Jonathan Majors has secured his first movie role following his 2023 domestic assault conviction and subsequent dismissal from Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. Majors will headline the independent revenge thriller “Merciless,” directed by Martin Villeneuve.
Villeneuve, the brother of renowned “Dune” director Denis Villeneuve, confirmed Majors’ casting to Variety. The film, penned by Frank Hannah, centers on a CIA investigator who resorts to extreme measures after his loved one falls victim to dark forces. Filming is set to begin in Saskatchewan in late fall.
In April, Majors was sentenced to a year of domestic violence counseling after being found guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend. The Manhattan judge overseeing the trial mandated a 52-week in-person program in Los Angeles, potentially conflicting with the filming schedule for “Merciless.”
Despite denying the allegations throughout the trial, Majors expressed his intent to continue his Hollywood career. Before his arrest in March 2023, he starred in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “Creed III,” and the Emmy-winning “Lovecraft Country.”
Following his conviction, Marvel Studios cut ties with Majors, who portrayed Kang the Conqueror. This decision affected his roles in future Marvel projects, including 2026’s “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.” Additionally, Majors was dropped by his management firm, Entertainment 360, and publicity firm, the Lede Company, though he remains represented by WME.
“Merciless” is being developed by producer Christopher Tuffin at Sentient. Tuffin, known for the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom,” is starting a new media venture aimed at supporting artists despite public and legal challenges.
