Just days after Marvel revealed Robert Downey Jr. as the new Doctor Doom, the new villain for the upcoming two Avengers films, at San Diego Comic-Con, Jonathan Majors said he was “heartbroken” over the decision.
Majors, 34, was destined to become the next big villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), following his brief introduction in the TV series Loki and 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania.
Majors was arrested for assault in March 2023. When he was found guilty of third-degree reckless assault and harassment, Marvel dropped him.
The studio confirmed that the title of their 2026 film – Avengers: The Kang Dynasty – would be changed. During SDCC, it was confirmed that the film will now be called Avengers: Doomsday.
Just days after it was announced that Downey Jr. – who previously played superhero Iron Man in the MCU before taking on the role of villain Doctor Doom – would be taking on the role of the new villain, TMZ caught up with Majors in LA
Just days after Marvel revealed Robert Downey Jr. as the new Doctor Doom at San Diego Comic-Con, the new villain for the next two Avengers films, Jonathan Majors revealed he is “heartbroken” over the decision
Majors, 34, was poised to become the next major villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after his brief introduction in the TV series Loki and in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania
Just days after the announcement that Downey Jr. — who previously played the superhero Iron Man in the MCU before taking on the role of villain Doctor Doom — would be taking on the role of the new villain, TMZ spoke to Majors in LA
When asked if he was “hurt” by the new direction Marvel was taking after cutting him from their films, Majors replied, “Yes, heartbroken.”
“Come on, yeah, of course. I love him. I love Kang,” Majors added, when the reporter mentioned that Downey Jr. and DC actor Ezra Miller have had legal troubles and “been arrested for crimes,” while he has only been convicted of a misdemeanor.
When asked if it was “unfair” that he wasn’t given “the same opportunities that they were given,” Majors said, “I think it’s fair that Mr. Downey was met with patience, curiosity, and love, and that Mr. Miller was given the same treatment, and that they were allowed to practice their art. I didn’t really understand that, so you know.”
Downey Jr. was arrested for driving under the influence in 1996, when officers found heroin, crack cocaine, and a .357 Magnum in his car.
He was sentenced to three years in prison for violating his probation. He served one year of his sentence before being released.
After years of struggling with addiction, he finally got clean, and has been for years, until his comeback that began with 2008’s Iron Man.
He was eventually pardoned in 2015 by then-California Governor Jerry Brown, regaining his right to vote and serve on a jury.
Miller has faced a slew of legal troubles in recent years, including a 2022 burglary charge in which several bottles of alcohol were stolen.
When asked if he was “hurt” by the new direction Marvel was taking after they cut him from their films, Majors said, “Yes, heartbroken.”
“Come on, yeah, of course. I love him. I love Kang,” Majors added, when the reporter mentioned that Downey Jr. and DC actor Ezra Miller have had legal troubles and “been arrested for crimes,” while he has only been convicted of a misdemeanor.
When asked if it was “unfair” that he wasn’t given “the same opportunities that they were given,” Majors said, “I think it’s fair that Mr. Downey was met with patience, curiosity, and love, and that Mr. Miller was given the same treatment, and that they were allowed to practice their art. I didn’t really understand that, so you know.”
Miller recently starred in Warner Bros.’ 2023 film The Flash, but has not committed to anything since that film’s release.
When asked if he wondered why she thought Downey and Miller got those opportunities and he didn’t, Majors replied, “Wow… I don’t know.”
Majors was sentenced to probation and 52 weeks of a domestic violence program for his felony conviction.
In June, it was announced that he would star in a supernatural revenge thriller titled Merciless for Martin Villeneuve, the younger brother of Dune director Denis Villeneuve.