Jonathan Majors Still In Marvel Despite Ongoing Controversies?
Jonathan Majors, star of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, has been in news headlines quite a bit this year due to his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, accusing him of domestic abuse, coupled with claims of a long history of abusive behavior. Marvel Studios, however, has remained silent regarding Majors’ future as Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With that said, the actor’s appearance in Marvel Studios’ new Assembled episode suggests the studio has opted to retain the 33-year-old actor.
Despite accusations of domestic abuse, Jonathan Majors is part of the Marvel Studios: Assembled episode about Ant-Man 3.
Marvel Studios: Assembled is an extensive documentary series that provides insight into the development of the company’s exciting new shows and film releases. The second season’s premiere episode, detailing the creation of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, debuted on Disney+ on July 19. In this episode, cast members and production staff, including Jonathan Majors, discuss the process of transforming an extraordinary new universe into a cinematic reality.
A five-minute portion of the episode was devoted to the character of Kang the Conqueror. The segment features scenes of the He Who Remains variant from Loki, behind-the-scenes footage from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and interview sessions with Jonathan Majors.
During these interviews, Majors expressed his excitement about his involvement in the Ant-Man franchise and his overall inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Intriguingly, the actor’s only contribution to the recent episode of Assembled was in the segment focused on Kang the Conqueror. Notably, neither the cast nor crew of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania acknowledged or lauded his portrayal of the antagonistic character. This suggests that amidst the ongoing controversy, Marvel Studios is refraining from portraying Jonathan Majors in a positive light.
The episode The Making of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was originally scheduled to premiere on June 14, but it was indefinitely postponed, presumably due to the controversy involving Jonathan Majors and his ongoing legal proceedings. Additionally, there was the ongoing strike by the Writer’s Guild of America, adding further uncertainty about the special’s release.
Fans thought The Making of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was canceled because of Jonathan Majors legal issues.
Under these circumstances, fans were uncertain about the special episode’s airing, further stoking speculation that Majors’ tenure with Marvel Studios might be up.
Jonathan Majors was arrested on March 25 and subsequently charged with two counts of third-degree assault, aggravated harassment, and attempted assault against a woman following allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.
Jonathan Majors claims to be innocent, and has provided information to the NYPD supporting his case, but Disney has yet to say anything about the situation.
Even though Majors maintains his innocence, the 33-year-old actor’s professional relationships have suffered in the wake of the incident. Several of his projects have disassociated themselves from him, and his PR firm terminated their contract with him.
Despite the controversy surrounding him, Jonathan Majors’ involvement in the recent Assembled episode signals that Marvel Studios hasn’t completely distanced itself from the actor yet. The studio is evidently hoping for the best regarding Majors’ ongoing court case and recent allegations of a history of abusive behavior, but it is also preparing for any possible outcome.
Undoubtedly, the studio will keep a close eye on the progression of the trial and will make future decisions based on the court’s verdict.
