"42" Star Chadwick Boseman Tops Marvel's List For BLACK PANTHER
A new report by Screencrush was forwarded from Latino Review today indicating that the development of a live-action Marvel comicbook superhero film, Black Panther is back in the spotlight. The reports suggest that while no talks have taken place, the primary actor at the top of Marvel’s list of candidates is actor Chadwick Boseman, whose televison and film credits include CSI: NY, Lie To Me, The Kill Hole and the recently released Jackie Robinson biopic, 42.
The news comes as it has been since 2010 that actor Djimon Hounsou publicly stated his interest in the role as a tie-in to a possible third Fantastic Four film. Back in June of last year, Boseman’s name was listed in Indiewire’s list of top five picks to play the role, including David Oyewolo (Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity), John Boyega (Attack The Block), and Anthony Mackie who is currently filming for the role of Falcon in Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier (see photos HERE). Morris Chestnut’s name was also mentioned last month, but reports indicate that this is no longer so.
In 2011, actor Michael Jai White was quoted in an interview stating that if he had his way with total directorial and creative control, his vision would make you forget about Batman, saying, “I would definitely make the Paul Robeson story. That would be my drama. I’d make Black Panther. I would do something with Black Panther that would make you forget about Batman. I guarantee you, if I got a chance to do Black Panther, everything would change. The genre would change.”.
If Boseman is chosen and a deal is finalized and signed, he will play the character, T’Challa, the Oxford-educated African prince of Wakanda who harnesses his superior intellect and superhuman strength to become Black Panther when his father, T’Chaka, the chief of the Panther tribe is killed by the villainous Ulysses Klaw. This could also mean potential appearances for the Black Panther in the 2015 remake of Fantastic Four, which is now in casting stages with actress Allison Williams in talks to play Susan Storm, a.k.a. The Invisible Woman.
Photo Credits: Latino Review, Who Got The Role
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May 2, 2013 @ 4:06 am
This ought to be a fantastic film if things fall into place. I think that Black Panther has a good following and he's been under-utilized as a superhero. Being of things "geek," especially in the comic and graphic novel styles, I would definitely look out for this one.