With the steady rise of conservatism in the United States, there has come the steady growth of conservative media. Ben Shapiro, a popular right-wing political commentator known for hosting his podcast The Ben Shapiro Show, is also the co-founder of a media outlet called The Daily Wire. Founded in 2015, the company focuses on right-leaning narratives in their publications, which range from news articles to TV shows. The company has faced backlash for holding a strong bias in their reporting, although this seems to be their intention. Their website states that they are a “counter-culture” outlet with the goal of platforming their opinions. In 2022, DailyWire+ was launched as a subscription-based streaming platform under the company. Since then, they have released works such as Run Hide Fight (2021), Am I Racist? (2024), and The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin (2026).
In 2025, the platform released Mr. Birchum, an animated comedy show centered around the woodshop teacher, Mr. Birchum, a man who struggles with being “politically incorrect” in a world parodying the modern progressive movement. According to showrunner Adam Carolla, a show with these topics would have a difficult time being produced due to the highly politicalized state of Hollywood. He claims in an interview with Dan Sarto that although he himself does not claim to be a Republican, representing a singular value that takes such a political leaning in your work can be a one-way route to rejection from studios. This is where The Daily Wire comes in. Because of its willingness to allow right-leaning ideas to be pushed out into the public, they are actively seeking conservative creators to work with them. Mr. Birchum, despite gathering an average rating of 3.2/10 stars on IMDB, was the first time an original work of the company had come within reach of mainstream media. The lack of success has not hindered the momentum of the studio, but has rather marked a milestone in their journey as a platform.
Shapiro’s use of identity politics in his podcast seems to reflect the values put forth by his team at The Daily Wire. Some well-known members who have participated have included fellow podcasters Brett Cooper and Candace Owens. Cooper is known online for her controversial anti-feminist views and has worked with The Daily Wire on multiple projects in the past as a political commentator and actress. Owens was affiliated with the company from 2021-2024. These partners seem like an ideal group of people for Shapiro’s company to join forces with, as they each have independent audiences of conservative followers.
So why is it that Jonathan Majors, an acclaimed actor known for playing Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), suddenly became involved? For Majors, this will be a reintroduction to the acting industry after being convicted of assault in 2023. Majors’ ex-girlfriend pressed charges against him in a lawsuit where his sentence consisted of 52 weeks on probation with a remedial behavior program. This was a critical blow to the breakout star’s career, even leading to Marvel’s ultimate decision to fire him. Although Majors graduated from the prestigious Yale School of Drama and has the resume of a potential superstar, his actions have ultimately tarnished his ability to progress in the industry. His other notable works include The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) and Creed III (2023), where he starred alongside Michael B. Jordan.
In response, The Daily Wire is providing him with a chance at redemption through their media empire. The company is known for pulling such stunts and has already been providing “cancelled” actors with a safe haven. Another actor who was in a similar situation was the former Mandalorian star, Gina Carano. Carano played Cara Dune on the acclaimed show and was fired for sharing posts comparing the criticism of conservatives to the prosecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. While Carano was outspoken about her political views, Majors has not seemed to share any official affiliations, despite being previously seen as a massive figure on the left. Movies he starred in brought attention to issues plaguing the Black community, as well as bringing racial representation to the MCU. In a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair he stated, “Michael [B. Jordan] is such a good example of a movie star because movie stars have to appeal to the bourgeois and the proletariat…Movie stars are dangerous to politicians.”
Based on this quote, Majors does seem to understand the correlation between the personal politics of actors and how they can affect the general public. Movies have held a significant impact in American soft power, a trend that can be traced back to the beginning of motion pictures. Although propaganda films may not be as blatant as they used to be, the creative direction of various projects can imply different meanings. The movie in question is currently unnamed, but the plot has been hinted to be an 80’s and 90’s inspired action film directed by Kyle Rankin. Ben Shapiro is directly involved as a producer.
With Majors’ history in mind, it is not difficult to understand why he would accept an opportunity from the studio, but it is a decision that is causing rapid loss in his support. If the assault case was not enough to divide his fans, this choice will ultimately do so. While he was indeed blacklisted, choosing to openly collaborate with such a controversial outlet is a huge risk. The promotion of “anti-woke” rhetoric being shared by the company has been seen as hateful and borderline discriminatory. Even though they have worked with Black actors and creators, The Daily Wire’s team is still predominantly white. Seeing a former star like Majors collaborating with such groups is a reminder to be aware of what you are consuming. Desperation for such a role can only mean that his situation is incredibly dire, and that he does not mind being affiliated with the narratives being pushed by The Daily Wire. While we have not yet received any information regarding the character Majors will be portraying, the support put behind him by the studio is likely to bring in fans by utilizing a big name.
In a world of content filled with polarizing bias, it is important to research where you are receiving your media from. Movies, TV shows, books, and especially social media posts have proven to be especially susceptible to ideological influence. Ask yourself these questions: Who was involved in the creation of this? What is the main message? What can I take away from this? Keep an open mind when taking in new information, but remember that whatever you choose to believe should be fact checked and verified.
