The world of Wakanda has only just started to be explored in the MCU. Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War brought the character to life and just in time. Boseman will soon start filming Black Panther, which will give T’Challa the chance to be the king of the technologically advanced country, but he will not do so alone. Marvel has tapped the talented Ryan Coogler to direct the film and the supporting cast has started to round out over the last few months.
At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios announced that Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danai Gurira had joined the cast as the main villain and members of the Dora Milajae respectively. Marvel is not done adding members to the cast, however.
Marvel has announced that Forest Whitaker is the latest actor to join the impressive cast of Black Panther. Along with Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya and Florence Kasumba have also joined the project. Whitaker will play Zuri, an elder stateman in Wakanda, while Kaluuya will play W’Kabi and Kasumba reprising her role as Ayo from Civil War. Marvel also confirmed earlier reports of Winston Duke playing M’Baku.
Whitaker marks the latest big name actor to join the MCU while also sticking within the Disney family. Whitaker is set to star next in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story at the end of this year, and the Mouse House must be very happy with his work to also get him to join their other major universe. Similarly to how he appears to have a mentorship type role with Jyn Erso in Rogue One, as Zuri he should fill a similar role in Black Panther as well.
As for the other members joining, Duke should not be a surprise given previous reports, but the two new members are equally as exciting. Kaluuya as W’Kabi, one of T’Challa’s close friends, should give him a substantial role in the film as well, giving Kaluuya the opportunity to show his acting chops again after a supporting role in Sicario. While both of these new additions are sure to get more people interested in the film. Moreover, even though Kasumba was only in a single scene in Civil War, her strong presence and demeanor made her one of the more attention-grabbing characters. Now it will be fun to see her in what should be a larger role.
Doctor Strange opens 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 – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel– March 8, 2019; Untitled Avengers – May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.
Source: Marvel
