Release Schedule Changes for Jonathan Majors' Film 'Magazine Dreams'

Disney is currently reshuffling its release schedule due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. However, Magazine Dreams, a film featuring Jonathan Majors, has been pulled from release for different reasons. Majors is facing legal problems after being arrested earlier this year on charges of domestic battery against his partner. In March 2023, he was taken into custody by the New York Police Department in response to a 911 call from a Manhattan apartment. During this time, Majors was involved in projects such as Creed III and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, where he reprised his role as Kang the Conqueror in future Marvel Cinematic Universe installments, including Season Two of the Disney+ series, Loki.

The reason for the film's removal from the calendar is still unknown. However, considering that Majors' role in Loki seems to have concluded for now, it appears that there is no need for Disney to shy away from the fact that his name has become controversial. Additionally, since his court case is now moving forward to trial after a motion to dismiss was rejected, it might be a sensible decision for the company to temporarily distance themselves from the actor.

He also made appearances in commercials, collaborating with the United States Army, all of which were quickly pulled after the accusations and ensuing legal action. The Kang Dynasty, the fifth installment in Marvel's blockbuster series, was originally planned to prominently showcase Majors' character.

Why is Jonathan Majors a Problem for Disney?

Majors' behavior caused significant problems for both Disney and Marvel. Writer and author of the upcoming book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, Joanna Robinson, previously stated on The Ringer's The Big Picture podcast that she discovered the intentions of the Marvel parliament while working on her book. This group of creatives, who plan out the phases of the MCU, had never intended to focus on Kang. However, Majors' performance changed their minds.

Robinson, a senior writer for Vanity Fair with a history of writing exclusive Marvel articles, discussed how Majors brought about a creative shift in approach. However, with Majors facing domestic battery charges and the trial ahead, it seems that distancing themselves from him is the wise choice for Disney.