Audiences who have seen Captain America: Civil War would have gotten their first taste of Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa - better known as Black Panther - in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Regal, powerful, and wise, it's a great introduction to the character that has many (me included) looking forward to the solo film coming in 2018, and some potential new casting only increases the excitement.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lupita Nyong'o is in talks to join the cast of Black Panther. While the name of the character in question has not been revealed, the article notes that Nyong'o will be playing T'Challa's love interest should the deal go through.
This would be fantastic casting; I'm a big fan of Nyong'o, and after her impressive mo-cap and vocal performances in The Force Awakens and The Jungle Book it wil be good to see her back on screens sans effects again. On the face of it, the fact that the role she's up for is the "love interest" is cause for mild concern. However, whether that is ultimately a bad thing is down to the quality of the writing, and after the excellent Fruitvale Station and Creed I fully trust writer-director Ryan Coogler to serve the character well.
While Marvel get a lot of (not entirely undeserved) crap for having too many white male superheroes we should also applaud them when they get it right, and Black Panther looks like its shaping up to be a massive victory in this regard. Nyong'o would be a fantastic get, and I can't wait to see who else signs on to Marvel's most exciting upcoming film.
Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther is released in UK cinemas on February 9, 2018 before opening in US theatres on February 16, 2018.
Images: Disney
