Marvel’s Black Panther movie couldn’t possibly be in a better position this early in development. After years of waiting for T’Challa, the leader of Wakanda, to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe he finally got his debut in Captain America: Civil War where he was played by Chadwick Boseman.
The introduction of the character, a noble warrior with one of the coolest live-action Marvel costumes ever, along with a tease of his secretive, high-tech nation of Wakanda, went a long way in making Black Panther a scene-stealer and easily one of the fan-favorites of the Civil War ensemble. That setup for the Black Panther solo movie is now being bolstered by high profile casting decisions, including another big one today.
THR reports that Michael B. Jordan is joining the cast of 2018’s Black Panther movie and could be playing the film’s villain. Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o is also reportedly in talks for a role, also joining Boseman. This marks another exciting re-teaming of Jordan with director Ryan Coogler who immediately became a A-list talent in 2015 after not only directing Jordan and Sylvester Stallone (also rumored for an MCU role) in Creed but personally driving that movie into existence. Jordan and Coogler also previously worked together on Fruitvale Station.
There’s no doubt Coogler had a hand in making this casting a reality, but the other layer of interest to this news is how it crushes any strange possibility where Fox’s Fantastic Four movie can get a sequel that somehow merges with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Earlier today, Fantastic Four and X-Men writer-producer Simon Kinberg went on record stating that if FF were to get a sequel (which he previously said is still a possibility but I disagree), it’d be more light and fun.
Okay.
Instead, we see a future where Fox and Marvel continue working together (they’re already co-producing the live-action X-Men TV shows) to the point where the studios collaborate and partner up (just like Marvel and Sony are doing right now with Spider-Man) on Fantastic Four and have them rebooted within the MCU.
More: How Fox & Marvel Can Save The Fantastic Four
Captain America: Civil War is now in theaters, and is followed by Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017;Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018;Captain Marvel – March 8, 2019; Avengers: Infinity War Part 2– May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.
