It’s been one hell of a weekend for comic book fans, with both DC and Marvel giving hints towards the upcoming films in their respective franchises to salivating San Diego Comic-Con attendees. However, while I’m definitely excited for what DC has to offer, it’s Marvel that has won its audience’s trust over the course of their ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe. So far their announcements are the stuff one could only dream of ten years ago, with trailers from Doctor Strange and their multiple Netflix TV series, as well as the casting of Academy Award winner Brie Larson (Room) for the role of Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel. And if all that wasn’t enough, the Hall H panel kicked off with yet another major announcement, in which the latest casting choices for the upcoming Black Panther movie being unveiled to the public.
Making his big debut in Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa, aka Black Panther, was not only well received by critics and audiences alike but also expanded the MCU world even further. Now, appearing alongside director Ryan Coogler (Creed) to promote their standalone film, Boseman introduced the latest additions to the cast of Black Panther. Michael B. Jordan, who has previously worked with Coogler on Creed last year and the 2013 breakout Fruitvale Station, will be taking on the role of Erik Killmonger, the movie’s central antagonist. In addition, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira are set to play Nakai and Okoye, two powerful warriors that reside in T’Challa’s kingdom, the fictional African country of Wakanda. Being members of the Dora Milaje, the personal bodyguards of the Black Panther, Coogler described Nakai and Okoye as “the best fighters in the kingdom,” a statement that I really hope proves to be true when the movie comes out. Marvel has had an amazing start in their Phase 3 and hopefully Black Panther will only make the franchise grow even stronger.
Filming for Black Panther is set to begin in January of next year. The movie is set for a release date of February 16, 2018.