Once Marvel's Next Big Thing, Jonathan Majors Now Says He's Looking at a Non-Studio Superhero Comeback
It's been almost two years since Jonathan Majors was fired as Marvel's Kang the Conquerer, and now, the actor might be looking to make a superhero comeback. Yet, instead of pursuing the 'big guys' like DC or his former employer Marvel, Majors said his next superhero turn could come outside those studio-affiliated heavyhitters.
Majors, who was poised to be the next lead villain of the Marvel franchise before being found guilty of one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment of his ex-girlfriend in 2023, told The Hollywood Reporter that he is considering a role in another superhero film.
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'[There is] no relation to the big guys, DC or Marvel, but [it's] a pretty wicked story,' Majors said of the project. 'I'm glad to be reading.'
Majors first appeared as Kang in 'Loki' Season 2 and 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,' and was set to lead at least two other MCU installments, 'Avengers: The Kang Dynasty' and 'Avengers: Secret Wars.'
After Majors' firing in the wake of his convictions, Marvel reportedly considered recasting the character, with even Oscar nominee Colman Domingo meeting with Marvel about taking on the role. It was later decided that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU, this time as villain Doctor Doom. Subsequently, he 'Avengers' film was retitled 'Avengers: Doomsday.' (Downey previously played Iron Man for more than a decade in the MCU.)
To THR, Majors recalled the moment he learned he was axed by Marvel, sharing that a member of his legal team told him immediately following the end of his trial. 'He goes, 'I'm just gonna tell you now,'' Majors said. 'That way you're not surprised, and you can start processing it. They fired you. Marvel fired you.''
Majors added of being dropped by his representatives and numerous other slated projects, 'There were days when it was like, 'Is this real?' It's a heartbreak like I've never experienced and it just compounded and compounded.'
Now, Majors is attached to star Martin Villeneuve's independent thriller 'Merciless,' which marks one of his first roles since the trial. (Martin Villeneuve is fellow filmmaker Denis Villeneuve's brother.) 'Sometimes it feels like it's not going to happen,' Majors said of rebooting his acting career. 'And sometimes it feels like we start next week.'
It helps that Majors' 2023 feature 'Magazine Dreams' is now receiving distribution, too. Searchlight Pictures initially acquired the film following its Sundance 2023 debut, but the Disney outfit dropped the film following the allegations against Majors; the feature was later acquired by Briarcliff Entertainment and will be released in theaters March 21.
'[It was a] very expensive movie,' Majors said of the indie in which he plays an aspiring bodybuilder. 'Not the budget, but the cost of it as an artist physically and emotionally.' There were also allegations of Majors' erratic violent behavior on set; his lawyers later claimed it was part of Majors' 'method acting.'
Majors previously told TMZ that he can only hope for a career resurgence, and even would still play Kang if Marvel would hire him again. 'Hell yeah! Hell yeah! I love him. I love Kang,' Majors said. 'If that's what the fans want, and that's what Marvel wants then let's roll. Hell yeah.' Majors added that he was 'heartbroken, of course' to not be part of the planned MCU rollout. 'I love Kang. Doctor Doom is wicked, though,' Majors said.
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