Jonathan Majors has become a controversial figure over the past year, and it has greatly affected his career. After several brands dropped him as an endorser, Marvel Studios immediately fired him as soon as he was found guilty.
He played Kang the Conqueror, one of the most highly anticipated villains in the history of the MCU. When asked how he got the coveted role, Majors claimed he did not even break a sweat. Indeed, no audition happened.
How Jonathan Majors Snagged Kang The Conqueror Role
Speaking with Total Film via Twitter, actor Jonathan Majors shared he joined the MCU without going through tryouts. He believed the studio bosses probably saw a performance of his that sparked their interest, though he could not ascertain which film it was.
“I guess after The Last Black Man in San Francisco. I can’t say it was that film at all. The Marvel team has their ways. It’s very much like getting a role in drama school. They’re just watching. You don’t audition for roles. You get into drama school, then the dean will watch what you’re doing. If they wanted you, you get tapped.”
While other Marvel actors had to try out for a role several times, Majors had it easy-peasy. However, in an interview with Vanity Fair, he admitted to almost losing the role because he walked out on his first orientation.
“I had just gotten out of drama school, and I’m running around town, and I’m sitting in the office. I grew up in a very particular way, and I don’t want to waste nobody’s time. So I got in there, and they’re just busy. And I was like, ‘I’m supposed to be here, right?’ It got long, and I went, ‘I’m just going to go. It’s cool. I’ll just go.’ ”
Before he stepped out of the building, Majors was told that the casting director was on her way, and they ended up forging a connection that led to him getting the role of Kang the Conqueror.
“I got to the door, but then they said Sarah Finn was going to come. We got in the room, and we chatted. We were having this great conversation. I think it was three years later that we had the Kang chat.”
Majors attended the Yale School of Drama, and joining the billion-dollar movie franchise was an unsure decision since people did not really consider it as real acting.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco May Have Started Jonathan Majors’ Career
The Last Black Man in San Francisco was the recipient of several awards, including Best Directing and a Special Jury Prize for Creative Collaboration at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as Top Ten Independent Films for the National Board of Review.
Despite its mediocre box office result, it earned a staggering 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was highly acclaimed for its storyline and even labeled as Oscar-worthy.
It’s most likely that Marvel saw Majors’ potential through this movie. It’s just sad that all the wonderful things that happened in his career the moment he stepped out of drama school are now all gone.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco is available to watch on Prime Video.
