Jonathan Majors, the rising young actor who stars as Kang the Conqueror in the upcoming Marvel film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, recently shared his thoughts on the significance of his casting as a Black actor in a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with Ebony magazine.
Path To Stardom Is Tough(er) For Black Artists
Majors noted the variety of his role, a young Black child from Texas, and thanked the audience for their lack of criticism of his casting. The actor stressed that “nothing is a monolith,” referring to both Blackness and comic book villains.
“Nothing is a monolith—not Blackness, not maleness, not comic book villains.”
He believes that the arts, especially cinema, are “a kind of democracy”, but acknowledged that there are still significant barriers to entry for Black artists in Hollywood.
“I think the arts, chiefly cinema, is a kind of democracy. Because they can do whatever they want to do, in whatever building they want to do it in, but when we put it in a movie theater, they’re gonna have problems.”
Majors’s comments highlight the ongoing struggles that Black artists face in Hollywood, even with a prestigious degree from an Ivy League institution. While Yale is renowned for its drama program and has produced several successful actors and directors, including Lupita Nyong’o and Angela Bassett, it is clear that even a Yale education is not enough to guarantee success in the entertainment industry, even more so if you are a person of color.
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Jonathan Majors’ Success Did Not Happen Overnight
Several notable roles in film and television have marked Majors’ journey to success in Hollywood. He has appeared in acclaimed movies like Hostiles and The Last Black Man in San Francisco, as well as in hit TV shows like Lovecraft Country and The Underground Railroad. However, his upcoming role as Kang the Conqueror will likely propel him to new heights of fame and acclaim.
As Majors notes, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of Hollywood’s most powerful and influential forces. With millions of fans worldwide, the MCU has the power to make or break the careers of the actors and directors who participate in its films. For Majors, being cast as the “big bad” in a major MCU film is a significant accomplishment, not just for himself but for Black actors and artists everywhere.
“Nothing’s more diverse than the fact that the ‘big bad’ of the mcu is a young black boy from texas. and there’s no help. there’s no allies.”
As Hollywood continues to grapple with issues of representation and diversity, it is clear that there is still much work to be done to create a level playing field for all artists. However, the success of actors like Jonathan Majors serves as a reminder that there is talent and potential everywhere, waiting to be discovered and nurtured.
With more opportunities for Black actors and artists in Hollywood, we hope to see more breakthrough performances and inspiring stories in the future.
Ant-Man 3 hits theatres this week on February 17, 2023.
