This big back-building routine helped Majors achieve his newly-jacked physique.
JONATHAN MAJORS’ BODY has made a splash on social media before.
Earlier this year, some pictures leaked of the 32-year-old actor on the set of Creed III, in which he will enter the ring as Michael B. Jordan’s next opponent in the Rocky spinoff sequel (and Jordan’s directorial debut). But those quick snaps were taken behind the scenes by paparazzi, not a carefully planned out photoshoot with time for Majors to target camera-ready muscle groups in workouts, plan out his poses and fits for the best angles, and make sure the lighting was on point.
The photos from Majors’ Men’s Health cover story, however, were taken with plenty of preparation. We think they’ll do much more than cause a ripple around social media timelines. These pictures have the power to break the internet.
This is all possible only because of Majors’ intense preparation. He’s got some major projects coming soon—along with Creed III, he’s also taking over the gauntlet from Thanos as the MCU’s next big bad, Kang, starting in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, playing an aviator in Devotion and, most appropriately given his newly-swole physique, a bodybuilder in Magazine Dreams. During the past year of training, he says he gained 10 pounds of brawn for Creed, five more for Kang, and an extra six for Magazine Dreams (that’s 21 pounds, if you weren’t keeping track), while shredding to a body fat percentage below 10 percent.
But this isn’t simply for flash, or a numbers game. Majors is building his body as a means to develop his characters. “When you see these guys, it’s like, Yeah, they’re fucking fit. But if you look at it, there’s a story there,” he told MH during his cover interview.
He’s not only working out to fulfill the responsibilities of his vocation as an actor, either. Majors is able to use his physical preparation as another venue for self-expression. "Training and working out are very important to me. I try to challenge myself to get to a place to express things in the gym the same way that I do in my line of work," he told the MH crew during an intimate gym video shoot.
Majors walked us through a quick, intense back-building session with his trainer Mark ‘Rhino’ Smith—and it’s clear that the steely focus you’ve seen in films like The Harder They Fall is more than just an act.
3 sets of 10 reps
3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
3 sets of 8 to 10 reps
3 sets of 8 reps
3 sets of 12 reps per arm
3 sets of 12 reps
Want more celebrity workout routines? Check out all of our Train Like videos.
Brett Williams, a fitness editor at Men’s Health, is a NASM-CPT certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts, and running. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.
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