Jonathan Majors Dropped by Management and PR Firms, an Ad Campaign, and Two Feature Films He Was Circling
Jonathan Majors walking on the red carpet at the 95th Academy Awards held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on March 12, 2023. (Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
Creed 3 and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania actor Jonathan Majors is facing criminal charges related to the domestic abuse allegations that surfaced following his arrest in late March. While the case has been silent for a few weeks, we have now had some development, as he’s been dropped by his manager, two different projects, and an ad campaign.
Deadline broke the news earlier this week about Majors being dropped by his longtime talent manager Entertainment 360, apparently due to issues regarding the actor’s personal behavior. His PR firm The Lede Company is also no longer in business with him, while fashion house Valentino reached an agreement with him not to attend this year’s Met Gala as a guest.
The day after, Deadline also reported that Hollywood studios have taken note, with two different projects parting ways with him as well. They are Protagonist Pictures’ feature adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel The Man in My Basement, which Majors would have starred in alongside Willem Dafoe, and also executive produced. Dafoe remains attached, and the search for Majors’ replacement is underway. He was also in talks to star in the Otis Redding biopic Otis and Zelma, which Fifth Season is developing, but according to Deadline, the production has moved on and is looking for another performer. The Texas Rangers were also going to feature Majors extensively in their 2023 ad campaign, but have now decided to stay away from it, according to Deadline.
Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 MARVEL.
It’s unclear if there has been any new information revealed behind the scenes that has prompted all of the above, or if it’s just a delayed reaction to his March 25 arrest and subsequent allegations. Two big questions still remain unanswered. The first, and perhaps less interesting, relates to the upcoming Magazine Dreams. The film, which had a Sundance debut, is targeting a December 8 release date after being acquired by Searchlight at the festival, and stars Majors as a bodybuilder. Early buzz pointed to a possible Oscar nomination for him come next awards season, but if the charges against Majors are not dropped and the NY attorney’s office pursues a criminal case against him, Disney could be forced to cut their losses and shelve the movie. The closest case in recent memory is Kevin Spacey being recast in All The Money in the World after the movie was already shot, though his part was not as large.
The second and more pressing matter pertains to Majors’ role as Kang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Deadline insists that the studio has not initiated any procedures for his replacement moving forward, though it seems very clear that he will not be part of the franchise past 2023, and we all know that Kevin Feige is thinking about it on a daily basis. Majors has a minor role in Loki season 2, and it looks like that’s going to be kept that way. More will be revealed soon.
Jonathan Majors is currently scheduled to appear in court on May 8 to address the assault and harassment charges that were pressed against him following his arrest by the New York Police after a dispute with a 30-year-old woman. His reps insisted at the time that they had enough evidence to prove his innocence, and released text messages from said woman that had her taking the blame for the altercation. They said:
“Please let me know you’re okay when you get this. They assured me that you won’t be charged. They said they had to arrest you as protocol when they saw the injuries on me and they knew we had a fight. I’m so angry that they did. And I’m sorry you’re in this position. Will make sure nothing happens about this. I told them it was my fault for trying to grab your phone. I only just got out of hospital. Just call me when you’re out. I love you.
They just called again to check on me and I reiterated how this was not an attack and they do not have my blessing on any charges being placed. I read the paper they gave me about strangulation and I said point blank this did not occur and should be removed immediately. The judge is definitely going to be told this. She ensured this to me. I know you have the best team and there’s nothing to worry about I just want you to know that I’m doing all I can my end. I also said to tell the judge to know that the origin of the call was to do with me collapsing and passing out and your worry as my partner due to our communication prior. Out of care. She promised all will be relayed.”
Miguel Fernández is a Spanish student that has movies as his second passion in life. His favorite movie of all time is The Lord of the Rings, but he is also a huge Star Wars fan. However, fantasy movies are not his only cup of tea, as authors like Scorsese, Fincher, Kubrick or Hitchcock have been an obsession for him since he started to understand the language of filmmaking. He is that guy who will watch a black and white movie, just because it is in black and white.
