Captain America: Civil War might have had Cap’s name in the title, but it was T’Challa, the Black Panther, who stole the show. With his combination of fierce fighting skills and diplomacy, he instantly became a fan favorite and now we are getting more news about his solo film. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Oscar winning actress and red carpet darling Lupita Nyong’o is in talks to star opposite Chadwick Boseman in Marvel’s Black Panther film. If cast she would play his love interest.
Nyong’o is no stranger to big franchise films, she is set to reprise her role from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Maz Kanata, in Episode VIII. She also recently voiced the wolf Raksha in Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book. This is besides her breakout performance in 12 Years a Slave which earned her multiple nominations and an Academy Award for best actress in a supporting role. She also recently scored a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut as “The Girl” in Eclipsed.
Nyong’o joins an already impressive group including writer and director Ryan Coogler, who also wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Creed and Fruitvale Station. Joe Robert Cole will also be a co-writer. The film is set to be released on February 2nd, 2018.
The Black Panther is the King of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, home of the rare substance, vibranium. Like adamantium, it is a fictional metallic element that is highly sought out. Vibranium is best known in the comics and MCU films for being the material that Captain America’s shield and T’Challa’s claws are made from. The current run of the Black Panther comics are being written by National Book Award winning author and writer for The Atlantic Ta-Nehisi Coates. The second issue was released yesterday.
