After Disney and Marvel Studios swiftly dropped Jonathan Majors, fans get into heated discussions comparing the similar legal troubles of Ezra Miller and Amber Heard.
Jonathan Majors, known for his roles on Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and his jury conviction sent shockwaves through the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Majors, who portrayed variations of Kang/He Who Must Remain and Victor Timely, has been immediately dropped by Marvel Studios following his conviction on two misdemeanor assault and harassment charges related to his ex-girlfriend.
News of the verdict, which came after a two-week domestic violence trial, could result in Majors facing up to a year in jail.
BREAKING: Marvel, Disney drop actor Jonathan Majors after he’s convicted of assaulting his former girlfriend https://t.co/HQFU7h7EOT
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 18, 2023
While he was acquitted of two other harassment and assault charges, the severity of the convictions has led Marvel Studios to sever ties with the actor. This marks a significant departure from Marvel’s previous direction, where Majors was positioned as a major villain in the franchise, even having his own movie in the works, tentatively titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
The swift action taken by Marvel Studios has drawn parallels with a past controversy involving actor Ezra Miller during the production of DCU’s The Flash. Miller faced legal troubles dating back to April 2020 when a video surfaced showing them allegedly choking a woman in Reykjavík, Iceland.
In 2022, Miller was arrested in Hawaii on charges of disorderly conduct and harassment, following an incident where they refused to leave a woman’s house after a consensual sexual relationship.
But here’s the rub: the release of The Flash prompted debates among audiences about Miller’s future with the company, with some calling for the film’s cancellation or boycott. However, despite the legal woes Miller found themselves in, the movie was released in June 2023, albeit with disappointing box office results.
In the case of Jonathan Majors, MCU fans are now grappling with uncertainty regarding the future of the Multiverse Saga and the potential repercussions for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Rumors have arisen about the recasting of Majors’ character, drawing parallels to the early franchise decision to recast Terrence Howard who played James Rhodes in the first Iron Man film. In the sequel, the role was given to Don Cheadle.
The situation has also ignited discussions around the potential influence of racial tensions on the guilty verdict. Marvel Studios’ decision to part ways with Majors so quickly after the jury conviction has raised questions about the broader implications for diversity and representation within the MCU.
Ezra Miller was arrested for second-degree assault in Hawaii, was released and within a year was on the red carpet of a movie premier.
Jonathan Majors called the cops to save his girls life and is looking at 2 years in jail as a result of that. pic.twitter.com/xGiC2MQ10R
— Rah One 🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@Eon1Eno) December 18, 2023
Again, the discussions on social media such as X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit gave parallels to Ezra Miller, as well as Amber Heard. Compared to Majors, Miller and Heard had received a gentler touch with regard to keeping them in their DCEU roles in The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, respectively.
As the MCU has grown to be a global cultural phenomenon, issues surrounding the personal conduct of its stars have increasingly become subjects of public scrutiny. The rapid response from Marvel Studios in distancing itself from Jonathan Majors underscores the importance placed on maintaining a positive image and addressing any legal controversies that could potentially tarnish the franchise’s reputation.
Amber Heard Fans ! Pls watch @aquamanmovie #AquamanAndTheLostKingdom . The story and the screentime of AH was not altered. 5/5 stars. Thank you James Wan pic.twitter.com/xVLU3vtmjP
— FRANCIS VIIPERI (@FrancisViiperi) December 20, 2023
But what do you think of the current situation regarding the pivotal character of Kang the Conqueror? Should Marvel Studios recast the role? Or should they go back to the drawing board and revise Avengers: The Kang Dynasty to highlight a different big bad villain? Did Marvel Studios pull the trigger too quickly in dropping Majors compared to the leniency Warner Bros. Discovery showed for Ezra Miller and Amber Heard?
