The cast of Marvel’s Black Panther now packs extra punch. Creed star Michael B. Jordan has reportedly signed on, THR reported Friday.
Although moviegoers cheered for Jordan’s character as he pursued his boxing dreams in last fall’s Rocky spinoff, they may be rooting against him in Black Panther; at least one source tells THR that he’ll play the film’s villain. Marvel hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but if he is indeed stirring up trouble as a bad guy, he’ll face off against the Wakanda warrior king, T’Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman), also known as Black Panther.
The African superhero recently made his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, which has already brought in $788.23 million since its May 6 opening, according to Box Office Mojo data. Black Panther will be the character’s first stand-alone film, and the studio is clearly working to surround him with a strong cast. Just a day before word of Jordan’s casting broke, it was reported that Oscar winner and Star Wars: The Force Awakens star Lupita Nyong’o is in talks to play the female lead.
By joining the cast, Jordan has teamed up yet again with director Ryan Coogler. Black Panther marks their third collaboration; the two previously worked together on both Creed and the 2013 biographical drama Fruitvale Station. Evidently, they enjoy joining forces, and since they do it well, we’re all for i, too.
Jordan is no Marvel newbie. He starred as the Human Torch in The Fantastic Four last year and is reportedly a huge comic book fan. The actor is even co-writing a series called North that may ultimately be adapted for the screen, with him in the starring role.
Black Panther is expected to begin production next year and slated to hit theaters on February 18, 2018.
