Avengers 5, one of Marvel’s next big films, unfortunately found itself in trouble before the project even launched. Here is a detailed explanation of the situation
Jonathan Majors, known for his role as Kang the Conqueror in the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and tipped for the lead role in Avengers 5, has just encountered a significant and problematic turning point in his career. And this situation represents a real cataclysm for Marvel and the entire MCU. It requires a total redefinition of orientations and requires a substantial change in the program currently planned.
Avengers 5 and Marvel in trouble
So on December 18, a Manhattan jury found Majors guilty of third-degree assault and harassment. The verdict follows a two-week trial stemming from an incident in March between the actor and his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari.
Prior to his arrest in March, Majors was considered a key figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the current storyline built around his character, Kang the Conqueror. This time-traveling villain played a crucial role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and both seasons of Loki. He was also to be the protagonist of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, scheduled for May 1, 2026. This film, still in the script phase and without a director attached, has not yet started filming.
Faced with this situation, Marvel is considering two options: recast the role or redevelop its plans by focusing on a new villain. Although Marvel’s sources remain tight-lipped, it appears the studio has already begun exploring this second option. In November, Loki creator Michael Waldron was hired to work on a new version of the script, now named Avengers 5.
The studio has resorted to recasting in the past, but for creative or financial disputes, not legal issues. For example, Terrence Howard and Edward Norton were replaced in the sequels to Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk by Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo respectively. Most recently, Harrison Ford replaced the late William Hurt as Thunderbolt Ross for Captain America: New World Order.
The end of a career
Majors, considered one of Hollywood’s rising stars, also starred in Creed III in 2023. He made his name with The Last Black Man in San Francisco, before starring in Devotion, Lovecraft Country, The Harder They Fall and Da 5 Bloods. His film Magazine Dreams, presented at Sundance in January 2023, is currently on hold following his legal troubles.
Majors was arrested on March 25, after he called 911 reporting he found his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari, unconscious in their New York apartment. Police found injuries on Jabbari, including a bruised and fractured finger, as well as a cut behind his ear. Majors has pleaded not guilty to all charges.