Jonathan Majors Filming Action Movie Comeback

Former Marvel star Jonathan Majors is shooting his first movie in several years.

Deadline reports that is currently filming an action movie in South Carolina. The project is a collaboration between The Daily Wire and Bonfire Legend.

Kyle Rankin, known for directing “Run Hide Fight,” is directing a new film written by himself. Details like the title, story, and cast are currently secret, but the movie is expected to be similar in style to classic ’80s and ’90s action films like “Red Dawn” and “Toy Soldiers,” which featured groups of teenage boys fighting against invaders.

Jonathan Majors faced legal trouble starting in 2023 when he was arrested for attacking a former partner. He was convicted of reckless assault and harassment. Following the conviction, Marvel Studios fired him from his role as Kang the Conqueror, a character originally planned to be a central villain in future Avengers movies.

Instead of finding a new actor to play Kang, Marvel changed plans for his upcoming movie, originally called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. They brought back Robert Downey Jr., who famously played Iron Man, to play Dr. Doom in the film, now titled Avengers: Doomsday. The movie is set to be released in theaters on December 17th.

Before his legal troubles began, Jonathan Majors was a rising star in Hollywood. He gained recognition for his performance in the critically acclaimed film The Last Black Man in San Francisco and went on to appear in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods and as the villain in Creed III. He also played Kang in several episodes of the Marvel series Loki, and starred in the 2023 film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which was released about a month before his arrest.

Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

37. Eternals

I never would have guessed that a Marvel movie directed by an Oscar winner and inspired by Jack Kirby’s ambitious comics would end up being one of their weakest films. Unfortunately, Eternals just didn’t quite work. While it mostly stays true to Kirby’s original ideas, a few changes – like making the villains, the Deviants, into simple, unmotivated monsters – are really disappointing. The movie has a large cast with some good performances from Kumail Nanjiani and Brian Tyree Henry, but the leads, Gemma Chan and Richard Madden, don’t have much chemistry. Their characters are supposed to be deeply in love after 6,000 years, but they come across as if it’s a terrible first date. The script hints at interesting themes about superheroes, mythology, and religion, but quickly abandons them for predictable action sequences with uninspired monsters. It’s hard to imagine a more dull movie about immortal alien robots trying to save the world.

36. The Incredible Hulk

This movie feels incredibly rushed and poorly made, as if Marvel wasn’t prepared for the success of Iron Man and quickly threw this together. The biggest misstep? Casting Tim Roth as the villain – it’s a truly awful choice. (You can read more details here.)

35. Thor: The Dark World

It’s fascinating to think Patty Jenkins might have directed a very different Thor movie. What we ended up with was a disappointing adventure centered around a predictable quest for a magical object, and a remarkably uninteresting villain – one of the MCU’s weakest. However, this film’s failure might have actually helped Marvel take bigger risks later on, leading to the bold and creative direction of Thor: Ragnarok. (You can read more about this here.)

34. The Marvels

This isn’t the worst Marvel movie, though it’s definitely among the most confusing. It brings together three engaging heroes – Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau – to fight a Kree villain who’s simply determined to cause trouble. The actors have great chemistry, but the story is short, messy, and doesn’t always make a lot of sense.

33. Captain America: Brave New World

Many recent Marvel movies, including The Marvels, feel like they have great actors but weak stories. This is particularly true of Captain America: Brave New World. While it finally gives Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson his own movie, it’s let down by a dull villain and a plot that relies too much on references to The Incredible Hulk – specifically, unnecessary reminders about what happened to Betty Ross.

32. Doctor Strange

While Doctor Strange has impressive visuals, it feels a lot like another Iron Man movie, but with magic. The ending, with Dormammu, was a clever highlight, but Strange’s cape was a bit silly. (You can read a more detailed review here.)

31. Iron Man 2

Okay, I just watched it, and honestly, it was better than I expected, but it’s still not amazing. Sam Rockwell is fantastic – his energy really carries a lot of the weaker parts. If they’d just trimmed about 15 minutes of stuff that felt like it was setting up future movies, it could have been really good. You can read a more detailed review here if you’re curious.

30. Ant-Man

While Ant-Man isn’t a bad movie, it’s hard not to feel like a smaller-scale version of the more ambitious film Edgar Wright originally planned. On the bright side, Michael Peña’s character, Luis, might be the best non-superhero character in the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe. (You can read more about it here.)

29. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

The new movie pits Ant-Man against Kang the Conqueror, and even Kang (played by the intimidating Jonathan Majors) admits Ant-Man is outmatched. This imbalance reflects the film itself: the down-to-earth, character-driven world of the Ant-Man movies doesn’t quite fit with the large-scale, universe-hopping story Marvel is building in Phase 5. It’s an okay superhero movie, but a pretty average Ant-Man installment. (And don’t expect to see Michael Peña’s character, Luis, as he’s not in this one.)

28. Ant-Man and the Wasp

The movie Ant-Man and the Wasp is most enjoyable when it focuses on intimate moments – like Paul Rudd’s playful banter with the cast, Michael Peña’s funny stories, and the emotional journey of a family working through its problems. (You can read more about it here.)

27. Captain Marvel

While Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is arguably the most powerful character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie itself didn’t quite deliver the emotional impact it could have. It’s still enjoyable thanks to standout performances from Ben Mendelsohn as the clever Skrull Talos, and Samuel L. Jackson, who is remarkably convincing as a younger Nick Fury with the help of impressive special effects. (You can read more about it here.)

26. Black Widow

Though Scarlett Johansson finally got a standalone movie as Black Widow in 2021, the film focused more on her interactions with her quirky team of Russian superheroes – including the self-centered Red Guardian (David Harbour) and the standout Yelena (Florence Pugh) – than on giving her character a truly satisfying send-off. Despite this, Black Widow is still a reliably entertaining Marvel movie, featuring exciting action and a memorable villain in Taskmaster, who can copy the fighting style of anyone he faces.

25. Thor: Love and Thunder

Taika Waititi’s Love and Thunder feels similar to his previous Thor film, Ragnarok. The first movie was a delightful surprise, but this one, while still enjoyable, doesn’t have the same impact. Christian Bale delivers a chilling performance as the villain Gorr, but his serious, emotional portrayal clashes with Chris Hemsworth’s more comedic take on Thor. The film includes many of the same elements that made Ragnarok work, but they don’t quite come together as smoothly this time around.

24. Deadpool & Wolverine

The playful dynamic between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is a major highlight. The surprise appearances are genuinely shocking! However, the plot is overloaded with explanations and still feels confusing – it tries to give multiple tragic backstories to a single character. If you can switch your brain off and just enjoy the ride, you’ll have a good time. Reynolds and Jackman definitely deliver the fun fans expect from a reluctant team-up between Deadpool and Wolverine to save the X-Men world from Fox. It’s just a shame the writing, even with Reynolds contributing, isn’t quite as strong as the performances.

23. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

While not as good as you might recall, Iron Man 2 is still an enjoyable movie. The trailers emphasized a complex thriller plot that didn’t quite deliver, but Anthony Mackie’s introduction as the Falcon is a highlight, and Chris Evans remains a solid Captain America. However, it’s hard to believe Nick Fury, a supposedly top-tier spy, was unaware of the widespread corruption within SHIELD. He really should have been more aware of what was going on around him. (You can read a more detailed review here.)

22. Avengers: Infinity War

This movie is incredibly ambitious and large in scale, with a truly memorable ending. However, it doesn’t quite fully deliver on everything it sets out to do. If you’re simply looking for an action-packed Marvel film with witty dialogue, you’ll probably enjoy it. But if you prefer stories that focus on character development, strong relationships, and quieter, more emotional moments, this might not be for you. (You can read a more detailed review here.)

21. Iron Man 3

This movie is solid, but feels a little diminished by being part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story focuses on Tony Stark’s attempt to retire as Iron Man, which feels undercut by the fact that he appeared in several more films afterward. While Guy Pearce’s villain is underwhelming, Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic in his scenes with the surprisingly mature young character. (You can read a more detailed review here.)

20. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

The final battle in Shang-Chi – a chaotic fight with dragons and monsters shrouded in fog – unfortunately looks quite rough due to the special effects. However, up until that point, the movie is arguably Marvel’s best pure action film, filled with exciting and well-choreographed fight sequences, like a particularly fun one on a San Francisco bus. Simu Liu is supported by a strong cast, including compelling performances from Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh, and plenty of humor from Ben Kingsley and Awkwafina. Kingsley’s character, Trevor Slattery, wasn’t initially a fan favorite, but Marvel has cleverly turned him into a lovable supporting character.

19. Thor

The movie Thor is a large-scale, universe-spanning story, but surprisingly, much of it takes place in a tiny New Mexico town. While it’s not perfect, Thor stands out as the first Marvel film where strong casting and engaging performances really saved the day – a trick Marvel would use again and again in future movies. (You can find more details here.)

18. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ryan Coogler had a remarkably tough task with Wakanda Forever. He needed to create a sequel worthy of the original Black Panther, but he had to do it after the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, who died before production could begin. The film is most powerful when it connects the grief felt by Coogler and the cast to Wakanda’s mourning for its king. However, the rest of the movie feels somewhat disorganized, with a lot of different ideas and characters, and a confusing villain in the form of the underwater king, Namor.

17. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Marvel’s new Fantastic Four movie, First Steps, is a clear improvement over the previous four attempts made by Roger Corman and 20th Century Fox. It’s hard to imagine it wouldn’t be, considering those earlier films ranged from just okay to truly bad. First Steps boasts beautiful visuals and a compelling villain – Galactus, a lonely space god with a big appetite for planets – even if the Fantastic Four themselves feel a little bland.

Is it a fun movie? Yes, but not as much fun as I’d hoped. Director Matt Shakman seemed to nail the casting, but the actors haven’t quite found their footing with these characters yet. It’s possible the script didn’t give them enough to work with. It’s a good start, but there’s definitely room to build on it in future installments.

16. Captain America: Civil War

The plot falls apart with the slightest examination, and the entire movie feels like a setup for the epic fight between Iron Man and Captain America at the airport. However, that airport battle is absolutely incredible and worth seeing! (You can find more details here.)

15. Spider-Man: No Way Home

Jon Watts’ latest Spider-Man movie is comparable to Sam Raimi’s third film in the series – both are packed with too many villains. However, this new movie really gets what makes Peter Parker so likable: he’s someone who struggles but always keeps trying. It also significantly expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing the multiverse in a major way, making it a key moment in the overall story.

14. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Director Sam Raimi returned to the Marvel universe after a 15-year break with this fun and chaotic film about a fight to save reality. Similar to his earlier Spider-Man movies, Raimi brought his signature style—including quirky humor, scary zombies, and sudden surprises—to the classic Marvel formula. (You can read more about it here.)

13. Thunderbolts (2025)

Lately, a lot of Marvel’s content since Endgame has felt like it was just thrown together from leftover ideas. But Thunderbolts actually feels like a real movie! It tells a compelling story, and I was especially drawn to Florence Pugh as the new Black Widow – she really captures the feeling of being stuck in a job you hate and just wanting something more. It’s great to see her find a purpose alongside a group of equally disillusioned mercenaries, like Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent and Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost. The action is fun, and I loved how the movie subtly encourages you to fight against feeling hopeless and embrace taking action and finding connection with others. Thunderbolts is a great reminder of how good Marvel can be when everything clicks.

12. Avengers: Age of Ultron

I’m still baffled by all the negativity towards this movie. It’s definitely not as good as the first Avengers, and the storyline with Wanda and Pietro is pretty confusing. However, the final scene – the Avengers teaming up to save everyone in Sokovia – is classic Marvel at its best. (You can read more details here.)

11. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

This movie is a bit long, especially with all the extra scenes after the credits – there are way too many! But it’s impressive that they took Marvel’s most comedic series and made a sequel with a surprisingly sad ending. It’s the only Marvel film that actually made me cry, and it somehow manages to include jokes about, well, alien anatomy. That combination, for me, makes it a great movie. (You can read more about it here.)

10. Thor: Ragnarok

I just really like when Jeff Goldblum plays a space god who DJs his own parties. (Read more here.)

9. Spider-Man: Far From Home

Tom Holland returns as Spider-Man in Marvel’s Far From Home, a sequel that’s nearly as good as the first film. It delivers a fun mix of romance, action, humor, and emotional moments. While the iconic line about responsibility isn’t spoken, the movie explores that very theme as Peter Parker struggles to balance his feelings for MJ (played with great comedic timing by Zendaya) and his mission from Nick Fury (a wonderfully exasperated Samuel L. Jackson) to defeat a series of elemental villains.

8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn ends his Guardians trilogy on a high note, delivering a classic Marvel experience: thrilling action, imaginative visuals, and characters you truly care about. Volume 3 especially elevates Rocket Raccoon, transforming him into one of Marvel’s most compelling and heartbreaking heroes. This film is a welcome success after a series of less impressive Marvel movies, and it’s a shame Gunn is now moving on to lead DC Studios.

7. Avengers: Endgame

This film is a significant improvement over Infinity War and ranks as the second-best Avengers movie. It’s packed with massive action sequences, plenty of humor, and likely contains more hidden details and references than any other movie in the superhero genre. (You can find more details here.)

6. Spider-Man: Homecoming

This Marvel movie is incredibly rewatchable thanks to its great characters and fantastic Spider-Man action. There’s even a funny moment where a street vendor asks Spider-Man to do a flip – and he actually does it! It’s a truly entertaining scene. (You can read more about it here.)

5. Guardians of the Galaxy

For me, Guardians of the Galaxy came along at just the right time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It felt like Marvel was willing to take more risks, and it showed how strong their brand had become – people were excited about characters they’d barely heard of before! Seriously, the Guardians were pretty obscure before James Gunn’s movie. And let me just say, Rocket is the best Guardian, don’t even try to debate it. It’s just a fact! You can read more about why I feel this way here.

4. Captain America: The First Avenger

Okay, so the plot gets a little rushed – they basically summarize a whole war in a montage – but Chris Evans as Captain America? Honestly, it’s the best character work Marvel’s done, period. They took a hero everyone always said was boring or outdated and turned him into someone genuinely compelling, relatable, and with a really strong moral compass. It’s the movie I put on whenever I need a boost of inspiration, you know? (You can find more thoughts on it here.)

3. Black Panther

Many Marvel films try too hard to link everything together, but Black Panther proves that focusing on a self-contained story can be more effective. Although Black Panther’s decision to share Wakanda with the world feels like a positive ending, it could lead to future movies that are less focused and filled with too many guest appearances. (You can read more about this here.)

2. The Avengers

Even with the success of Infinity War, the first Avengers movie still feels like a remarkable achievement. It perfectly balances a large cast of characters, features a well-written story, and culminates in an incredible, large-scale battle in New York City that stands out as one of the best action sequences of the 21st century. (You can find more details here.)

1. Iron Man

It remains the best of its kind. Looking back, the film benefited from not needing to connect to a larger cinematic universe. The scenes of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark perfecting and then first flying in his armor perfectly capture the excitement of superpowers – better than any superhero movie ever made, from Marvel or any other studio. (Read more here.)

2026-02-26 23:04