Disney cut their ties with Kang actor Jonathan Majors just hours after his guilty verdict for misdemeanor assault and harassment. While Majors faces a year in prison, Disney’s decision has cast doubt on the future of the MCU. According to insider sources, Marvel might choose to recast the role and continue with the Kang storyline. Fans have already found Majors’ potential replacement in actor John Boyega.
Boyega has previously collaborated with Disney in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as Finn. The Woman King actor was not happy about how the studio handled his character in those films. Fans speculate that the Kang role could offer the redemption arc that Boyega deserves.
Fans Suggest John Boyega As A Replacement For Jonathan Majors
Marvel had set up Jonathan Majors’ Kang as their prime character in phases 5 and 6. Majors played the role of the multiversal villain in Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The studio understands that it might be too late to move away from the Kang storyline and is considering recasting the role. While it remains unclear if the studio has initiated the search for a new actor, fans are quickly putting together some casting ideas.
A prevailing choice among fans is Star Wars actor John Boyega, surpassing even veteran actors like Will Smith or Denzel Washington for the role. Fans also suggest that Disney should offer Boyega the redemption arc he deserves, especially after the British actor called out the studio’s mishandling of a black character in Star Wars. Boyega earlier told GQ:
“What I would say to Disney is do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are, and then have them pushed to the side. It’s not good.”
Fans on X strongly believed that Boyega’s insane acting abilities would make him an excellent fit for the Kang role. A fan page also started a petition advocating for Boyega’s casting, along with some AI-generated images depicting how he might appear in the Kang role. Some fan reactions read:
Go get him! His acting abilities are INSANE and he’d kill it for sure! pic.twitter.com/VNoZ5u3bzD
— Chase (@IMayBeChase) December 19, 2023
I think John Boyega
— Michael Schiro (@Schirombaseball) December 19, 2023
— Johnny Utah (@johnnyutah269) December 19, 2023
Jon Boyega. Has worked with Disney before. Gives him redemption for that god awful Star Wars trilogy
— Johnny GB (@JohnnyGB412) December 19, 2023
Petition: John Boyega should replace Jonathan Majors as #KangTheConqueror pic.twitter.com/j3tsZn3eIz
— Reel Moments 🎞 (@reelmomentsAI) April 20, 2023
Disney understood Boyega’s criticism about his Star Wars role and invited him for a meeting to discuss ways to better support BIPOC actors in the future. Boyega, in turn, also appreciated Disney protecting Moses Ingram, the Black actress who played Reva Sevander in Obi-Wan Kenobi, when she faced online harassment in the form of racist messages.
John Boyega Earlier Hinted That He May Not Take On The Role
While fans are hellbent on bringing Boyega into the MCU, it appears that the actor may not be particularly interested. The question was posed to him last month when he shared photos of himself with Anthony Mackie. One fan commented, “tell anthony mackie to connect you w whoever in charge of recasting kang”, to which Boyega responded with a GIF of a scene from Shrek where Donkey shakes his head.
Boyega dismissed rumors of his entry into the MCU in 2022, stating to Men’s Health that the $29 billion franchise was not in his “vision”. He expressed his interest in acting in more nuanced roles in independent films. Boyega also cheekily added, “I know it’s real hard to top Iron Man in that universe.”
On December 18, Jonathan Majors was found guilty of assault in the third degree and harassment by a six-person jury. The incident in question happened on March 25 when his girlfriend at the time, Grace Jabbari, called the police against the actor. Majors was found not guilty on two other charges leveled against him. His sentencing is scheduled for February 6.
