Marvel Studios has decided to change the title of the upcoming Avengers film, “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” following lead star Jonathan Majors being found guilty of assault. Majors, who was dropped by Marvel Studios after the verdict, was set to play the main villain in the film. The 34-year-old actor was found guilty of one count of third-degree assault and one count of harassment, while being acquitted of another count of assault and one aggravated harassment count. His sentencing is scheduled for February 6, and he faces up to one year in prison.
Jonathan Majors, known for his role as Kang the Conqueror in the TV series “Loki” and the 2023 film “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” was set to be the next major Avengers villain. However, in light of the charges and guilty verdict, Marvel has decided to change the film’s title to “Avengers 5” until a new title is finalized. This decision implies that Kang will be written out of the franchise instead of being recast.
Marvel executives, including studio boss Kevin Feige, previously discussed backup plans, including pivoting to another comic book adversary, such as Fantastic Four character Dr. Doom. Following the assault allegations, Majors was dropped by his management team, and the US Army removed advertisements featuring the actor. He was also reportedly dropped from the adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel “The Man in My Basement,” and another project, “Magazine Dreams,” has been removed from Walt Disney Studios’ release calendar.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg issued a statement after the verdict, emphasizing the commitment to centering survivors in their work. The trial illustrated a cycle of psychological and emotional abuse, showcasing patterns of coercion common in intimate partner violence cases. The jury determined that Majors’ pattern of abuse and coercion culminated in assaulting and harassing his girlfriend, with gratitude expressed to the survivor for bravely telling her story.