It’s been in development at Marvel for years now, with casting rumours encompassing the likes of Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan. But at Tuesday’s big event, company president Kevin Feige revealed that 42 star Chadwick Boseman, who has also been linked with the role, has been cast as Black Panther, with a film focused on the hero set for November 2017.
As part of the festivities, Boseman was brought on stage alongside Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., and Feige confirmed that we’ll actually get to meet his character as part of the storyline for Captain America: Civil War, where he’ll be forced to take a side in the clash between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. Evans and Downey Jr. engaged in a tug-of-war (or is it love?) over Boseman, asking him to decide there on stage which of them he’d support.
Boseman is playing T’Challa, the African prince who becomes a hero as part of his royal family’s legacy. That would be building on clues and Easter eggs smuggled into the likes of** Iron Man 2** (where T’Challa’s secretive home nation of Wakanda cropped up on a map) and Captain America (though it isn't directly mentioned, his shield’s vibranium comes from a mine underneath Wakanda). A member of the Avengers, he’s also been prominently featured in the animated adventures of the superhero team that predate the 2012 film, and in the comics he married X-Men's Storm.
The Panther hasn’t been the easiest character to adapt, however, with several attempts failing in the past. Even Wesley Snipes and Artisan/Lionsgate couldn’t make it work. Marvel got the rights back in 2005 and initially set documentarian Mark Bailey to start working on ideas for the character, but no mention was made of the current creative team. According to Deadline, Boseman has signed the usual multi-film Marvel contract, with a five-picture deal in place.
Before he suits up for the Marvel Universe, Boseman will star in James Brown biopic** Get On Up** (due here November 21) and Alex Proyas'** Gods Of Egypt**, which is currently set for February 12, 2016.
