Movies

Jonathan Majors, once set for Marvel glory, ‘heartbroken’ over MCU pivot to Robert Downey Jr.

BBG News

As a seasoned movie critic with decades of watching and analyzing films under my belt, I must say that the recent turn of events involving Jonathan Majors and Marvel Studios has left me both intrigued and saddened.

Marvel Studios has grand designs (and a highly prominent figure) for the upcoming phase of their cinematic world, and troubled actor Jonathan Majors shares his perspectives on it.

Actors associated with portraying the villain Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who was expected to become the next major antagonist following appearances in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Loki,” expressed dissatisfaction in a recent interview about the studio’s decision to move away from his time-traveling villain role. In December 2023, Marvel Studios decided to terminate their association with this actor, following a New York trial where he was found guilty of assault and harassment against his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari after a two-week court case.

Firing of the actor in December raised questions among the public about how Marvel would handle Majors’ character, Kang, and his role within the MCU, particularly in “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” initially scheduled for release in 2026. During last week’s Comic-Con in San Diego, Marvel announced their solution: Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Doctor Doom to fill Kang’s spot in the upcoming Avengers film, now titled “Avengers: Doomsday.” The movie is still scheduled for a 2026 premiere.

The disclosure by RDJ (Robert Downey Jr.) sparked a variety of responses, even causing perplexity from his on-screen spouse Gwyneth Paltrow (“I just don’t understand, are you becoming a villain now?”). However, in an interview with TMZ published yesterday, Majors expressed his sadness over the change, stating he is “devastated” by it.

“Of course. I love him, I love Kang,” he said, before adding, “Doctor Doom is wicked, though.”

TMZ additionally questioned Majors regarding his estrangement from Marvel, mentioning the handling of Downey and Miller, two celebrities who have criminal records yet landed major film roles. In the past, Oscar-winning Downey served prison time due to drug possession and other charges, but later starred in movies like “Iron Man,” “The Avengers,” and most recently, “Oppenheimer.” Despite a series of arrests and allegations of misconduct against them, Miller continues to be part of the 2023 film “The Flash” produced by Warner Bros.

“Majors stated that it seems just for Mr. Downey and Miller to receive patience, interest, affection, and freedom to express their creativity. However, he felt he hadn’t experienced the same treatment.”

In relation to the controversy surrounding Majors and Marvel, his upcoming drama “Magazine Dreams” was postponed prior to his domestic violence trial. Additionally, he stepped down from a leading role in a biopic about basketball legend Dennis Rodman. However, recent news indicates that Majors will star in the revenge thriller “Merciless.” Moreover, Majors expressed an openness to rejoining the Marvel Cinematic Universe just yesterday.

“Absolutely, I’m a big fan of Kang,” Majors shared with TMZ. “Should the fans and Marvel be on board, count me in! Definitely!”

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2024-08-01 02:31

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