Actor Jonathan Majors has landed his first role since being convicted of one count of reckless assault and one count of harassment in connection with an altercation with ex-girlfriend Grace Jabari.
Majors’ career had been on the rise before his conviction, moving from leading Marvel superhero roles to starring in independent films. The former Marvel Studios star was at the peak of his career and on the cusp of landing his biggest role yet as Kang, the lead role in the next phase of his career. MileageHowever, Marvel Studios severed ties with Majors following the lawsuit, putting his future in the entertainment industry in jeopardy. On June 20, the actor’s luck changed when it was announced he would star in the supernatural revenge thriller Merciless, but the job offer was dramatically different from what he was used to.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 8: Actor Jonathan Majors appears with his girlfriend Meagan Good for sentencing in a domestic violence case at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 8, 2024 in New York City. Majors is due to be sentenced after being convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabari, in the backseat of a chauffeur-driven car. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Merciless is directed by Martin Villeneuve and based on an original screenplay by Frank Hanna. Deadline reports that the story follows a top CIA interrogator who must defeat the malevolent forces that have assaulted the woman he loves. Filming is set to begin in late fall in Saskatchewan, Canada. deadline.
“Merciless weaves themes of possession, vengeance and personal justice into an unforgettable story that charts the psychological decline of Majors’ John and the supernatural forces that threaten his sanity,” said Villeneuve.
The film was developed by producer Christopher Tuffin, who remains adamant about the decision to feature Majors despite his criminal conviction. According to Deadline, Tuffin will be announcing a new global media venture that “refuses to let great art and artists be tainted by the court of public opinion or selective prosecution.”
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 18: Jonathan Majors was photographed in West Hollywood, California on April 18, 2024. (Photo by London Entertainment/GC Images) Getty Images
Tuffin, who is credited with helping make “Sound of Freedom” a success, defended his decision to hire Majors.
“In grad school, I was fortunate enough to study screenwriting under Blacklist screenwriter Millard Rampell, who taught me how politics can undermine due process and destroy an artist’s career,” Tuffin told Deadline.
“Now that this case has been adjudicated, I consider it an honour and a privilege to work with Jonathan, a man of incredible talent,” he said. (RELATED: Jonathan Majors speaks out about assault conviction)
Kevin Townsend is also credited as a producer on Merciless, with executive producers Amanda Delaplane, Chris Ochs, Andrew Bates and Ben DeWalt also set to lend their talents to the film, in addition to Kevin DeWalt.
The release date has not yet been decided.
