Jonathan Majors, known for his role as He Who Remains in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phases 4 through 6, has been officially removed from the Marvel Studios roster. This decision follows the actor’s recent conviction for reckless assault and harassment in a domestic violence trial, as determined by a six-person jury in New York City. The studio spokesperson confirmed the news, indicating their choice not to proceed with Majors in the MCU.
Majors made his debut as the mega villain He Who Remains in the first season of Loki in 2021, subsequently appearing in the show’s second season and the February release, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which grossed over $476 million worldwide. Additionally, he achieved success in Amazon MGM’s “Creed III,” released in March earning over $275 million.
Despite Majors’ legal troubles, talent agency WME has continued to represent him since his arrest on March 25. His longtime agent, Elan Ruspoli, briefly testified in Majors’ defense during the two-week trial.
The character He Who Remains, originally planned to be a significant antagonist in the MCU’s Phases 5 and 6, was set to have his movie titled “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” scheduled for May 1, 2026. However, the departure of the movie’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton, raised questions about the future of the Kang character.
Marvel is yet to announce whether they will recast the role while keeping the character intact. Michael Waldron has been assigned to write “Avengers: Kang Dynasty” to bring a fresh perspective to the Avengers movies given Majors’ situation.
The Season 2 finale of Loki left the fate of Kang the Conqueror ambiguous. Marvel has a history of swapping actors for specific roles, as seen with Terrence Howard being replaced by Don Cheadle as Rhodey in the Iron Man series.
Before his arrest in March, Majors was poised for a successful 2023, receiving acclaim for his role in the Sundance drama “Magazine Dreams.” However, the film’s fate, initially scheduled for release on December 8 by Searchlight, remains uncertain after being pulled from the theatrical schedule by the Disney-owned label in October.
Majors also faced professional setbacks, being terminated by his manager 360 Entertainment and publicist The Lede Company, leading to his departure from various projects, including the adaptation of Walter Mosley’s novel “The Man in My Basement,” an ad campaign for the Texas Rangers MLB team, and an unannounced Otis Redding biopic.
Source: Deadline