multiverse of Madness
Majors' firing caps an extremely difficult year for Marvel, with the star’s removal as Kang becoming the latest addition to the whirlwind of negative press the studio has faced over the past 12 months.
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In fact, Marvel’s problems can be traced back to the Multiverse Saga’s beginning, and itsMCU Phase 4lineup of movies and TV shows. Marvel’s scattershot approach to its post-Avengers: Endgameplan, which saw an explosion of MCU TV shows as the studio looked to capitalize on the MCU’s popularity, saw Marvel favor quantity over quality. With some of its TV offerings failing to capture audiences' imagination (What If…?), being largely forgettable (Falcon and the Winter Soldier), or downright bad (Secret Invasion), Marvel spread itself too thin as it churned out project after project.
Things haven’t been much better on the movie front. With films, including 2022’sThor: Love and Thunder, delivering diminishing returns – from critical and/or commercial perspectives – Marvel has found itself battling to reignite interest in its cinematic juggernaut. Indeed, two of its threenew moviesof 2023 inAnt-Man 3andThe Marvelswere panned by fans and critics alike – onlyGuardians of the Galaxy 3was well received, and made a tidy profit for the studio.
Huge news - and the right move (at the right time) to make. Bet Marvel cannot wait to put 2023 behind it https://t.co/9bGpQYIL5gDecember 18, 2023
There have been plenty of off-screen issues for the studio to contend with, too. The 2023 Hollywood actors and writers strikes meantMarvel had to delay multiple moviesthroughout 2023, with the latest release schedule update confirming thatDeadpool 3will be the only MCU moviethat’ll debut in theaters next year. Marvel’s TV lineup has been significantly impacted as well, withonly three MCU TV shows debuting on Disney Plus in 2024, and the studioreworking its entire blueprint for the highly anticipatedDaredevil: Born Againafter it failed to meet internal standards.
Throw in other problems, such as the reportedly poor working conditions its visual effects artists have to deal with – somethingone ofLokiseason 2’s directors called a “systemic” issue– and Marvel is under real pressure to turn its flagship franchise around.
Nobody knows just how big of an impact Majors' conviction will have on the MCU. There’s lots of speculation flying around about whether Marvel will recast Kang, focus on a new multiversal villain, changeAvengers 5’s title, and push back development on the next twoAvengersfilms again to overhaul aspects of the Multiverse Saga’s endgame. We’ll find out the answers to these queries and more in the coming months, but one thing’s for certain: Marvel has endured its own Multiverse of Madness in 2023, and it won’t want a repeat performance next year.
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As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
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