Jonathan Majors will have a fantastic year in 2023. In addition to facing Michael B. Jordan in the boxing sequel Creed III, he is about to make his big-screen debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as supervillain Kang the Conquerer, a Thanos-level threat sure to make the Avengers all tremble. Majors trained extensively for both roles, portraying Kang as a “warrior” and sculpting a physique to match—but the actor’s most dramatic transformation occurs in “Magazine Dreams”. “Magazine Dreams” follows a Black amateur bodybuilder who “struggles to find human connection in this exploration of celebrity and violence,” according to IMDb.
In a recent interview with Varietyat the Sundance Film Festival, Majors shared some insight into the rigorous bodybuilder diet and exercise routine he stuck to while preparing for the role.
“I’m 6 feet tall. I’m 202 pounds,” Majors, 33, told the outlet. “In order to sustain that and to grow that you have to eat as much protein that you weigh. I ate 6,100 calories a day for about four months. That included the pre-work and the post-work of ‘Creed III.'”
About playing Killian Maddox in Creed III, Majors added that bodybuilders typically work out twice a day, but he averaged around three training sessions a day.
“I’m playing Killian Maddox… Playing him you don’t fuck around,” Majors told the outlet. “What ended up happening is I would train two hours, two times a day for the movie and a third time after wrap. Meanwhile, you eat six times a day. Lots of chicken. Lots of elk. That’s just for me. I like it.”
Despite bulking up for physically demanding roles, Majors says his current workout regimen isn’t as extreme.
“I played football in Texas. I got an appetite. I really like being physical. I like hiking and running. I’ve got dogs,” Majors told Variety. “I’m only 33… I got to do something to stay with it. I don’t work out three times a day anymore. Just once a day.”
During a separate April 2022 interview with the outlet, Majors got candid about the hands-on aspect of filming “Creed III.”
“I got punched in the face about 100 times, but it’s all OK!” Majors said. He added that spent more than a year training in preparation for the film, which also stars Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson.
“Creed III” hits theatres on March 3.
