Marvel Studios has big plans (and an even bigger star) for the newest phase of its cinematic universe, and embattled actor Jonathan Majors has some ideas.
Majors, whose Kang the Conqueror was poised to be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next big villain following appearances in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Loki,” revealed in a recent interview that he’s disappointed by the studio’s change of course toward its time-traveling villain. In December 2023, Marvel quickly cut ties with Majors after a New York jury convicted the “Lovecraft Country” actor of assaulting and stalking his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari following a contentious two-week trial.
The actor’s firing in December sparked public concern about how Marvel would proceed with its plans for Majors’ Kang and his role in the MCU, including “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” which was slated for a 2026 release. At San Diego Comic-Con last week, Marvel unveiled its strategy: Robert Downey Jr. will return to the franchise as Doctor Doom to replace Kang in the new “Avengers” movie, now called “Avengers: Doomsday.” The film is still scheduled for a 2026 release.
RDJ's revelation drew mixed reactions — including confusion from his on-screen wife, Gwyneth Paltrow (“I don't get it, are you a bad guy now?”) — but in a video interview released Wednesday, Majors told TMZ he's “heartbroken” by the change.
“Of course. I love him, I love Kang,” she said, before adding: “But Doctor Doom is evil.”
TMZ also pressed Majors on his feud with Marvel, mentioning Hollywood’s treatment of Downey as well as “The Flash” star Ezra Miller, both of whom have criminal records but went on to star in high-profile films. Downey, an Oscar winner, served a prison sentence in the late 1990s after being arrested for drug possession, among other charges, and went on to star in “Iron Man,” the “Avengers” films and, most recently, “Oppenheimer.” Miller remained on Warner Bros.’ 2023 “The Flash,” despite a string of arrests and abuse allegations against him in recent years.
“I think it’s only fair that Mr. Downey is being and has been treated with patience and curiosity and love, and that… Miller has been treated the same way and allowed to work their craft and be creative at that level,” Majors said. “I didn’t really understand that.”
Adding insult to injury, Majors’ upcoming drama “Magazine Dreams” was shelved in the months leading up to the actor’s domestic violence trial. He also backed out of a starring role in a biopic about NBA star Dennis Rodman. But earlier this month, Deadline reported that the “Creed III” actor will star in the revenge thriller “Merciless,” and Majors revealed Wednesday that he’s open to returning to work in the MCU.
“Hell yeah, I love it [Kang]Majors told TMZ: “If that’s what the fans want, if that’s what Marvel wants, let’s do it. Absolutely.”
Times staff writer Tracy Brown contributed to this report.
