Update: Less than 24 hours after news hit of Lupita Nyong'o joining Black Panther, now comes news that Michael B. Jordan is also on board the project. Like Nyong'o's, his role isn't being disclosed at this stage, but their report leaves open the door that he could actually be playing a villain.
Black Panther will mark Jordan's third movie with director Ryan Coogler. They last teamed on Creed.
Previously: If you've seen Captain America: Civil War, then you know why so many people are excited about the prospects for the Black Panther solo movie. Chadwick Boseman delivers an excellent, underplayed performance as T'Challa (aka Black Panther); he may only have a singular motivation in this particular story, yet there are plenty of hints that there's much more to his character -- and to Wakanda, the African nation that he now leads -- than what we see.
We know that Boseman will return in the starring role and that Ryan Coogler (Creed) will direct and is also cowriting the script. Last month, we heard from Marvel's Kevin Feige about plans for the movie: "What Ryan Coogler is working on right now in the early days of putting that Black Panther film together is a very sweeping sort of geopolitical movie, set within the wonder of Wakanda and the action of the Panther." Feige also said: "Between now and the end of the summer there will be more casting announcements. We start filming at the very beginning of next year.”
Now comes word via The Hollywood Reporter that Lupita Nyong'o is in negotiations to star in Black Panther. The Academy Award-winning actress is being touted to play T'Challa's love interest. Who might that be?
No official hints have been offered, but BirthMoviesDeath has offered four possibilities:
-- Monica Lynn, an American singer who was engaged to Black Panther at one point.
-- Okoye, a member of the Dora Milaje, who are bodyguards. In the comics, Okoye fell in love with Black Panther, but he did not return her affections. In Captain America: Civil War, Florence Kasumba (above) appears briefly as one of those bodyguards.
-- Storm, a member of the X-Men, who once married Black Panther. The character belongs to Fox, so this possibility is unlikely to occur.
-- Monica Rambeau, also known as Captain Marvel. In the comics, she was a member of the Avengers, leading the superhero team for years. Later, she was known as Photon, Pulsar and Spectrum. Note that the upcoming Captain Marvel solo movie is based on the character after another superhero, Carol Danvers, assumed the name.
