Marvel is facing a major setback in its highly-anticipated Phase Five of cinematic releases as actor Jonathan Majors, who has been cast as the villain Kang the Conqueror, is facing serious legal troubles. Majors, who was introduced as the potential successor to Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been charged with domestic abuse, and Hollywood, which has a history of blacklisting actors accused of misconduct, is already showing signs of distancing itself from Majors.
Speculation over Majors’ role in the Marvel franchise has been running wild since the news of his legal troubles broke. According to well-connected sources, Disney and Marvel have already made the decision to let go of Majors, with writer Jeff Loveness reportedly no longer working on the upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. This news has sent shockwaves through the industry as Marvel was banking on Kang to be the next big villain in the franchise.
The decision to part ways with Majors comes as no surprise, given Hollywood’s past treatment of actors accused of misconduct. However, the timing could not have been worse for Marvel, as it is currently struggling to recover from a string of disappointments in its Phase Five releases. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumnobodycares underperformed at the box office, finishing well below studio expectations, while the Marvels, which just opened in theaters, is facing a similar fate.
Irrespective of the legal outcome of Majors’ case, Hollywood has already made up its mind. While it has been swift to turn its back on Majors, industry watchdogs have pointed out a clear double standard at play, especially with regards to the treatment of black actors. These same Hollywood studios continue to protect white actors with questionable pasts, such as Ezra Miller, who faced multiple allegations of misconduct but still landed a role in The Flash.
Marvel now faces two significant challenges as it scrambles to make necessary changes to its Phase Five lineup. Firstly, it must find a suitable replacement for Majors’ iconic role, with few actors likely to have the same impact or charisma as the talented Majors. Secondly, it must overhaul its storyline and add massive rewrites to upcoming films and streaming series to accommodate the change.
While Marvel has successfully recast roles in the past, this one might not be as easy. Whether it decides to recast or rewrite its storyline, Disney and Marvel will need to walk a tightrope in its handling of this situation. Either way, it is a massive setback for the studio and a massive relief for fans who have always been wary of the grooming scandal brewing beneath the surface of Hollywood.