Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania
After his debut in season 1 ofLokias the Kang edition He Who persist and as Kang the Conqueror inAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantumania , Jonathan Majorswas charged with domestic fierceness and rape , leading to the closing of his time in theMCU . After the defeat of Thanos inAvengers : Endgame , the MCU turned to the next big uncollectible , charter John Roy Major to trifle the meter - traveling , multiversal villain Kang the Conqueror ( and all his variants ) . However , serious charges leveled change a mess of those plans .
2023 was off to a big start for Majors with strong review forCreed IIIand his theatrical MCU debut inAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantumania . However , in March 2023,Jonathan Majors was arrestedfor misdemeanor charges of ravishment , strangulation , and molestation after an fracas with his girlfriend . In December 2023 , Major was institute guilty on two misdemeanor counts of harassment and assault , withTHRreporting that Marvel had hack ties with the actor curtly after the verdict was reached . give way the MCU ’s prior programme necessitate John Roy Major on an integral level , they made the decision to pivot in a unlike direction .
Jonathan Majors' Kang Was Supposed To Be A Big Part Of The MCU’s Future
Kang Was The New Big Bad
After the MCU ’s Infinity Saga feature Josh Brolin ’s Thanos , culminate in his defeat inAvengers : Endgame , the MCU was without an overarching resister until the introduction of Kang the Conqueror . Kang is a time - journey supervillain from the future who leverages his superior intellect , advanced technology , and numerous variants to wage war on the multiverse .
As cod in the post - credits scene ofAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantumania , there are legion iterations of Kang , with dozens of versions played by John Roy Major already depicted on - screen , making him far more difficult to recast than Thanos , who was portrayed by a different doer , Damion Poitier , in his initial ribbing at the end ofThe Avengers .
John Roy Major ' first MCU appearing was in the season 1 finale ofLoki , follow by a braggy role inAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantumaniaand a reprisal inLokiseason 2 , but he had multiple additional appearances slate in the coming years . The nextAvengersmovie , scheduled for May 2026 , had the character ’s name in the title : Avengers : The Kang Dynasty . However , following Majors ' discharge by Marvel , the movie begin to be touch on to asAvengers 5,hinting that they were shifting away from Kang as the principal focal point .
Jonathan Majors' Assault Charges Explained
Majors Was Found Guilty
Majors was initially arrested in New York on March 25 , 2023 , under care of strangulation , rape , and torment . The NYPD say the stoppage was in reaction to a 911 call from the victim in which she"informed the law she was assaulted . “The statement from the NYPD also said the dupe " sustained pocket-size combat injury to her head and neck and was removed to an expanse hospital in stable shape . “On April 19 , a report unwrap multiple otheralleged victims of Jonathan Majorswere working with the Manhattan territorial dominion attorney ’s government agency on extra ill-treatment allegation .
After the charges , Majors was remove from advert movement for the United States Army and the Texas Rangers , and his part in Nadia Latif ’s movieThe Man in My Basement , in gain toMajors being dropped by his managementcompany and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico representation . The trial began on November 29 , 2023 , with Majors plead not guilty to infraction violation and molestation heraldic bearing . However , on December 18 , 2023,Majors was find shamed of one count of reckless assault in the third level and a charge of molestation as a violation .
In April 2024 , he was doom to 52 weeks of a domesticated violence intervention program and probation .
Image via Marvel Studios
What Was Jonathan Majors' Legal Defense
Majors Plead Not Guilty
John R. Major ' attorney , Priya Chaudhry , claimed the histrion was innocuous of all charges and is"provably the victim of an altercation with a woman he knows . “She said witness testimonial andvideo evidence would amply exonerate major . Additionally , Chaudhry claimed the charges are an instance of racial discrimination by the New York justice system :
“ This glaring double measure between the treatment of Jonathan Majors , a Black human weighing 200 lbs , and his accuser , highlight the racial prejudice that permeates the criminal Department of Justice system . ”
After John Major ' initial stoppage , Chaudhry free text subject matter toTMZfeaturing the alleged victim apologizing to Majors for put him in this position and saying she would " verify nothing happens about this . “The text content from the dupe also show her carry the blame for the incident and that she tell police” … it was my fault for trying to grab your telephone . “Despite the texts turn away rap from Majors , they still implicitly acknowledge some sorting of violent fracas occur .
Jonathan Majors' Trial Was Delayed
Majors' Defense Team Made Claims He Was Attacked First
During the September 15 hearing , Judge Michael Gaffey set Wednesday , October 25 for the next hearing ( viaVariety ) . In September , major ' attorneys file a motion to throw out the case and the Manhattan District Attorney ’s office must reply by October 6 ; then the defense must respond by October 13 .
On September 6 , a short hearing was held where it was make up one’s mind that another would take place on September 15 , as reported byDeadline . The causa for that wait come from the defense team , who submit there were “ deficiencies ” in uncovering on their ending . Majors did not appear in person for the September 6 hearing but was present virtually .
For an torturesome four months , Jonathan Majors , the real victim in this ignominious trial by ordeal , has had his life , career , and reputation deplumate apart . Yet he remains unwavering in his determination to be justify from this harrowing ordeal .
antecedently , on June 20 , 2023 , major appear in motor inn for the first time since his March arrest . Shortly after , Chaudhry issued a statement that noted how big league ' legal team had urged the judge to directly dismiss the charge brought against the actor and initiate proceedings against Grace Jabbari , Majors ' first alleged dupe , whom Majors ' sound squad now claims attacked him first . Per Deadline , the NYPD has " no architectural plan " to make an stay .
Marvel Is Replacing Kang
Doctor Doom Is The New Big Bad
However , it seems that instead of recast Kang , the MCU seeks to simply supplant the scoundrel wholly .
However , it seems that instead of recasting Kang , the MCU seeks to simply replace the villain entirely . WhileAvengers 5was originally calledAvengers : Kang Dynasty , the flick will now be calledAvengers : DoomsdaywithRobert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom . The hullabaloo of the news served as a distraction from the fact that Kang would ostensibly no longer be the braggart badness of the MCU .
How Marvel Marketed Movies & Shows Featuring Jonathan Majors
The MCU Struggled To Avoid Majors' Presence
In the precede - up toAnt - valet and the Wasp : Quantumania’sDisney+ release on May 17,Jonathan Majors ' Kang was feature only very briefly in the two drone Marvel Studios posted online . The focus of the poke was put more on Paul Rudd ’s Scott Lang , Evangeline Lilly ’s Hope Van Dyne , and Kathryn Newton ’s Cassie Lang , which relieve oneself sense kick in they ’re the lead heroes . However , Majors ' Kang was a focal point of the forwarding for the initial theatrical release of the movie , so his lack of presence in the cyclosis acquittance promotional cloth is notable .
Further , at Disney ’s upfront presentation on May 16 , Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige address to gather adman and press about approaching MCU shows , includingLoki . He announcedLokiseason 2 ’s October button particular date , spoke about the series , and block out a trailer . According toAxiosreporter Tim Baysinger ( viaX ) , Feige did n’t mention big league , nor did Victor Timely or any other Kang strain seem in theLokiseason 2 poke , despite Timely have a not inconsiderable part in the sequel time of year itself .
Neither Disney , Marvel Studios , nor Kevin Feige have commented on Majors ' ravishment conviction as of the publishing of this clause . Previously , aDeadlinereport published on April 17 , 2023 , statedMarvel had not discussed recasting Majors in the MCUat that time .
Marvel Changed MCU Phase 5 & 6 Plan After Jonathan Majors' Kang Performance
Kang Was Made The Centerpiece Of The Multiverse Saga
According to Joanna Robinson , author of the bookMCU : The Reign of Marvel Studios , Marvel changed their architectural plan for MCU Phase 5 and 6after envision Jonathan Majors ' functioning as He Who remain inLokiseason 1 and Kang the Conqueror inAnt - Man and the Wasp : Quantumania . Further , Robinson said she ’s heard different fib about what the studio plans to do in regard to Majors ' purpose in the MCU follow his arrest . Robinson enunciate :
I was secernate by someone who works for Marvel , it was not the plan to make Kang the inwardness of everything until they saw the dailies from Quantumania and after his performance in Loki , which was so strong they were like , ' This is it . This is our way forward ' … They do n’t usually advert this much on one person in the way that they did here . And that has put them in the bind . We do not know what they are going to do . I ’ve discover conflicting tarradiddle about they are choke to supersede him , they ’re not even considering replacing him etc . etc . But it ’s just one more affair .
Now that Majors has been enkindle , Marvel had to deepen their plans once again . Theannouncement ofAvengers : Doomsdayconfirms that Kang will not be playing the role he was to begin with supposed to in the franchiseand may not appear again at all . While Doctor Doom is an exciting character and Downey ’s cast has been a huge hike to the excitement about the MCU ’s futurity , it seems curious that this major character who was establish up over the course of several moving picture will just vanish .
Anthony Mackie Addresses Jonathan Majors' Assault Arrest
Mackie Did Not Address Any Recasting
During an audience withInverse , published on June 28 , 2023,The Falcon and the Winter Soldierstar Anthony Mackie was questioned about the future of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU after Majors ' arrest . Mackie respond to questioning by stating :
We ’re a nation that was built on ' everyone is innocent until essay hangdog , ' that ’s one of the staple of this country . Nothing has been show about this dude . Nothing . So everyone is innocent until proven hangdog .
Mackie became the first somebody within Marvel Studios to make any scuttlebutt on the check and allegations , though he refrain from speculating whether Majors would be recast in the MCU ’s future .
Image via Marvel Studios
Loki Season 2 Producer Responds To Jonathan Majors' Assault Arrest
Majors' Arrest Took Place After The Actor Finished Production
In the lead - up to the premiere ofLokiseason 2 , manufacturer Kevin Wright was asked byVarietywhether Majors ' assault arrest affected the show . Wright explain that it did n’t , largely because all filming on the season wrapped in 2022 , prior to Majors ' arrest . When asked if the apprehension go to any word of making changes toLokiseason 2 , Wright said :
No . And that principally get from — I know as much as you do at the moment . It finger headlong to do anything without know how all of this play out .
Based on Wright ’s commentary , it seems Marvel was waiting to see the event of John Roy Major ' trial before making any decisions about how to go along with his engagement in the MCU . However , it ’s readable that no changes were made toLokiseason 2 due to the arrest of Majors .
Jonathan Majors Spoke About No Longer Being In The MCU
Majors Addressed Doctor Doom Taking Over For Kang
Over a yr after his initial arrest and several months after he was fire from the MCU , Jonathan Majors addressed the controversy . TMZcaught up with the actor and ask him what he think about Kang being replace in the MCU by Doctor Doom . major league respond that he liked the character of Doom , but admitted that he was " heartbroken . “When asked about how he was treated compare to other actors with criminal pasts who have play superheroes , such as Robert Downey Jr. and Ezra Miller , Majors shared :
" I recall it ’s bonny that Mr. Downey is being and has been greeted with longanimity and curiosity and love and that Mr. Miller has gotten the same intervention and that they ’re being allowed to mold their artistic creation and be creative at that level . I did n’t really get that . "
Others have made similar reflection as Majors makes regarding big - name actor whose criminal convictions and controversial past have been ignored , and they have been allowed to thrive . However , with the instance of Downey , his casting as Iron Man came years after he had served his prison time and gotten sober , whereas major league ' sacking is in response to the current condemnation . As for Miller , the poor reception toThe Flashwill likely intend he will not return to the role of Barry Allen again either .
Custom Image By Yeider Chacon
Where Is Jonathan Majors Now?
Since everything happened , news about Jonathan Majors has been relatively quiet , thoughhe did recently get engaged to Meagan Good(Shazam ! wildness of the Gods ) who backed John Major up through the entirety of his domestic violence trial . The two have been dating since May 2023 , just two months after his initial arrest .
In terms of Jonathan Majors ' acting career , his bodybuilding picture show , Magazine Dreams , is finally sire releasedafter Disney had previously shelved the film after acquiring it in 2023 accompany its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival . There is no set release escort , but it will arrive in theaters early in 2025 . In June 2024,Deadlinereported that Majors was set to asterisk in his first film since the guilty verdict with the supernatural thriller , Merciless , take by Martin Villeneuve , younger brother to acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve .
With a match of releases on the apparent horizon , the inquiry arise about whether his acting career will fully be able to regain . Hollywood has a history of people who have essentially had career - ending controversy retort in some electrical capacity to the film industriousness . It seems likely thatJonathan Majorswill witness work if he continues to behave , but it feel like he will never turn over the horizontal surface he was at not too long ago . His rise to celebrity was meteorologic and many viewed him as the next big actor for the industriousness , but Hollywood might truly be aweary of a rejoinder .
