Yahoo News ‘Loki’ Season 2 and the Jonathan Majors Crossroads
[Editor’s Note: This post contains spoilers for “Loki” Season 2, Episode 4.]
How important is Jonathan Majors in “Loki” Season 2?
More from IndieWire
The Cast of 'Friends' Pays Tribute to Matthew Perry: 'We Are All So Utterly Devastated'
'Fellow Travelers' Recreates a Real-Life '50s Gay Bar - With a Little Added Cinematic Flair
Allow me to invoke the same energy as a popular meme of Beanie Feldstein from “Ladybird” — he’s not the titular role, but he’s the ultimate villain. Majors made his MCU debut in the “Loki” Season 1 finale as “He Who Remains” — a man at the end of time, and a foe so formidable that Loki himself (Tom Hiddleston) is visibly terrified by his memory.
Officially unmasked as Kang the Conqueror in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” Majors quickly became the centerpiece of Marvel’s Phase 5 — a series of films and shows culminating in “Avengers: Kang Dynasty” (the actual titular role!) in 2026. Through his performance, the actor proved to be a villain as magnetic and menacing as the best of them and a worthy torchbearer for Marvel’s future.
All of that is in freefall since Majors was arrested after assault allegations from ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. Police made the arrest in New York and found injuries on Jabbari’s head and neck (Majors has denied all allegations). A Rolling Stone investigation revealed reports of Majors behaving abusively on set and with partners for as long as a decade. The latest documents obtained by Variety offer further details about the March 25 incident as well as references to Jabbari’s medical care and a police report from 2022. Jabbari was arrested on October 25, but the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it “would decline to prosecute any charges brought by the NYPD against Ms. Jabbari related to the belated allegations made by defendant [Majors] regarding the incident on March 25, 2023.” Jabbari was released, and the case is scheduled go to trial on November 29.
IndieWire last checked in with “Loki” on October 5, the week of the premiere episode which Majors was actually not in at all. His character — a Kang variant known in his timeline as Victor Timely, was introduced in Episode 3 and died a violent death in Episode 4. In fact, all the characters might be dead after the October 27 cliffhanger, but are all equally likely to return as new variants in new timelines — Kang included — with a new episode on November 2. Season 3 is not confirmed, but “Loki” is Marvel’s most successful series starring the rare character who has now stayed in the MCU for over a decade.
The week of the premiere, “Loki” executive producer Kevin Wright explicitly told Variety that there were no plans to recut the series or recast Majors, but those decisions will have to be revisited depending on the trial results — and perhaps adjusted as the story develops. Marvel execs are paying attention as much as anyone, no doubt planning multiple contingencies depending on how the trial goes.
So how do Marvel Studios and Disney respond to what is at the very least a significant blot on a prized brand? Recasting Majors should not be unthinkable under the circumstances, even if he already shot scenes for other projects — there’s ample precedent, for better or worse. Warner Bros. made the call with Johnny Depp in “Fantastic Beasts” (replaced by Mads Mikkelsen), but also stood firm when it came to keeping Ezra Miller on in and as “The Flash.” Notably, neither franchise is thriving; critical and commercial performance for “The Secrets of Dumbledore” effectively concluded the Wizarding World series, while a “Flash” sequel is planned in theory but won’t go into production for years — if at all.
Marvel has always had a strong fan base and consistently better quality than the aforementioned properties — but the subset of viewers who consider it to be event entertainment is dwindling. Searches for Majors on social media yield results mainly about the allegations and trial, and mentions of “Loki” rarely separate his performance from the news cycle. As with the case of Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard, there is a mix of fervent public sentiment that takes sides and chooses its hero, as well as a steady stream of misinformation, lack of updates, and exhaustion at another Hollywood figure whose reputation — and criminal record — is in flux.
Given that “Loki” Season 3 hasn’t been ordered, at this point, if there is a guilty verdict, it seems like the most likely scenario is that “Loki” will be canceled. Which will still leave what to do about Majors an issue for the films to address, either by recasting, keeping him in it (only possible if the allegations don’t hold), or reassessing Kang’s importance in Phase 5 — which would involve restructuring multiple films and series.
With a trial about to begin, Disney’s official decision will likely arrive right on the heels of a verdict. Depending on the results, the company might breathe a sigh of relief and continue betting on Majors (many of his fans remain loyal even as the case develops), with the option to minimize his role in future projects. Even if the charges are dismissed, Disney could still recast or move in a new direction — and certainly if the allegations are proven true. And while fan sentiment can’t quite be measured on social media these days, fans are certainly watching, whatever comes next.
“Loki” Season 2 concludes on November 9.
Best of IndieWire
Where to Watch This Week's New Movies, from 'The Holdovers' to 'The Killer' and 'Priscilla'
The 60 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century, from 'Melancholia' and 'M3GAN' to 'Asteroid City'
Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
