Jonathan Majors has opened up about his disappointment after losing his breakthrough role as a Marvel villain to Robert Downey Jr.
The 34-year-old actor, who was let go by the franchise following a domestic violence conviction, shared his feelings in a recent interview, describing the news as “heartbreaking.”
Majors expressed his deep connection to his character, Kang the Conqueror, saying, “Come on, yeah, of course. I love him. I love Kang.” When asked if he would ever want to return to the role, he was enthusiastic: “Hell yeah. If that’s what the fans want, if that’s what Marvel wants, let’s roll.”
Majors had made a significant impact with his portrayal of Kang in “Loki” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” He was poised to be Marvel’s next major antagonist. However, after his conviction for assault, Marvel Studios decided to remove him from future projects in December 2023.
The surprise announcement at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con revealed that Robert Downey Jr., best known for his role as Iron Man, would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this time as the infamous Doctor Doom. Fans were taken aback by the shift, which marked a significant change in Marvel’s direction.
With Downey stepping into the villainous role, the 2026 film initially titled “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” has been renamed “Avengers: Doomsday.” This rebranding has generated a mix of excitement and curiosity among fans, eager to see Downey’s new portrayal.
On stage at Comic-Con in July 2024, Downey embraced his new role with characteristic charm, saying, “New mask, same task. What did I tell ya? I like playing complicated characters.” His return to the MCU promises to bring a fresh dynamic to the franchise, blending his iconic presence with a new villainous twist.
As Marvel moves forward with Downey as Doctor Doom, the future of the MCU looks set to take an intriguing turn. Meanwhile, Majors’ fans hope for his return to the screen, be it in Marvel or elsewhere, as he navigates the next chapter of his career.