We’ve already seen quite a bit of career fallout facing Jonathan Majors after his domestic violence conviction recently. He’s been fired from his Marvel Studios gig. He’s been pulled from the upcoming Dennis Rodman biopic. And now, it appears his award-winning Sundance drama from 2023 is without a distributor.
According to THR, Searchlight has officially parted ways with the film “Magazine Dreams,” which stars Jonathan Majors and is directed by Elijah Bynum, after the actor’s recent domestic violence conviction. The producers of the film are expected to try to find another distributor, but it’s going to be an uphill battle, to say the least. Unlike other controversial Hollywood figures who faced allegations of abuse or misconduct, Majors has formally been convicted. And considering the film features uncomfortable moments of violence, it’s going to be difficult to market “Magazine Dreams” without facing the real-life drama surrounding its star.
Debuting at Sundance last year, “Magazine Dreams” earned rave reviews after its debut. Starring Majors as an up-and-coming bodybuilder, the film showcased the immense talent the actor has continued to prove over the last few years. Unfortunately, right after the film debuted and was quickly snatched up by Searchlight for distribution, Majors was arrested and the nearly-year-long legal battle began.
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In our review of the film from last year’s Sundance, we raved about it and said, “‘Magazine Dreams,’ even with some shortcomings, is dense, deftly composed, yet oddly overbearing. It’s uncomfortable and conflicting and may even prove divisive. And it’s unquestionably unforgettable.”
By all accounts, the original plan for “Magazine Dreams” was to hold onto the film and have it ready for an awards season release at the end of 2023. Clearly, that didn’t happen, as the film was eventually undated and now removed from Searchlight’s plans altogether. If another buyer comes along, and if the audience is willing to give it a shot, it’s obvious “Magazine Dreams” is a film that could strike a chord with audiences. It’ll just be interesting to see if any distributor is willing to take a chance on a film that is likely nearly impossible to market appropriately.