Marvel bosses are desperately trying to figure out whether to replace Jonathan Majors in the franchise after he was found guilty of harassing and assaulting his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari – but one name they will avoid if they decide to recast is Will Smith.
Majors, who plays Kang the Conqueror, was found guilty in a New York courtroom last month of two charges of intimidation and assault of his former partner and was acquitted of two other charges.
He was dropped from the 2026 film The Avengers: Kang Dynasty, which has since been retitled, and could see his Hollywood career ruined. He could face up to a year behind bars when he returns to court for sentencing on February 6.
Marvel bosses are now reportedly debating whether to recast him – but if they do, Smith won't be heavily tipped, according to insiders, who claim producers don't want to replace 'baggage with more baggage'.
Marvel bosses are reportedly frantically deciding what to do with Jonathan Majors' character after the actor was found guilty of harassing and assaulting his ex-girlfriend
While fans are busy speculating who could take over Majors' role, bosses have reportedly vetoed Will Smith
“Marvel needs to rethink their next slate of films and shows as Jonathan Majors' Kang character would lead us through the next set of stories in the coming years,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.
“And if Kevin Feige and Marvel now decide to recast the movie instead of completely rewriting everything, one person won't be right for the role.
“There have been rumors online that Will Smith would take over, but that's not going to happen.”
The insider emphasized that the deliberations are expected to last several months.
“The Marvel team is sure they don't want to replace baggage with more baggage,” they said.
“It may have worked for Marvel when they put Robert Downey Jr. casting as Iron Man back when he wasn't the star he is today, but we're in a different world and who they cast and how it goes over with the fans is a whole new ball game.
“They're going to figure it out, but Will Smith won't be the replacement.”
According to reports, Majors is set to star in the top line The Avengers: Kang Dynasty, which has now been renamed Avengers 5.
Majors faces a one-year wait when he returns to court for sentencing on February 6
He was famous for his role Kang the Conqueror and was recently dropped from the 2026 film The Avengers: Kang Dynasty, which has since been retitled
While bosses would decide whether to replace Majors or change his storyline, they do not want Smith in the role
The release is still scheduled for May 1, 2026.
Majors first appeared as the villainous Kang in a 2021 episode of the Disney+ series Loki before starring in February's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Marvel and Disney immediately dropped Majors from all upcoming projects following his conviction, with Variety previously reporting that both studios came up with a plan in November.
While the jury is still out on how Marvel and Disney will handle the situation, fans are already speculating who could be hired for the role.
Smith's name has been circulating on social media, with fans pointing out that it could be a good fit because he has previously starred in superhero films.
Smith's reputation has soared since he punched comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars
He took aim at Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head
Reputation expert Eric Schiffer told DailyMail.com that he believes Marvel replacing Majors with Smith would be a “misguided and reckless carnage” that could cause “a brutal backlash.”
He said: “Marvel execs probably came out thinking Will remains radioactive – in a way that Avenger fans would probably find annoying.
“Marvel's move would protect their brand from a final debacle with audiences if they cast Will…
“The last thing Will needs is to play a villain in 2024. A slap in the face from Marvel is the first thing Will should celebrate.”
Schiffer believes Majors' character Kang the Conqueror will return to the franchise at some point with a new actor in the role.
He said: 'For the right talented star in Hollywood, this is a fantastic opportunity with reputational risks that only affect specific future character roles but do not harm the actor.'
Turning his attention to Smith's reputation and whether it can return to where it once was, he said, “2024 will not be the year that Smith's reputation returns.
Reputation expert Eric Schiffer believes Majors character Kang the Conqueror will return to the franchise at some point with a new actor in the role
“It will be closer to 2030 when it happens, and it could, but will require Will to make much smarter choices, maintain emotional maturity and find a Hollywood gem with the right role that breaks him free from the psychologically cemented public resentment.”
In October, Smith's marriage made news after his wife Jada Pinkett Smith said the couple had been separated for seven years.
In November, he was forced to deny rumors that he is gay after his former personal assistant shockingly claimed he was caught having sex with his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star Duane Martin.
At the time, a spokesperson for the Oscar-winning actor insisted the story was “completely made up” in a statement released to TMZ, while a source told the paper that Smith was considering legal action.
This year's drama comes after Smith's infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars, in which he punched comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada's bald head.
Pinkett Smith revealed in October that she and her husband had been 'living separate lives' for seven years
Schiffer has no confidence that Smith will ever be able to fully restore his reputation
Chris had said, 'Jada, I love you, GI Jane 2, I can't wait to see it!'
While the reference was to the 1997 film in which Demi Moore had a shaved head, Jada had been diagnosed with alopecia, which causes hair loss.
Seconds after the joke was made, Smith walked on stage and punched Rock before returning to his seat and shouting, “Keep my wife's name out of your damn mouth!”
Later in the evening — in his acceptance speech after winning the Best Actor Oscar for his role as tennis patriarch Richard Williams in King Richard — Smith apologized to the Academy and other nominees but made no reference to Rock.
He subsequently apologized several times for the incident and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, before receiving a 10-year ban from the Oscars.