Majors Gets a Major Boost from Bodybuilding Icons
Jonathan Majors is feeling the love from some heavy hitters in the bodybuilding world, and it’s all about his knockout performance in Magazine Dreams. TMZ Sports caught up with his co-star Mike O’Hearn at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach on Monday, March 24, 2025, and the four-time Mr. Universe didn’t hold back. “Jonathan crushed it,” O’Hearn raved, beaming with pride for the actor who transformed into the troubled bodybuilder Killian Maddox for the film, which hit theaters March 21. “He could snag a Mr. Universe title easy—but his real gift? Acting. The world needs him on that big screen.”
O’Hearn’s praise is no small flex. The 56-year-old legend, known for his chiseled physique and roles like Titan on American Gladiators, gushed about Majors’s dedication in a clip that’s already making waves online. “He deserves all the hype,” O’Hearn said, his voice thick with admiration. “This movie’s special—Oscar-worthy, no doubt.” Released by Briarcliff Entertainment after a rocky road—dropped by Searchlight Pictures amid Majors’s 2023 legal drama—Magazine Dreams is earning buzz for its raw intensity and Majors’s tour-de-force turn. And O’Hearn’s not alone in lifting Majors up; bodybuilding royalty Ronnie Coleman recently vouched for him too, cementing a comeback vibe that’s got fans buzzing.
A Rough Year, a Redemption Arc
O’Hearn didn’t shy away from Majors’s turbulent 2023, when the actor was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment against ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. The verdict, handed down in December 2023 after a March arrest, derailed Majors’s meteoric rise—costing him his Marvel role as Kang the Conqueror and stalling Magazine Dreams’s original December 2023 release. “He’s had a rough year,” O’Hearn acknowledged, his tone softening. “But I’m about grace and second chances. Jonathan’s got too much talent to be sidelined.” Sentenced to probation and a domestic violence program, Majors has kept a low profile—until now, as Magazine Dreams reignites his star power.
The film’s journey mirrors Majors’s own. After a standing ovation at Sundance 2023, it was snapped up by Searchlight for mid-seven figures, poised for awards season glory. But post-conviction, Disney cut ties, and the rights reverted to producers Jennifer Fox and Dan Gilroy. Briarcliff stepped in October 2024, betting on Majors’s “transcendent” performance, as CEO Tom Ortenberg told Deadline. Now, with $701,365 at the box office by March 23 (Rotten Tomatoes), and an 80% critics’ score, it’s proving the gamble’s paying off—and O’Hearn’s cheerleading is fanning the flames.
From Weights to the Screen: Majors’s Transformation
Majors didn’t just act the part—he lived it. To embody Killian Maddox, a loner obsessed with bodybuilding fame, he packed on muscle with a grueling regimen: 6,100 calories daily—think chicken breast marathons—and six-hour workouts for four months. “I’m 202 pounds; you’ve got to eat that much protein to grow,” he told Variety in 2023. The result? A physique so ripped that O’Hearn, who plays Majors’s idol Brad Vanderhorn in the film, says he’d dominate a bodybuilding stage. “He’s got the discipline,” O’Hearn grinned. “Mr. Universe? No question.”
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Ronnie Coleman, the eight-time Mr. Olympia, echoed that after a sweat-soaked session with Majors, captured in a TMZ Sports clip from February 2025. “He’s in top shape—could go pro,” Coleman, 60, declared, still a towering figure despite years of surgeries. The duo’s workout—loaded with squats and deadlifts—left Coleman, a legend who once hoisted 800 pounds, marveling at Majors’s grit. “He’s a beast,” Coleman said, a nod from one titan to another. With pals like these, Majors’s street cred in the fitness world is ironclad.
Magazine Dreams: A Bodybuilding Odyssey
Directed by Elijah Bynum, Magazine Dreams isn’t your typical sports flick. It’s a dark, visceral dive into Killian’s psyche—think Taxi Driver meets Pumping Iron. Alongside Majors, Haley Bennett plays his crush Jessie, Taylour Paige a sex worker, and Harriet Sansom Harris his therapist, with O’Hearn as the glossy champ Killian idolizes. “The bodybuilding world’s flooding me with love,” O’Hearn said, noting fans at Gold’s Gym are raving. “It’s real—it shows the grind, the pain, the obsession.” Critics agree, with The Hollywood Reporter calling Majors “astonishing” and Variety praising the film’s “flowing intensity.”
X is alight with reactions since its March 21 drop. “Jonathan Majors killed it—Oscar-worthy,” posted @StayToonDIn, while @kauleetheone mused, “If not for his legal stuff, he’d be nominated.” The film’s 7/10 Rotten Tomatoes average and “generally favorable” 69/100 Metacritic score back the hype. O’Hearn’s bold: “It’s special enough for an Oscar,” he told TMZ, eyeing Majors for Best Actor gold in 2026—eligibility starts January 1, 2025, per Academy rules.
Hollywood’s Second-Chance Playbook
Majors’s pals aren’t just hyping a movie—they’re backing a redemption arc. Post-conviction, he lost gigs like 48 Hours in Vegas and saw Marvel recast Kang with whispers of Colman Domingo (The Wrap, February 2025). But Magazine Dreams is his lifeline. “He’s got heart,” O’Hearn said, a sentiment Coleman shares: “The world needs to see him shine.” It’s a playbook Hollywood knows—Robert Downey Jr. bounced back from jail to Iron Man; Majors could follow suit if the buzz holds.
Fans feel it too. “Give him the Oscar—the Academy’s full of it if he’s snubbed,” @StayToonDIn tweeted, echoing a swell of support. With 2025’s awards chatter kicking off, Majors’s raw, ripped Killian could muscle into contention—especially if Briarcliff pushes a campaign. “He’s a major talent,” O’Hearn insisted, a pun that lands with purpose.
What’s Next: A Comeback in Full Swing?
As Magazine Dreams gains steam—box office ticking up and reviews glowing—Majors’s future’s looking less bench-pressed. “He’s got more to give,” O’Hearn said, hinting at untapped roles. Coleman’s on board: “Keep lifting, keep acting—he’s unstoppable.” Share this epic comeback tale with every Majors fan and fitness buff you know—because when bodybuilding icons cheer, it’s a signal Jonathan Majors is back in the game, and he’s playing to win.
