Marvel Faces Casting Dilemma As Jonathan Majors’ Domestic Violence Case Moves Forward

Marvel is considering cast shake-ups for its upcoming slate of films due to leading star Jonathan Majors’ ongoing domestic violence case. The actor was set to play a major role as “Kang the Conqueror” in the superhero film franchise.

Variety confirmed the news on Nov. 1, as Marvel executives attended a retreat to discuss the next era of superhero content. A big topic on their agenda was what to do with Majors, whose legal drama is beginning to take its toll and overshadow his career.

The 34-year-old was arrested in March 2023 on strangulation, harassment, and assault charges. The case has gone through many controversies of its own, including an unveiling of ambiguous evidence by the defense and a recanted statement from the alleged victim, 30-year-old Grace Jabbari, who was believed to be in a relationship with the Marvel actor at the time.

As the investigation into the domestic assault unfolds, the Disney media entity is brainstorming plans to refocus to ensure they don’t wholly revolve around Majors’ character as the main villain. However, as the Yale alum had already made his debut in numerous Marvel projects, a shift away from the Kang arc would prove tedious for the team, especially Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios.

“Marvel is truly f**ked with the whole Kang angle,” revealed a source to the news outlet. “And they haven’t had an opportunity to rewrite until very recently [because of the WGA strike]. But I don’t see a path to how they move forward with [Majors].”

While they consider multiple options, including introducing new villain Dr. Doom to its universe or recasting the role altogether, Majors still has to face a trial for the allegations following an Oct. 25 ruling that denied his motion to dismiss the case. The actor is set to reappear in court on Nov. 29 for the domestic violence trial.