When it was announced that Marvel Studios will have a Hall H panel on Saturday night of Comic-Con 2016, the studio didn’t confirm which movies it would showcase. Directors James Gunn and Scott Derrickson already revealed that their movies Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Doctor Strange would be present, but we didn’t have any further details heading into the panel. One of the many surprises revealed for the fans was the confirmation of new Black Panther cast members Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, along with the characters they’re playing. Today we have highlights from this panel, along with new video interviews.
Since Black Panther won’t start filming until early 2017, there wasn’t any footage to show the SDCC crowd, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige did unveil the new logo, while bringing out Chadwick Boseman (T’challa), along with a few of his new co-stars. Michael B. Jordan was confirmed as Erik Killmonger, while Lupita Nyong’o was revealed to be Nakia and The Walking Dead star Danai Gurira has come aboard as Okoye. There had been rumors that Lupita Nyong’o’s character would be a love interest for Chadwick Boseman’s T’challa, but that hasn’t been confirmed quite yet.
There have previously been casting calls for Black Panther that reveal other characters yet to be cast, such as Monica Lynne, a singer who saved T’challa from drowning after he was defeated by Killmonger. Monica Lynne is said to be T’challa’s “longest love interest,” whom he’s pledged “eternal devotion” to. Others include N’Gassi, T’calla’s adviser and acting regent when he’s away from Wakanda, Oyoke, who Danai Gurira is playing, a former member of the Dora Miljae and now part of the J’Kwali tribe, Queen Divine Justice, another former Dora Miljae who is part of the Jabari tribe, W’kabi, T’challa’s second in command and Zuri, a close friend of T’challa.
It is also believed that Ulysses Klaue, who was played by Andy Serkis in last year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Everett K. Ross, played by Martin Freeman in Captain America: Civil War, will be part of the movie. Oddly enough, though, the casting call specifies that Andy Serkis will be playing Ulysses Klaue, but they don’t mention that Martin Freeman will be returning as Everett K. Ross. It’s possible that this was merely an oversight, or Marvel could be re-casting the role.
The previous casting call also hinted that comic book characters such as Reverend Achibe, a poor farmer who sold his soul to Mephisto, Malice, a former Dora Miljae member with superhuman strength, Man-Ape, leader of the Jabari tribe and White Wolf, T’challa’s adopted older brother and former leader of Wakanda’s spy organization, Hatut Zeraze are also being cast. Naturally, Marvel hasn’t confirmed these characters yet, but with shooting beginning in just a few months, hopefully we’ll get confirmation on these characters soon. Until then, check out the panel highlights video from Comic-Con, along with video interviews with Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, producer Kevin Feige and director Ryan Coogler.