Shortly after Jonathan Majors was convicted of assault and harassment, Marvel decided to discontinue their collaboration with the actor known for portraying Kang.
Majors, who is now facing a potential one-year prison sentence, was convicted of both charges, each classified as misdemeanors, on Monday.
The future of the Kang character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is uncertain. It’s unclear whether Marvel will choose a new actor for the role or eliminate the character. Prior reports from Variety indicated that the studio was contemplating a shift towards Doctor Doom.
The direction of the forthcoming film “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” where Majors was expected to play a significant part, is now uncertain.
Michael Waldron, the creator of “Loki,” has been recently assigned to take over the scriptwriting responsibilities from “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” writer Jeff Loveness.
Majors, also seen in “Creed III” earlier this year, first appeared in the MCU in the season finale of “Loki” Season 1. He had a substantial role in both “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Loki” Season 2, setting him up as a key antagonist in Phase 5 of the MCU.
The situation around Majors took a significant turn after his arrest on March 25 for charges of strangulation, assault, and harassment. Following multiple postponements, his trial commenced on December 4.
During the trial, his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, testified about the abuse she faced during their relationship, particularly highlighting the incident on March 25.
Jabbari claimed that after she seized his phone upon noticing a text from another woman, Majors forcibly twisted her hands and arm to retrieve it while in the backseat of an SUV and also hit her on the head.
Footage shown to the jury depicted both Majors and Jabbari exiting the vehicle, with Majors seen pushing her back into it.
Although Majors was convicted on two counts – assault and harassment – he was acquitted of two other serious charges: intentional assault in the third degree and aggravated assault in the second degree.
Majors has maintained his innocence throughout, pleading not guilty to all charges. His defense, led by attorney Priya Chaudhry, has consistently argued that Jabbari was the instigator in these incidents.
Chaudhry has also said that majors remain confident in the legal process and are determined to clear his name entirely.
Marvel’s decision to sever ties with Majors post-verdict, while not entirely unexpected (Disney had already pulled the Majors-led film “Magazine Dreams” from its release schedule), marks a significant redirection for the studio’s future projects.
However, Marvel has some breathing room to strategize; the only MCU film scheduled for release next year is “Deadpool 3,” followed by “Captain America: Brave New World,” set for February 14, 2025.
