First Film Since 2023 Assault Conviction Backed by Conservative Pundit Ben Shapiro
Jonathan Majors is stepping back into the spotlight, this time with support from an unexpected corner of the media world. The actor’s first film since his 2024 conviction for misdemeanor assault and harassment will be produced by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro’s company, The Daily Wire.
The untitled action project is directed by filmmaker Kyle Rankin, who also penned the screenplay. Production is underway in South Carolina, according to Deadline. Shapiro and producer Dallas Sonier are attached through their respective production banners.
While details about the storyline remain under wraps, early reports indicate the film draws inspiration from late 20th century action staples such as Red Dawn and Toy Soldiers.
The project marks a significant shift for Majors, who was once positioned as one of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars.
From Rising Star to Legal Fallout
Majors’ most recent lead role was in Magazine Dreams, a psychological drama centered on a professional bodybuilder’s obsessive pursuit of greatness. The film, initially slated for a 2023 release, was pushed to 2025 amid the domestic violence case brought by his ex girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, who accused him of assaulting her inside a car.
Following his conviction, the film’s production company, Searchlight Pictures, dropped the project. Disney and Marvel Studios also severed ties with the actor.
Majors was sentenced in April 2024 to probation and ordered to complete a 52 week domestic violence intervention program.
The Daily Wire’s Pattern of Controversial Comebacks
According to Entertainment Weekly, Shapiro and Sonier have previously backed actors navigating public scandals. They produced “Frontier Crucible” starring Armie Hammer after allegations of rape and abuse surfaced in 2021. They also backed “Terror on the Prairie” featuring Gina Carano, who was fired from Disney’s The Mandalorian following social media posts comparing the treatment of conservatives during the COVID 19 pandemic to the persecution of Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Majors first broke through in indie cinema with The Last Black Man in San Francisco before landing high profile franchise roles in Creed III and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Now, with backing from Shapiro’s right leaning media platform, Majors’ career appears to be taking a markedly different direction. He is also reportedly attached to director Martin Villeneuve’s upcoming indie film “Merciless,” a role secured shortly after his conviction.
