• Marvel has been struggling with superhero fatigue — or fans being bored of the genre — for years.
• Marvel changed up its marketing for its latest film, "Thunderbolts*" to appeal to cinephiles.
• It's kept up its quirky new marketing strategy for its upcoming films, too.

Marvel Studios has a new strategy for combating superhero fatigue: appeal to cinephiles.

Although Marvel is still the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time, it has struggled to maintain its popularity over the past four years.

A trend of diminishing box office returns and fans and critics complaining that Marvel projects are declining in quality has resulted in the narrative that audiences are tired of superhero movies.

While the billion-dollar-grossing 2024 movie "Deadpool & Wolverine" indicated fans were still willing to turn up for Marvel event movies, this year's "Captain America: Brave New World" grossed $414 million — mediocre compared to the studio's other releases.

By marketing its latest blockbuster, "Thunderbolts*," in a way that emulates the industry darling A24 and other huge franchises like "Mission Impossible," Marvel Studios seems to be aware it needs to take a new direction if it is to survive.

It's too early to tell if the gamble paid off at the box office — "Thunderbolts*" grossed less domestically and internationally in its opening weekend than "Brave New World," which came out in February. But "Thunderbolts*" earned an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest for a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie since 2021's "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Fans are saying that Marvel is "so back."

Referencing A24 in a 'Thunderbolts*' trailer signals to fans it's a good movie

When Marvel first announced "Thunderbolts*" — a film about a ragtag group of antiheroes who form an unlikely alliance — in 2022, it marketed it like past movies. The only difference was an unexplained asterisk at the end of the title when production began in 2024.

But after "Brave New World" received disappointing reviews and meager box office results, Marvel took a gamble with "Thunderbolts*."

Florence Pugh, who reprises her role as Yelena Belova in the film, described "Thunderbolts*" as a "quite badass indie, A24-feeling assassin movie with Marvel superheroes" in a March interview with Empire, referring to the studio that has earned a reputation as the "cool kid" on the block.

Marvel jumped on this and the next day dropped an A24-esque trailer for "Thunderbolts*" titled "Absolute Cinema," which showcased the cast and crew, including Pugh, who have been part of projects produced or distributed by the indie studio.

The trailer title could also have been a nod to a popular meme of the director Martin Scorsese with his hands raised up and accompanied by the phrase "absolute cinema." Scorsese famously called Marvel movies "not cinema" in a 2019 interview, while other legendary directors such as Quentin Tarantino have also criticized the quality of Marvel and superhero films.

"Thunderbolts*" director Jake Schreier recently told The Hollywood Reporter that the A24 trailer idea was a joke between himself and an assistant, but the Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige liked it and asked the marketing department to make it.

To Paul Hardart, a professor at New York University Stern School of Business, the trailer signals to fans: "this isn't your father's Marvel, this is a Marvel film for today. They're saying this is a high-quality film from a cinema standpoint."

Then in April, Marvel released a featurette that gave a behind-the-scenes look at how Pugh executed jumping from the world's second-tallest building, the 2,227 feet-high Merdeka 118 tower in Malaysia. This gestured to Marvel relying less on CGI and harking back to stunt-heavy blockbusters like "Mission: Impossible."

A representative for Marvel Studios did not immediately respond to a comment request from BI.

Finola Kerrigan, a professor of marketing and deputy dean of the University of Birmingham's business school, UK, told BI she believes the A24-style trailer that highlights the cast and crew's quality work is part of an attempt to attract new audiences to the MCU, while trying to lure back dissatisfied fans.

"We can't be cynical about the film audience, so you have to keep delighting them and challenging them," Kerrigan said.

Marvel did then revert to its traditional style of marketing, but is still using quirky tactics now "Thunderbolts*" is out, by rebranding it as "The New Avengers," which is the group's name at the end of the movie, on social media and select posters.

Marvel is using quirky marketing for 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' and 'Avengers: Doomsday'

After Marvel's previous failed attempts at appealing to film fans with 2022's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and 2021's "Eternals," both directed by auteurs but seen as disappointments, "Thunderbolts*" may mark a watershed moment.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, told BI that after "Captain America" saw a 68% drop in ticket sales between its opening weekends after a "lukewarm critical and audience reaction," the second weekend of "Thunderbolts*" will more clearly indicate whether it has been a success.

But Marvel is already adopting its new strategy for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," out on July 25, and "Avengers: Doomsday," billed for May 2026.

For the latter, Marvel has generated buzz by announcing part of the cast during a five-and-a-half hour livestream.

Meanwhile, since February, the "Fantastic Four" X account has shared the same clip of Pedro Pascal's character, Reed Richards, at 7 p.m. on Sundays, when his family has dinner — then seemingly forgetting to on April 14.

At 7:44 p.m. that day, the X account released a new clip of Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) telling Reed and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) that they're late for dinner, teasing a new trailer for the movie.

Hardart said Marvel should adopt the "fun" and "creative" elements of these marketing strategies for "Avengers: Doomsday," the next "Avengers" film.

But clever marketing can only do so much. Ticket prices aren't cheap, and fans want to know that they're watching movies that are worth their time, money, and attention.

"I think at the end of the day, they recognize there's no proxy for quality," Hardart said, referring to Marvel Studios. "So if the next 'Avengers' movie is really good, people are going to want to see it."

• "Thunderbolts*" is Marvel's new movie about a group of assassins who team up to save the day.
• The film includes many callbacks and references to previous and future films in the MCU.
• John Walker recites a famous Marvel phrase, and a familiar tune plays in a key scene at the end.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Thunderbolts*."

Marvel's latest movie,"Thunderbolts*," assembles an unlikely crew of assassins.

"Thunderbolts*," directed by Jake Schreier, follows antiheroes Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker/US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) as they fall prey to a trap set by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).

After escaping, the group, with the help of Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), embarks on a mission to rescue a mysterious new character named Bob (Lewis Pullman) while facing their own inner demons along the way.

Here are all the callbacks, Easter eggs, and nods to the Marvel Cinematic Universe you might have missed.

The opening Marvel title card teases the reveal of Sentry and the Void.

Every Marvel movie starts with a studio title card showing comic panels flipping across the screen.

For "Thunderbolts*," all of these panels are related to the comic book character Robert "Bob" Reynolds, also known as Sentry.

It's a teaser that Pullman's Bob will become Sentry later in the film.

As the animation continues, darkness trickles over the comic pages until it completely covers the Marvel logo. This foreshadows the Void, the dark side of Sentry, who takes over Bob's mind in the film's final act.

There are other moments that foreshadow the Void's appearance in the film. For instance, Yelena describes her depression and loneliness as a void in the opening scene.

Yelena's first fight sequence is purposely shadowy to lean into the film's premise.

"Thunderbolts*" opens with Yelena, a Russian assassin, completing an assignment for her employer, Val, at a lab in Malaysia.

To infiltrate the lab, Yelena expertly fights several armed guards in a sequence reminiscent of the corridor fight scene in "Oldboy."

"Thunderbolts*" director Jake Schreier hasn't said if he drew inspiration from the 2003 Park Chan-wook movie. However, other Marvel creatives have previously said they were influenced by the iconic fighting sequence.

The fight scene's visuals also feel like a nod to the Void's power to spread darkness that turns people into shadows.

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's OXE group is run by a clone of Valentina in the comics.

"Thunderbolts*" introduces a new secret organization within the MCU known as the OXE group, which Valentina founded with the aim of creating a superhero who can protect the world.

A similar group also exists in the Marvel comics, but it was coincidentally first introduced in a 2023 "Thunderbolts" comic series months after the cast for the movie had been announced.

Valentina also heads up the OXE group in the comics. However, a robot clone of Valentina takes charge of the organization and uses it to help a new Thunderbolts team.

John Walker uses Steve Rogers' signature "on your left" catchphrase.

Early in the film, when Yelena, John, and Ava are trying to escape Val's trap, they locate an independent power source blocking Ava's ability to move through solid objects.

"On your left," John tells Yelena as he reaches the power source and smashes it with his shield.

The phrase dates back to "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." It was used by Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) every time he passed Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) while running in Washington, DC.

Sam memorably said the line back to Steve in "Avengers: Endgame," when he and all the heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe arrived through portals to help defeat Thanos and his army.

The final act of "Thunderbolts*" takes place in the same location as the showdown in the first "Avengers" movie.

Many aspects of "Thunderbolts*" mirror the 2012 movie "The Avengers."

Both films are about a group of misfits brought together by a spy boss who try to kill each other before deciding to work together to save New York from a major threat.

The destination of the final showdown in "Thunderbolts*" also calls back to the ending of "The Avengers."

The Thunderbolts confront the main villains, Val and Sentry, in the Watchtower, which is the same place Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) confronted then-antagonist Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

The Thunderbolts also work together to save civilians outside Grand Central Terminal, where the original Avengers previously fought the Chitauri in "The Avengers."

But the final fight in "Thunderbolts*" contrasts with its predecessor. In "The Avengers," the titular heroes face off against an alien invasion, while in "Thunderbolts*," the villain is a man-made experiment gone wrong.

A familiar Marvel melody starts playing during the New Avengers press conference.

At the end of "Thunderbolts*," Val tricks the team into appearing at a press conference where she introduces them as the New Avengers.

After the New Avengers moniker is name-dropped, composer Alan Silvestri's iconic "Avengers" theme discreetly starts playing.

The credits pay homage to well-known pieces of pop culture history.

The first part of the credits shows multiple magazine covers featuring the New Avengers.

Many of these covers recreate iconic posters and images, including the "We Can Do It!" poster produced by J. Howard Miller during World War II, featuring Yelena, instead of Rosie the Riveter. Another recreates the "Washington Crossing the Delaware" painting by Emanuel Leutze. In another, the team poses as the band Queen in the style of the cover of their second studio album, "Queen II."

This is intended to show the extent of the Thunderbolts' newfound fame following their formal introduction as the New Avengers.

The logo for the New Avengers is inspired by the comics.

After the main credits, the "Thunderbolts*" logo switches to "The New Avengers" in a bright yellow bolded font.

It's the same logo seen in the Marvel comics, right down to the crossbar in the capital "A" doubling as a right-pointing arrow.

The second end-credits scene introduces the Fantastic Four team.

"Thunderbolts*" has two end-credits scenes. The first one is inconsequential, but the second teases Marvel's next movie, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," which is set to be released in theaters on July 25.

In the scene, the New Avengers are interrupted by an alert about an extradimensional ship entering the atmosphere.

That spacecraft turns out to be one belonging to the Fantastic Four, as indicated by the retro style number 4 on the exterior. Michael Giacchino's theme music for the upcoming "Fantastic Four" reboot plays in the background as the ship soars through space.

The second post-credits scene was filmed on the "Avengers: Doomsday" set.

Jake Schreier, the director of "Thunderbolts*," told Comicbook.com in a video published on Thursday that he did not film the second end credits scene.

Schreier said the specifics of the second end credits scene were decided "quite late," and it was filmed only recently.

"I was there when it was filmed and I can say that it comes from the set of a production that might be starting production right around now," Shreier said, seemingly referring to "Avengers Doomsday," which began production in March.

• Jonathan Majors was found guilty of assault and harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, in December 2023.
• He was promptly dropped from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• In April 2024, Majors was sentenced to attend a 52-week domestic violence program in lieu of jail.

Jonathan Majors' once-promising acting career has been marred by controversies.

Majors is known for his Emmy-nominated role as Atticus Freeman in "Lovecraft Country," Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and Damian Anderson in "Creed III." But in recent years, the focus has instead been on his personal life and domestic assault case involving his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.

Majors was charged with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and harassment in March 2023. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. In December of that year, he was found guilty of recklessly assaulting and injuring Jabbari and harassing her. He was acquitted of assault with intent to cause injury.

Majors got a no-jail sentence in April 2024 and is now rehabilitating his Hollywood image, starting with his latest film, "Magazine Dreams."

Here's a timeline of Majors' case and controversial moments.

March 25, 2023: Majors is arrested in connection with a 'domestic dispute' in New York City

Majors' legal woes began on the morning of March 25. 

In a statement provided to Business Insider, the NYPD said police responded to a 911 call around 11:14 a.m. in a Manhattan apartment. A "preliminary investigation" found that the actor and a woman, later identified as Majors' ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, were involved in a "domestic dispute."

Majors was arrested on the scene and held on suspicion of strangulation, assault, and harassment after Jabbari told police that she was assaulted, the NYPD told Business Insider.

Police said the woman sustained "minor injuries to her head and neck" and was taken to a local hospital.

According to reports filed with the New York Criminal Court seen by BI, Majors was charged with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and harassment. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

Jabbari was granted a temporary order of protection and Majors was released on his own recognizance. 

Majors' criminal defense lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, told BI in a statement that Majors was "the victim of an altercation with a woman he knows." She said she believed the charges would be "dropped imminently."

March 26: Within days, Majors' career begins feeling the fallout

The case quickly began affecting Majors' career.

People magazine reported that the US Army pulled two recruitment campaign videos that starred Majors.

The public affairs chief for the Army Enterprise Marketing Office, Laura DeFrancisco, told the outlet that though Majors is considered innocent until proven guilty, "prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allegations is complete."

On April 18, Deadline reported Majors had been dropped by his talent manager Entertainment 360, and his PR firm, The Lede Company.

That same day, Deadline also reported that Majors had been dropped from "The Man in My Basement" and an ad campaign for the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team and taken out of the running for an Otis Redding biopic he was interested in.

March 30: Majors' team denies the assault and shares text messages purported to be from the victim

Later that week, Chaudhry told People in a statement that Majors denied assaulting Jabbari. She also shared text messages with multiple media outlets she purported were from Jabbari, however, the messages have not been independently verified. 

Chaudry said that on the day of the assault, "the woman sent text messages to Mr. Majors admitting that she was the one who used physical force against him. She also disavowed any allegations that he had done anything to her and confirmed that Mr. Majors called 911 because of her mental condition."

"I reiterated this was not an attack and they do not have my blessing on any charges being placed. I read the paper they gave me about strangulation and I said point blank this did not occur and should be removed immediately," the messages read in part. 

May 9: Majors' lawyer calls the case a 'witch hunt' during the first hearing

During the first hearing on May 9, Business Insider's Laura Italiano reported that Jabbari said Majors pulled her middle finger, "causing bruising, swelling, and substantial pain." She also accused Majors of grabbing her "right arm, [placed] it behind my body, and use his hands to twist my right forearm and right middle finger, causing substantial pain to my right forearm and right middle finger." 

Prosecutors also alleged Majors hit the victim with his hand on her right ear and caused a cut, and that he pushed her into a car using both of his hands, causing her to fall backward.

Majors, through his lawyer Chaudhry, maintained his innocence. 

"We have provided the District Attorney with irrefutable evidence that the woman is lying, including video proof showing nothing happened, especially not where she claimed," Chaudry said in front of the court, Deadline reported. 

She went on to call the case a "witch hunt."

June 20: Majors' lawyer says her client's arrest is 'racist'

Majors was joined at Manhattan Criminal Court by his girlfriend, actor Meagan Good.

During Majors' second hearing, Chaudhry spoke to BI's Italiano and allowed Italiano to review police footage from the night of the assault. 

Chaudhry said the footage showed the officers questioning among themselves how Majors could afford to live in a luxe penthouse, as they didn't realize he was a famous actor.

Chaudhry told BI that all six of the responding officers were white and said that influenced how the evening's events went down. 

"It is heartbreaking that in 2023, a Black man should still be afraid to dial 911, even to save a life," she said. 

"The sad truth of this story is that if you are Black man and there is a white woman who needs medical help, you should think twice about calling 911 because chances are, you will be blamed and arrested."

"And everyone—despite proof of the Black man's innocence—will assume he did it," she said. "And no one — despite proof of the white woman's crimes — will prosecute her."

The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment from BI at the time.   

June 27: Majors files a cross-complaint against ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari

On June 27, BI's Italiano reported that Majors filed an NYPD domestic violence complaint against Jabbari a day after his second hearing.

Per a domestic incident report and affidavit obtained by BI, Majors said a "drunk and hysterical" Jabbari scratched, slapped, and grabbed at his face, causing pain and bleeding.

In the incident report, Majors also accused his ex-girlfriend of running up his credit card without his authorization, returning to her home in London with his iPhone, and "a Rolex vintage watch and other luxury items that cost $6,000 - $7,000."

BI reported a day later that the NYPD had issued a probable cause "investigation card" for Jabbari, authorizing them to arrest Jabbari on suspicion of third-degree assault if she returned to the US.

June 29: Rolling Stone reports former coworkers of Majors alleged the actor became violent

On June 29, Rolling Stone released the results of a monthslong investigation where anonymous sources alleged Majors abused two women he dated, was violent during his time at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University, and had outbursts on the set of his film "Magazine Dreams."

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Majors' attorney, Dustin A. Pusch, denied the allegations.

Majors' team also sent six character witness statements in support of the actor to Rolling Stone from women he'd dated or known.

However, four of the women told the publication that they never gave permission to Majors' attorneys to release those statements. One of the four women told Rolling Stone that the statement attributed to her was pre-written and inaccurate.

Rolling Stone said Haley Carter, who dated Majors from age 13 to 18, was the only one to consent to the statement going public.

"After 20 years of knowing him, I can tell you who Jonathan is. He did not do these things," the statement said.

Majors' attorneys defended the character witness statements to BI's Natalie Musumeci.

"Rolling Stone has misrepresented the circumstances under which it was provided written statements from individuals who know Jonathan Majors," the attorneys said in a statement. "The statements were provided to Rolling Stone off the record and not for publication expressly to protect the privacy of the individuals and to make sure they could decide for themselves whether and how to comment, and Rolling Stone was encouraged to reach out to the individuals directly for that purpose."

The attorneys added: "The statements were not manufactured, and there was plainly no intention to misrepresent the opinions of these individuals, each of whom Mr. Majors deeply respects."

October 2: A 'Loki' executive producer said the production was not asked to change the season after Majors' assault case

The week of the "Loki" season 2 release, Variety published an interview with the show's executive producer Kevin Wright.

During the interview, they asked the producer if Majors' arrest resulted in any changes to the show.

Wright replied: "No. This is maybe — not maybe — this is the first Marvel series to never have any additional photography. The story that is on screen is the story we set out to make. We went out there with a very specific idea of what we wanted this to be, and we found a way to tell it in that production period. It's very much what's on screen on Disney+."

When asked whether there were any discussions about making changes due to Majors' assault case, Wright added: "No. And that mainly came from — I know as much as you do at the moment. It felt hasty to do anything without knowing how all of this plays out."

October 25: Jabbari is arrested and released the following day

Jabbari turned herself in to the New York City Police and was charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief following Majors' cross-complaint months earlier.

"It's sad that she had to go through this because she is the victim in this case and she's the survivor," Jabbari's lawyer, Ross Kramer, said outside the NYC police station.

Manhattan prosecutors dropped all charges the following day, saying the case against Jabbari "lacks prosecutorial merit."

The same day, Majors' motion to dismiss the case was rejected.

October 27: Majors' movie 'Magazine Dreams' is removed from Disney's 2023 release schedule

The Searchlight Pictures film, which Majors received praise for at 2023's Sundance Film Festival, was quietly removed from an updated theatrical calendar sent to BI by Walt Disney Studios.

The movie was set for a December 8, 2023 release.

December 6: Jabbari testifies that Majors was worried his career would be ruined if the public learned of his past behavior

Majors' domestic violence trial began on November 29 and testimony was given for two weeks.

Jabbari told the jury that Majors was angry she told his manager about past behavior, accusing the "Creed III" star of having a temper during their two-year relationship.

She also testified that Majors threatened suicide. 

She said Majors told her, "because of the conversation that I had had that he was going to kill himself. That he was a monster."

December 8: Texts between Majors and Jabbari urged her not to seek medical attention

Texts shown in court revealed that Majors encouraged Jabbari not to see a doctor for any injuries because it would risk an investigation.

"It's just fake," Majors texted Jabbari. "And you have, I fear, no perspective of what could happen if you go to the hospital. They will ask you questions and, as I don't think you can actually protect us, it could lead to an investigation, even if you do lie and they suspect something."

In response, Jabbari texted she would cover for Majors.

"I will tell the doctor that I bumped my head," a text message read to the jury. "If I go I'm going to give it one more day. But I can't sleep and I need some stronger painkillers. Why would I tell them what really happened when it's clear I want to be with you."

December 12: A recording of Majors' 911 call after finding Jabbari unconscious in March is released

During the four-minute call, which can be heard exclusively on BI, Majors is heard saying he believed Jabbari attempted suicide after finding her on the floor of his Manhattan apartment.

Doctors found no such evidence.

Jabbari was taken to Bellevue Hospital to treat a cut behind her ear and a fractured finger that Majors was accused of causing.

December 18: Majors is found guilty of assault and harassment

A Manhattan jury found Majors guilty of recklessly assaulting and injuring his ex-girlfriend, Jabbari, and harassing her. He was acquitted of assault with intent to cause injury.

BI's El Calabrese and Haven Oreccio-Egresitz reported that neither Majors nor current his girlfriend, Meagan Good, reacted to the verdict. 

December 18: Marvel Studios drops Majors from the MCU

A Marvel company spokesperson confirmed to BI that Marvel is not moving forward with Majors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The next "Avengers" movie, "Avengers: Doomsday," is set for release in 2026 and will instead pivot to the comic book villain Dr. Doom, played by returning MCU star Robert Downey Jr.

Despite being axed from the MCU, Majors later said he was optimistic about finding work in showbusiness again.

"Yeah, I do. I pray I do," Majors told ABC News in January 2024 in his first interview since he was found guilty of assault and harassment. "But it's God's plan and God's timing."

April 8, 2024: Majors gets a no-jail sentence

Majors was joined at the sentencing hearing by Good, who sat behind him in the courtroom audience. BI reported that Good dabbed at her eyes with her fingers when Judge Michael Gaffey of New York City Criminal Court said he wouldn't be sending Majors to jail.

Instead, Majors was sentenced to attend a 52-week in-person domestic violence program. The judge said he took into account the wishes of prosecutors and Majors' lack of a criminal record in sentencing the star to attend the "batterers intervention" program.

If he fails to attend the program and continue therapy, Majors, a Los Angeles resident, faces up to a year in a New York jail.

The judge also ordered a permanent order of protection barring Majors from contact with Jabbari.

June 21: Majors references his legal controversies while accepting an award at the 2024 Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards

"I reckon folks want to know about this last year," Majors said while accepting the perseverance award, People magazine reported. "As a Black man in the criminal justice system, I felt anger. I felt sadness, hurt, surprise."

"We live in a world where men, Black men in particular, are propped up as either superheroes or super villains," the actor added. "But I've come to realize, me personally, I ain't none of that. I'm imperfect. I have shortcomings, I acknowledge them. I love my craft."

Majors gave a shout-out to Good during his speech, and concluded by vowing to "be there for others and to help them win and if their trials come."

November 17: Majors and Meagan Good announce their engagement

The couple confirmed the news to People magazine at the EBONY Power 100 Gala at NYA Studios West in Los Angeles, where Good was seen sporting an engagement ring.

"We're feeling great," Good said.

"It's a season of joy," Majors added.

Good also revealed to E! News that she and Majors met at the same event two years prior.

March 2025: Majors returns to the spotlight to promote his film 'Magazine Dreams,' but his comeback is halted by audio published by Rolling Stone

Majors plays an aspiring bodybuilder named Killian Maddox in "Magazine Dreams," which is distributed through Briarcliff Entertainment and releases in theaters on March 21.

Ahead of the film's release, The Hollywood Reporter published a feature on Majors in which the actor spoke about his trial and the aftermath. Majors said that his plan moving forward is to "have a struggle, learn, metabolize, grow."

Three days later, on March 17, Rolling Stone published an unreleased audio recording of an alleged conversation between Majors and Jabbari. The publication reported that the conversation happened in September 2022, after a "days-long fight" between the then-couple.

"I've never aggressed a woman — I aggressed you," a male voice, reportedly belonging to Majors, says in the audio.

"You strangled me and pushed me against the car," a woman, reportedly Jabbari, replies.

"Yes, all those things are under 'aggressed,' yeah," he responds. "That's never happened to me."

"Because I said something sarcastically, in your eyes?" she asks.

"Well clearly, it's more than that," the man says.

"Something inside of you," she replies.

"Yeah, towards you," he says, as the audio abruptly ends.

Reps for Majors and Jabbari didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

• 2024 may not have been as big a year for television as 2023 – but there were plenty of gems.
• Series like FX's "Shōgun," Prime Video's "Fallout," and Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" cut through the noise.
• Here are the BI entertainment team's favorite television series of the year.

Amid shake-ups in the television industry, 2024 still delivered a slate of great TV series ranging from familiar continuations to ambitious debuts.

That includes series like FX's "Shōgun," an immersive adaptation that brought top Japanese talent to American screens; the Brian Jordan Alvarez comedy "English Teacher," which turns high school culture wars into comedy fodder; and hits like "Baby Reindeer," which captivated the world with a story pulled from creator Richard Gadd's life.

Here are our favorites from this year.

"Abbott Elementary" season 4

Season four of "Abbott Elementary" picks up with Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) officially dating after their slow-burn romance played in the show's previous seasons. At the start of this season, the pair are unsuccessfully trying to keep their relationship a secret from their Abbott Elementary coworkers when they return to school.

The writing of "Abbott Elementary" remains as sharp and culturally relevant as ever, and the latest season sprinkles in new characters that keep the show fresh and exciting — from Jacob's younger brother Caleb (Tyler Perez) and an IT guy named O'Shon (Matthew Law) whom the staff have a crush on to a lovable guinea pig named Sweet Cheeks who breaks through Melissa's (Lisa Ann Walter) tough exterior. — Olivia Singh

"Arcane" season 2

Netflix and Riot Games' "Arcane" is one of the most impressive and ambitious animated works of the past decade — and while it doesn't always find its footing, the end result is still so spectacular.

The series is adapted from Riot Games' massively popular video game "League of Legends," honing in on a small cast of characters who live in Piltover, the gleaming city of progress, and Zaun, its less-than-scintillating undercity. The conflict between the two cities has reached a critical point by season two. Unfortunately for all parties, so has the evolution of Hextech, a magic-powered technology that has spiraled out of control and turned one of its developers into a misguided messiah. Oops!

Season two is nothing if not ambitious and widens its scope while leveling up its already excellent animation, courtesy of the French studio Fortiche. In the process, it loses some of the intimate character work and tight focus that made its first season truly extraordinary. Still, the second season serves as a fitting conclusion and is a harbinger of good things to come from Riot's entertainment arm. — Palmer Haasch

Read Haasch's interview with "Arcane" showrunner Christian Linke.

"Baby Reindeer"

Few shows caused as much of a stir this year as "Baby Reindeer," starring and written by comedian Richard Gadd. Netflix and the creator himself billed the series as a true story based on Gadd's real-life experience of being stalked by an older woman. Unfortunately, the show's stalker character, Martha Scott, was quickly outed as Fiona Harvey, who took legal action against the streamer.

Despite all the behind-the-scenes controversy, "Baby Reindeer" is a work of art. Gadd lays himself bare as Donny, who's loosely based on himself. He's a powerhouse in episode four, which flashes back to explain the source of Donny's trauma before meeting Martha.

It's an engrossing watch with equally powerful performances from Jessica Gunning, who plays the disturbed but deeply sad Martha, and Nava Mau, who plays Donny's girlfriend, Teri. — Caralynn Matassa

Read about the legal drama behind "Baby Reindeer.'

"The Boys," season 4

If "The Boys" is Prime Video's NSFW answer to superhero fare like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then season four feels like the equivalent of "Avengers: Infinity War" — minus a snap from a villain that wipes out half the universe.

Season four of "The Boys" is darker than past seasons, as the characters confront deep-seated traumas. For an aging Homelander (Anthony Starr), this means grappling with the legacy he'll leave behind for his son Ryan. For his nemesis Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), it means coming to terms with his looming death and trying to prevent Ryan from succumbing to Homelander's darkness.

It's a season filled with even more gory, jaw-dropping scenes and yet another Emmy-worthy performance by Starr, particularly in Homelander's gory homecoming episode.

The endgame is nearing, with a fifth and final season of "The Boys" likely premiering in 2026. Season four ends with the perfect foundation for all hell to break loose one last time. — OS

"English Teacher"

It's astounding that it took this long for Brian Jordan Alvarez to get a series order after the release of his excellent 2016 web series "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo" — but thankfully, "English Teacher" premiered this year.

The series stars Alvarez as Evan Marquez, a beleaguered but idealistic Texas high school teacher who comes under fire at work when a parent complains about him kissing his ex-boyfriend in front of the students.

While "English Teacher" embraces the thorny politics of being an American educator in 2024, it doesn't spin them into saccharine teaching moments or cheap jokes. It mines them for character threads and comedy. — PH

"Fallout"

With "Fallout," Jonathan Nolan proved that prestige-y video game adaptations weren't exclusive to HBO. Rather than directly adapting one of the multiple games in the postapocalyptic "Fallout" universe, Nolan instead leverages the style, humor, and striking visual identity of the games to show us something new.

"Fallout" stars Ella Purnell as Lucy, a naive resident who grew up in an underground bunker known as a Vault, established to protect humanity from nuclear armageddon. However, after tragedy befalls her home, she ventures to the surface, only to learn it isn't as deserted or unsurvivable as she was led to believe.

The series features stellar performances from Purnell and Walton Goggins, who spends most of the season admirably noseless. And while it's set in the grim aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, it's also irreverently funny and endearing. — PH

Read Eammon Jacobs' review of "Fallout" and Jason Guerrasio's interview with Walton Goggins.

"Hacks" season 3

The Max original "Hacks" has only gotten better with age, and in season three, it feels like the show has hit its stride.

The show follows veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, who, on the coattails of a successful comedy special, is gunning for her dream: a late-night hosting gig. After cutting her young writer, Ava Daniels, loose at the end of season two, Deborah realizes that she needs Ava — and Ava craves working with Deborah again, too.

This central relationship — and all the ways Deobrah and Ava support, encourage, and mess each other up — is constantly in flux. Season three not only succeeded in being funnier and more resonant than its predecessors but also in shifting Deborah and Ava's power dynamic into something new and a bit dangerous ahead of season four. — PH

Read Haasch's interview with "Hacks" stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Mark Indelicato.

"Industry" season 3

Move over, "Succession" — there's another contender for the best HBO show about horny, psychopathic capitalists. "Industry," the show about London's most dedicated and depraved bankers, finally broke through to the mainstream with its third season.

Seasons one and two delivered well-written, well-acted, character-driven drama about the highs and lows of a group of young bankers trading stocks (and spit). Still, season three upped the ante, spending more time away from the office in lavish locations, such as the English countryside, a yacht in the Mediterranean, and a Davos-like conference in Switzerland.

The change in scenery enhanced the story and deepened our understanding of the series' core group of complicated characters, most of whom have greatly evolved since we first saw them sitting and sweating at their Pierpoint desks.

All of it leads to an explosive finale that's massive in both budget and sheer plot, effectively wiping the slate clean for a now-confirmed season four. It's an appropriately daring move for a show confident in its vision. It's peak TV at its peak. — Samantha Rollins

Read Rollins' interview with "Industry" showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

"Love Island USA" season 6

There were many (many) reality dating shows that aired in 2024. Having regrettably watched most of them, I can confirm that the latest installment of "Love Island USA" blew them all out of the water.

The franchise, which spun off of the UK edition, has the secret sauce that makes this genre sing. It's largely thanks to a format that other shows have tried — and failed — to replicate, wherein participants must constantly recouple to find true love (and win a cash prize).

Season six had a particularly explosive set of personalities among its cast, leading to some serious drama, shocking betrayals, truly memorable moments, and fan-favorite standouts, including Serena Page, Leah Kateb, and Jana Craig. — CM

"A Man on the Inside"

"A Man on the Inside" is initially presented as a spy mystery series as Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson), a widower who recently lost his wife, accepts a job to go undercover in a retirement home.

That's all background noise to the main event, which follows the lives of a kooky gang of residents who find community with each other after being left behind by their loved ones.

Anyone who has seen Danson in any of his other many roles would not be surprised that he is an incredible leading man. However, the show's real strength is the supporting cast, especially Margaret Avery, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers, who provide so much humor and heart that they may make you shed tears.

"A Man on the Inside" proves we really need more TV shows centered on older characters, and there's ample talent out there to make those stories worth watching. — Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Read Rollins' interview with "A Man on the Inside" creator Mike Schur.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

Prime Video's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," a reboot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 2005 film (mostly in name only), is deeply funny, emotionally stirring, and clever.

Sure, both titles share a similar premise — a husband and wife who are both assassins — but the television series flips it on its head to create something much better.

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play two strangers who, upon taking a new job as shady agents for a mysterious boss, are paired together as a cover story.

The 10-episode season features a laundry list of guest stars, ranging from Ron Perlman to Micaela Coel. — PH

Read Haasch's review of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and Jacobs' interview with guest star Ron Perlman.

"Nobody Wants This"

Rom-coms are so back.

Six years after Netflix was credited with a rom-com renaissance thanks to hits like "Set It Up" and "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," the streamer struck gold again with "Nobody Wants This," a comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. The show became an instant hit, proving audiences yearn for more high-quality modern rom-coms.

"Nobody Wants This," created by Erin Foster and loosely inspired by her love story, follows Noah (Brody), an attractive and newly single rabbi, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), the outspoken agnostic host of a sex podcast. Despite their different views on religion and lifestyle, they pursue a relationship.

Noah and Joanne's swoon-worthy first kiss scene went viral, people realized that Brody had been leading man material all along, and the show jumped to the No. 2 slot on the streamer's Top 10 list for English-language TV in the week of its debut. Unsurprisingly, "Nobody Wants This" will be returning for a second season, which begins filming in February. — OS

"One Day"

The second attempt at bringing David Nicholls' bestselling novel "One Day" to the screen (after a 2011 film adaptation) is a rousing success.

The novel of the same name is already beautifully tragic, relatable, and perspective-altering, but the Netflix show amplifies all these strengths with gut-punching performances from leads Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, who play destined lovers Dexter and Emma.

With each episode set in a different year, "One Day" takes audiences on a 14-year journey as the two grow into adults and fall in love with other people and each other, but never at the right time. For romantics or young people worried about the future, this is the show to watch from 2024. — AA

"The Penguin"

Colin Farrell leads the spinoff sequel to the 2022 film "The Batman," playing the titular comic book villain Oz "Penguin" Cobb. It was fascinating how quickly it became apparent that the show had more in common with "The Sopranos" than nearly anything DC Studios has released.

Farrell utterly transforms as Cobb, the mobster clawing to the top in Gotham after the death of crime boss Carmine Falcone in "The Batman" left a power vacuum. Still, Cristin Milioti is the real standout as Sofia Falcone, Carmine's daughter and accused psychopathic serial killer, fresh out of a stay in Arkham State Hospital. — CM

Read Jacobs' interview with "The Penguin" showrunner Lauren LeFranc.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"

On its surface, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" was a show greenlit solely because of a TikTok scandal where several couples in a Mormon community were implicated in an alleged swinging scandal. That premise didn't seem like it'd carry far, but turns out the swinging was possibly the least dramatic thing about these women.

After a moderately slow start, "Secret Lives" turns the dial up to 11 in episode four, a group birthday vacation where all hell breaks loose as the group of friends and frenemies start calling one another out. (Shout out to the truth box, the real MVP.)

It was hard not to root for Taylor Frankie Paul and follow her tumultuous relationship with Dakota Mortensen or to root against the deeply annoying Whitney Leavitt, who became the sleeper villain of season one. We're dying to see what becomes of MomTok when the show returns in 2025. — CM

Read Haasch's interview with Taylor Frankie Paul and Mayci Neeley.

"Shōgun"

There was no stopping "Shōgun" at the 2024 Emmys, and for good reason. Based on James Clavell's 1975 novel, the stunning historical epic focuses on an English sailor who finds himself shipwrecked in Japan and crosses paths with Lord Toranga, a powerful warlord.

With incredible performances, sweeping visuals, and mesmerizing battle sequences, it's no wonder the show set a record for the most Emmys won by a single season of television and that the creators decided to rethink their limited series plan and continue the show with second and third seasons. — CM

"The Traitors" season 2

They were the words heard 'round the reality TV-loving world: "Oh lord, not Ekin-Su."

Few shows were as memed as "The Traitors," the US iteration of the international competition series where reality stars and celebrities try to deceive one another to claim a cash prize.

Season one, which aired in 2023, was entertaining, but season two reached new heights, largely thanks to compulsively watchable characters like meme factory Phaedra Parks and "Shahs of Sunset" star MJ Javid, who gave us one of the best reaction shots of the year. — CM

Read Matassa's interview with "Big Brother" alum Dan Gheesling, who tried and failed to extend his gaming skills to "The Traitors."

"X-Men '97"

Not only did "X-Men '97" expertly capture the spirit of the original animated "X-Men" series, but it also made it feel modern and relevant to the 2020s amid some gorgeously animated action.

The performances are seamless with the original show, adding new dimensions to the Marvel Universe that fans, new and old, will appreciate.

It deserves all of the praise for easily navigating the messy Jean Grey/Madelyne Prior clone saga from the comics. Season two can't come quickly enough. — Eammon Jacobs