Disney/Marvel Studios Dismisses Jonathan Majors After Assault Conviction; Future of Kang The Conqueror Role Uncertain

In a surprising turn of events, Jonathan Majors, known for his role as Kang The Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has been fired by Disney/Marvel Studios. The decision follows Majors’ guilty verdict in a domestic violence trial, where a six-person NYC jury found the Emmy-nominated actor guilty of reckless assault and harassment.

Majors had become a prominent figure in the MCU, debuting as the character He Who Remains, also known as Kang The Conqueror, in the first season of Loki in 2021. He continued this role in the second season and in the February movie Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which grossed over $476 million. Additionally, Majors saw success with Amazon MGM’s Creed III in March, grossing over $275 million.

Despite the controversy surrounding his arrest on March 25, WME continues to represent Majors, with his long-time agent Elan Ruspoli testifying in his defense during the trial.

The character of Kang The Conqueror was set to be a significant villain in Phases 5 and 6 of the MCU, including a standalone movie, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, scheduled for May 1, 2026. However, with Majors’ exit and the recent departure of director Destin Daniel Cretton, the future of this project is now in question. Michael Waldron, the showrunner of Loki season one, was brought on board to bring a fresh perspective to these movies in light of Majors’ situation.

This is not the first time Marvel Studios has faced the challenge of recasting a major role. Earlier in the MCU, Terrence Howard was replaced by Don Cheadle as Rhodey after the first “Iron Man” film.

Before his arrest, Majors was on track for a standout year, having received acclaim for his performance in the Sundance drama Magazine Dreams. The film, initially set for a December 8 theatrical release, was pulled from the schedule by Searchlight, with its future release format still undecided.

Following his arrest, Majors lost representation by his manager at 360 Entertainment and publicist The Lede Company. He was also removed from several projects, including the adaptation of Walter Mosley’s novel The Man in My Basement, a Texas Rangers MLB team ad campaign, and a potential Otis Redding biopic.

As the MCU navigates this unexpected change, the fate of Kang The Conqueror and future projects remains to be seen.