Jonathan Majors is making his return to the big screen with a new action thriller that has already generated significant debate. The actor, who was let go from Marvel Studios after his 2023 legal issues, stars in Run Hide Fight: Infidels, a sequel to The Daily Wire’s 2020 film. The movie marks Majors’ first major acting project in three years and arrives at a time when the entertainment industry continues to watch his career closely.
The film’s trailer dropped on August 6, 2026, offering audiences their first full look at Majors in the lead role. The project comes from conservative media company The Daily Wire, co-founded by Ben Shapiro, and has drawn criticism even before its release.
The Plot Places a Delta Force Veteran Against Terrorists on a College Campus
Run Hide Fight: Infidels follows Majors as Clayton Saunders, a retired Delta Force captain who finds himself in the middle of a dangerous situation when radical Islamic terrorists take over a liberal college campus. The terrorists hijack a pro-Palestine encampment, take students hostage, and attempt to enforce Sharia law while executing those they label as infidels.
Saunders teams up with a group of students and a campus security guard to fight back against the attackers. The film draws inspiration from 1980s action movies like Red Dawn and Toy Soldiers, which focused on groups of young people banding together against invading forces.
The trailer shows Saunders arriving at Laughton University to deliver a speech before an explosion disrupts the campus. He quickly takes action, helping students arm themselves and resist the terrorists. At one point, Saunders shoots a vehicle, causing it to explode, and says, “That’s the American way”.
Director Kyle Rankin, who also directed the original Run Hide Fight, returns to write and direct this sequel. The cast includes David Lucas, JC Kilcoyne, Tyler Aser, James Bingham, Savanna Leigh James, Sharon Johal, and Jason Gray-Stanford.
The Movie Has Faced Strong Backlash Before Its Release
The film’s premise has sparked considerable criticism. Some have labeled the movie “xenophobic and Islamophobic” for its portrayal of Muslim characters and its connection of pro-Palestine activism with terrorism.
The official synopsis describes the terrorists as “radical Islamic terrorists” who establish a “makeshift caliphate” on campus. Critics point out that the film mixes real-world student protest movements with post-9/11 anti-Muslim stereotypes. The earlier teaser trailer included footage of ISIS executions and the September 11 attacks alongside scenes from pro-Palestine campus protests.
Ben Shapiro defended the film on social media, writing:
“The threat of radical Islam is real. Hollywood has refused to tell that story for three decades. Now, we’re saying the thing with the biggest, most audacious, funniest and most kickass film Daily Wire has ever released.”
Critics have described the movie as propaganda that collapses Muslim identity, Palestinian solidarity, and political dissent into a single imagined terrorist threat. One review called it “bargain-bin action pulp engineered for an audience that considers subtlety a liberal conspiracy”.
Production Issues Included an On-Set Accident and Labor Strike
The production of Run Hide Fight: Infidels faced its own set of problems. During filming, Majors and co-star JC Kilcoyne fell through an unsecured window, resulting in injuries. This incident contributed to broader safety concerns that led to a work stoppage by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
The production also saw a labor strike over safety issues on set. These incidents added another layer of controversy to a project already surrounded by debate over its political content.
The Film Arrives as Daily Wire Faces Financial Challenges
Run Hide Fight: Infidels premieres at a time when The Daily Wire is dealing with financial pressures. The company cut 13 percent of its workforce earlier in 2026 and has seen declines in website traffic and YouTube viewership. The company has also experienced executive turnover amid a fractured right-wing media environment.
Despite these challenges, Shapiro maintains that the company remains stable. The film represents an attempt by The Daily Wire to expand into feature film production, following the original Run Hide Fight, which received poor reviews and earned a 30 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Majors’ Marvel Exit Changed the Course of His Career
Majors was one of Hollywood’s rising stars before his legal troubles. He appeared in films such as The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Creed III, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as well as the HBO series Lovecraft Country. He was set to play Kang the Conqueror, a major villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, across multiple films.
However, in December 2023, Majors was found guilty of misdemeanor third-degree assault and second-degree harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. He was sentenced to attend domestic violence counseling. Following the conviction, Marvel Studios dropped him from the role of Kang. He was also let go from the starring role of Dennis Rodman in Lionsgate’s 48 Hours in Vegas.
Marvel later recast the Kang character, with Robert Downey Jr. cast as Doctor Doom for upcoming franchise releases. Majors has expressed interest in returning to the role if Marvel ever reached out.
Release Date and Where to Watch Run Hide Fight: Infidels
Run Hide Fight: Infidels will premiere exclusively on The Daily Wire’s streaming platform, Daily Wire+, on September 16, 2026. The film will not have a traditional theatrical release, as it is being distributed directly through the conservative media company’s platform.
The movie serves as a sequel to the 2020 film Run Hide Fight, which also dealt with a violent attack on a school but featured a different cast and setting.
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Majors Has Other Projects in the Works
Beyond this film, Majors has other projects lined up. He is attached to star in the supernatural revenge thriller Merciless, directed by Martin Villeneuve. He is also set to appear in the independent film True Threat.
These projects suggest that Majors is working to rebuild his career after being dropped by major studios. However, his return to acting through a politically charged film produced by The Daily Wire has kept him in the spotlight for reasons beyond his performance.
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