Marvel Teasing BLACK PANTHER Villain In AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Trailer?

The trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron, leaked yesterday and it only took a couple of hours for Marvel to release the HD version. A very smart move on their part, and we can get closer looks at all the footage that is being shown. One frame is getting fans excited that the studio could already be teasing future films. In this case it's  Black Panther, some are saying this link could be the character that Andy Serkis (Dawn of The Planet of The Apes, King Kong, Star Wars Episode VII, The Hobbit, Lord of The Rings) is playing. You can see the creepy and stunning trailer below.

Fans are speculating that this flash of Andy Serkis is enough to figure-out who he's playing in the film. Pointing-out his fantastic Lincoln beard is extremely similar to that of Ulysses Klaw, a major supervillain in the Black Panther comics. I can't say he doesn't look like him, but we've seen misdirections by Marvel and Whedon before. While we do know that Wakanda (home of The Black Panther) will be making appearance in the sequel. There hasn't been any sign that T'Chaka or T'Challa will be showing-up. It looks like he's in some sort of prison uniform or maybe a kaki HYDRA outfit. Perhaps, apart of their African branch? We know that movie will head to South Africa, where Hulk fights the Hulkbuster.

The prison aspect and Serkis' long standing work with motion capture makes me believe he could also be playing a rebooted version of Emil Blonsky (sorry, Tim Roth). Andy's mo-cap company worked on the film and with actor Mark Ruffalo for his Hulk performances. It wouldn't be hard to see Ultron create his own version of the Masters of Evil, we already see seeds of this with Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver seemingly working alongside Ultron. I'm sure it's possible Ultron could gather other meta-humans good or bad to join his cause, including the Hulk-level villain Abomination (who is a canon member of the Masters of Evil). There had been rumblings for a while now, that the Masters of Evil would somehow feature in the film.

I will also point-out that Klaw is a member of the Masters of Evil, along with the established Advanced Idea Mechanics which was introduced in Iron Man 3.  The A.I.M. link could lead him to be involved with HYDRA. Since we've seen Baron Strucker revealed to be heading experiments, a villain who actually created A.I.M. as a splinter group of HYDRA. I wouldn't be too shocked to see Klaw working with Strucker, or running his own division of the terrorist group (perhaps, trying to get ahold of Wakandian technology for weapons?). Setting-up a villain for a future film via this sequel would be a great play by Marvel. Considering that younger Marvel audiences would be aware of Black Panther, thanks to the cartoons and comics. However, not so much with mostly obscure villain Klaw.

This tidbit would also suggest that Marvel Studios has found an actor to play T'Challa, our favorite Wakandian Avenger. There have been plenty of names who have put themselves into the mix or were rumored including Michael K. Williams (12 Years A Slave, Boardwalk Empire, The Wire, The Road, Kill The Messenger), Idris Elba (Pacific Rim, Thor, Luther), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity, Children of Men, 12 Years A Slave), Denzel Washington (Equalizer, Training Day, Man on Fire), and John Boyega (Attack The Block, Star Wars Episode VII). However, it seems like the casting rumors halted once Chadwick Boseman (42, Gods of Eygpt, Get On Up) was reportedly a front-runner.

Do you think Marvel is about to announce plans for Black Panther?

Black Panther And Hawkeye Showing-Up In CAPTAIN AMERICA 3?

Collider's Frosty was taking to Twitter to see if anyone has questions for the Russo Brothers, and LatinoReview's El Mayimbe coyly took him up on that. Adding what very well could be his own scoop, that Black Panther is rumored for an appearance in Captain America 3. I truly hope this one turns out to be right on-the-money.

.@colliderfrosty Yes, please ask Russo bros if it is true THE BLACK PANTHER will be making an appearance in CAP 3? :)
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) August 27, 2014

There have been rumblings for years that T'Challa would have a cameo, before his own feature film. However, all we've had since those rumors have been easter eggs (Cap's shield/meta human map). It's said that Wakanda is actually going to mentioned and possibly even shown in Avengers: Age of Ultron, that also remains to be seen.

Kevin Feige has given an update recently during Comic-Con confirming Panther is back in active-development at the studio. We are expecting Black Panther to become one of the next new solo films announced by the studio. As the project was said to have competed against Guardians of The Galaxy for the August, 2014 release spot. There is even talk that Chadwick Boseman (Get On Up, 42, Gods of Egypt) is the top-pick for the role of T'Challa, another bit of information that originated from LR.

UPDATE: Co-director Anthony Russo was asked by Movies.com, what new characters would be included in the third film? His answer is obscure but promising since fans would "freakout" with this addition. The only character I could think off making fans freakout, would be Black Panther. Rogers and T'Challa have crossed paths on more than a few occasions, with Cap's modern-day globetrotting he'd have to at one point bump into Wakanda. Of course a new threat of HYDRA would also put the population of Wakanda at risk as well.

"I can't divulge who is going to be in the film, but I think the fans are going to freak out when they hear about it." 

Speaking of Collider, Jeremy Renner mentioned Captain America 3 "rumblings" to the site. That's if he can find the time to shoot it, since he has Mission: Impossible 5 and Bourne 5 on-deck. We already mentioned what this could mean for Barton and the MCU, bulking-up his presence in the universe could lead to him getting his own superhero team to lead (Avengers West Coast).

SOURCE: LATINOREVIEW

Marvel's Kevin Feige Finally Confirms Active Development On CAPTAIN MARVEL And BLACK PANTHER Movies

It looks like we all missed-out on the coolest tidbit of information about Marvel's upcoming projects, that Marvel's Kevin Feige briefly mentioned to IGN at SDCC. He was asked point-blank about Black Panther and Captain Marvel movies. In which Kevin replied in a much more positive way, than previously when asked about the projects. It's the first time Feige has confirmed development on a Captain Marvel film, which I've been talking about being in development for months now.

"There both characters that we like..development work has been done on it, and it continues to be done on...and certainly the public.. It's the question I get asked more than anything else...More than Iron Man 4, more than Avengers 3, and that's sort of the first-time that's ever happened to us...So I think that makes a difference, I think that's something we have to pay attention to."

He was asked if public opinion or online demands fuel Marvel's choices to what to make next. Kevin reaffirmed that they have their plans set out in advanced (likely by phases), and that fans attitudes change frequently. While stating Black Panther and Captain Marvel might be exceptions to this. It's also extremely possible that Marvel has been keeping plans in-house for the moment, and wanted to see Guardians success before moving forward with similar "risky" projects.

"But in this particular case, I think it's a groundswell, and I think it means something substantial." 

It's sort of a big-deal for this to happen, considering we have Marvel about to release their 11th film in May. None of the films have included female or non-white solo leads. Having Marvel's most recognizable female and black superheroes in theatres is something fans have been demanding since Avengers. It could change the landscape of the genre, and open-doors to actors/characters which might have been ignored for tentpole potential.

I have a feeling we'll see a bit of diversity casting when it comes to Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage. However, making the jump to the big-screen, might ruffle the feathers of the studio dinosaurs, who have been blocking the change-up. Warner Bros. has both Aquaman and possible Wonder Woman films in development, which won't have the typical white-male lead. Sony is actually the first of the new wave to announce development on a female-driven Spider-Man spin-off coming in 2017. The likelyhood is that film will focus on Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat. Kevin might be saying it's fan demand, but it's also pressure coming from competing studios.

As it stands now Marvel has two in-house scripts for both Panther and Captain Marvel. Both characters are expected to be hinted-to in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Not unlike Doctor Strange's Stephen Strange in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The former project has a draft by Mark Bailey, which Marvel seemingly likes but could eventually get extensive rewrites. The latter has a script, which is rumored to have been written by Guardians of The Galaxy co-writer Nicole Perlman.

It was told to me that the Captain Marvel script was written in-house (as usual), and by someone who has already produced scripts for the studio. Nicole also wrote an updated draft for the Black Widow script while being apart of Marvel's screenwriting program. It's actually unknown how many scripts Marvel had her working on, because Marvel hasn't made that information public. Considering both Guardians and Widow are female-heavy scripts, it would make sense that Perlman would at least get a shot at Captain Marvel. Perlman is also one of the best known writers from the program, and one of the few that has actually earned writing credit for her work.

Speaking of casting, we haven't heard much in the way of T'Challa, since LatinoReview first revealed Chadwick Boseman (Gods of Egypt, 42, Get On Up) as a strong candidate back in May 2013. Boseman himself has been coy, but recently stated.."Ahhh, I don’t know anything about that…Until the contract is signed, I don’t know". It's not definitive, but sounds like the usual runaround answers actors talking with Marvel would be expected to say. Chadwick is charismatic and charming as hell, and would make one hell of a Black Panther.

The only source concerning the casting of Captain Marvel goes all the back to October 2012, which comes from the DailyMail (usually right when it comes to Bond news). They said that both Emily Blunt (Looper, Edge of Tomorrow) and Ruth Wilson (Lone Ranger, Luther) were the main candidates for the role of Ms Marvel, at the time was linked for Avengers 2. Since then, we've got confirmation that Ms Marvel indeed appears in the Age of Ultron script, and could make a cameo in the sequel. Interesting enough, Joss Whedon confirmed to HeyUGuys a fourth major female lead in Age of Ultron, which some have assume is actually Ms Marvel/Captain Marvel.

It would make sense that Emily Blunt would be in the mix for this role, considering she was forced out of the Black Widow role in Iron Man 2, because of a contract with 20th Century Fox. She's been since linked to a few other Marvel roles including Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. I assume that she could become Marvel's go-to actress to head-up this franchise. We've seen her play badasses in both Looper and Edge of Tomorrow, which the latter seemed like a test-reel for a campaign to play Captain Marvel. I wouldn't rule out Ruth Wilson considering she's closely worked with both Thor alumni Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba, but Blunt is currently my favorite for the role.



If I had to guess release dates, I would place Black Panther for either May or November 2017 (since we don't have a non-sequel announced for 2017, but have a cosmic one with GOTG2 and Thor 3 will take the Avengers-era spot), and Captain Marvel for a release in 2018 (since that year doesn't have either a cosmic film or new character). We can't be sure what Marvel's ultimate plan is until they make it official, but it sounds like Captain Marvel could be our next cosmic franchise and Panther our next new Earthbound hero.



SOURCE: IGN

Kevin Feige Reaffirms Plans For BLACK PANTHER Film And Comments On LOKI Spin-Off

Marvel's Black Panther was in the running for Phase Two but sadly didn't make the cut. Kevin Feige finally gives an update on the film's current status. Feige has been dishing a lot concerning his excitement for the rest the Phase Two lineup during press interviews for Thor: The Dark World. He's even teased at great length what's in store for Phase Three. However, one project Kevin has been quite mum about. That being the current status of Black Panther. He gave a brief statement to BlackTreeTV about the possibility of a Loki spin-off and if Black Panther is still happening.

"Ah, a lot of people are asking about Loki's own movie. That's pretty good and you know my favorite thing about being asked a question about Loki. Is that it means, it's worked. People respond to Loki they respond to Hiddleston. You know one might say he gives Thor a run for his money in this film. Wether he'll spin-off in his own story or not, I don't know we don't have immediate plans for that. I think there are a lot more stories to tell in the Thor universe first."

"And in terms of The Black Panther, it's absolutely in development. When you have something as rich as Wakanda and his backstory. Certainly vibranium has been introduced in the universe already. I don't know when that'll be exactly but certainly we have plans to bring him to life someday."

His statement seems a bit safe and still a bit coy. Feige isn't gushing about Panther here, like he has previously with Ant-Man and Doc Strange (a solid contender for Phase Three). Yet, Kevin does give the impression he's still being considered for release. We know that a script by Mark Bailey exists. Along with a steady group of seasoned/young actors being linked or rumored for the role of T'Challa. Wakanda made a small cameo in Iron Man 2 and since then Black Panther has gathered a large amount of fan support. The fictional Marvel country could very well make an appearance The Avengers: Age of Ultron, as the film is said to have location shots in South Africa. I speculate that Ultron could upgrade his body by heading to Wakanda for some vibranium. The same indestructible metal that Cap's shield is made from. LatinoReview has been confident in that Panther will make Phase Three. 

Natalie Portman Hinting MS MARVEL And BLACK PANTHER Films Coming Soon?

During an interview with SciFiNow actress Natalie Portman hinted about future Marvel projects. She revealed the studio is working on female led film (Ms Marvel?) and one focusing on a non-white title character. There has been talk from numerous outlets and even Marvel about the developing of both Black Panther and Ms Marvel films over the last couple of years. According to outlets both projects currently have scripts written. Not to mention casting rumors linking Emily Blunt (Looper, Edge of Tomorrow, The Wolfman), Ruth Wilson (Saving Mr. Banks, Lone Ranger, Anna Karenina, Luther) and possibly Katee Sackhoff for Carol Danvers. Even more actors have been linked for T'Challa over the last two years. However, this is the first time that a Marvel cast member has revealed possible plans for unannounced films that weren't spin-offs of their own character (Black Widow/War Machine).

"There are definitely many strong women, but it will be exciting when there is a central female character which I think is coming – I have heard is coming – and, of course, also a central non-white character will also be exciting. Title characters."

Does Marvel Finally Have A Top Contender To Play BLACK PANTHER?

LatinoReview is revealing that Marvel Studios finally might have zeroed in on an actor to play Black Panther. That actor is none other than 42 breakout star Chadwick Boseman who plays Jackie Robinson in the film. While a solo film has been in the works for years now there hasn't been an official announcement concerning the King of Wakanda's addition to the Phase Three lineup. It's possible he could end up having a supporting role in either Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Avengers 2 before his first solo outing,

Morris Chestnut In The Mix For BLACK PANTHER And Could He Join AVENGERS 2?

We've seen a couple of actors tease fans about upcoming roles on Facebook and Twitter. Frank Grillo eventually confirmed he landed the role of villain Crossbones in Captain America 2 on Twitter. So when Morris Chestnut (Boyz N The Hood, Identity Thief, American Horror Story, G.I. Jane, Last Boy Scout) said this on his twitter page "It's time to get familiar with the Black Panther character !" . It gave a lot of people the idea he might be talking to Marvel. He also linked to a picture of Black Panther surrounded by fellow Avengers. Could it be possible that Morris is in the mix for the Black Panther role in Avengers 2 (leading up to his own solo film)? The original tweet has been deleted so it could have caught the attention of his agent or Marvel.

A string of other actors have been previously linked for being considered for the part including Wesley Snipes, Idris Elba, Aldis Hodge and others. Marvel's Kevin Feige recently stated he hoped that Avengers 2 would include another superhero. We have impression that this new hero wouldn't be either Ant-Man or Doctor Strange. Since the Phase Three films would be released post-Avengers 2 and will focus on their origins. Kevin has also been talking up a Panther film for years and has a solid script from from Mark Bailey. Morris will be next seen in Kick-Ass 2 (based on a comic that was published by Marvel but not owned) alongside Jim Carrey who had been linked for a role in Guardians of The Galaxy.

"I would love to also see a new superhero in the ranks of the Avengers. We shall see!"


The Black Panther of Wakanda seems like a solid addition to the Avengers lineup in the sequel. Since he's been a staple in the cartoon series and is one of most popular non-classic member. T'Challa is a character that could be thrown into the fray without his origin explained at that moment. The advanced technology/tribal elements of Wakanda could be a great visual combination if the Guardians end up in the film as well. It would also be a smart way to get audiences behind the Panther film which seems to have been having problems getting made. Black Panther would have the first visible male minority becoming the starring lead of a Marvel Studios' franchise. Something lacking in the comic book film genre along with a lack of superheroines. Hopefully changing with the casting of Zoe Saldana as Gamora (the most dangerous women in the universe) in Guardians of The Galaxy.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Talks THOR THE DARK WORLD And BLACK PANTHER

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was interviewed by MTV taking in length about his experience playing dual roles of Algrim and Kurse in Thor: The Dark World. He also gives the impression he's already talking with the studio about another role in an upcoming film. Two major roles seem to standout as perfect for him that being Drax The Destroyer and the villain Thanos The Mad Titan in Guardians of The Galaxy.

“Thor 2; great movie, great opportunity. I've been a fan of the Marvel Comics and I got a massive opportunity to play two characters in the movie: Algrim and Kurse. You go in thinking, 'Yeah this is great.' But when you get in there, you're like whoa; six hours of makeup, prosthetics, all the physical [stuff]. But honestly, I loved it. It's going to be such an epic. And both of the characters; I have blonde hair, blue eyes, pointed ears, fangs, horns; everything you could want as boy in an action hero movie. It's amazing. The Fighting was really demanding. For instance, Kurse is the one that does all the fighting. It's forty pounds of extra weight and the good thing about it is that it's very flexible and elastic. I have a routine before I put it on: I stretch and do all my pilates. You see this big creature doing pilates, it's great. And then we'd have to go fight. Me and Chris [Hemsworth] go toe-to-toe. It was hardcore. But you don't really get into [these kinds of movies] of you're not ready for that kind of thing. You gotta be mentally fit, physically fit because you're going to shoot a scene ten to fifteen different ways.”

“[Thor and Kurse] fight differently. Chris has his hammer while Kurse is very animalistic, he's got horns. So I tried to go with that flow. My movements are [basically] like an animal: twisting my body, turning my head, all kinds of things. Kurse is meant to be extremely powerful, nothing can stop him. It's a great ride. There's fights everything in the movie. Loki gets his fair share of fights; [one of which] is between him and I as well. The great thing about Kurse is he is having it with everybody. But yes, Loki has some amazing fights. [Fans] are really gonna be happy with this movie. Everybody gets their little shine. I won't tell you what really happens, but there's some great surprises.”

“As we speak, [Marvel and I] are talking about [playing in another Marvel movie]. Obviously, Marvel is a great family that I'm happy to be working with. We had a great time on Thor: The Dark World. I loved to continue that relationship. (After Guardians of the Galaxy was brought up) I'm not talking about anything yet, just having a good relationship with Marvel.”

He also told MTV that he's still pursuing his campaign for T'Challa in Marvel's Black Panther. Considering he now has a relationship with the studio it's hard to say it would never happen.

"Who do I want to play him? Myself, let’s be real," Akinnuoye-Agbaje told MTV News with a smile, when asked if he is still carrying the torch for the role. "I would hope that playing Kurse would ingratiate me to becoming the Panther. You get in and have success in one, and you go and do the next one. [My campaign] is definitely not dropped."

"He’s one of my faves. I would love to play him," he continued. "You have to keep at it, you have to keep your card in the hat and see what comes out but I have to say I’m thrilled, I’ve been able to play two characters in one movie and if [Marvel] likes this and it this does well, it just gives you a better chance."

Pete Travis Considering Another Comic Book Film And Open To STAR WARS

Speaking to MovieWeb Pete Travis (Dredd) confirms he's been sent a script for another comic book film. The unnamed project seems to have captured his interest and hopes to get it made sometime this year. However, the movie is in very early stages. He also briefly comments on his desire to make a Star Wars film. We know that the studio is looking to make spin-offs and he'd be an awesome person to tackle one of those.

"I wasn't looking for a comic book movie when I found Dredd. Like I say, it was all about the script. There is another comic book script that I have been sent, that I quite like. I hope it might get made this year. I think comic books and graphic novels are exciting. I think there are tons of ways to make them more real. It's an area I am really excited about...No, not at the moment. It is in the early stage." 

"I wouldn't count out anything in this business, really. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Who wouldn't be interested in that? I loved it as a kid. I loved it while I was growing up. So, who knows?" 

A COUPLE OF PROJECTS I THINK IT COULD BE

BLACK PANTHER: I'd love it to be Marvel's Black Panther which has a script from Mark Bailey. Pete has proven he can make a fictional place like Mega-City One believable. Travis could be able to create the fictional high-tech country Wakanda in similar way. T'Challa needs a visionary to tell his story and he seems like that person. The only problem is that I doubt this will be made until Avengers 2 wraps production. Currently, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is set to shoot in April with Guardians of The Galaxy in the Summer. While I want it to be Panther it's a long-shot.

HARD BOILED: Another possible project would be Warner Bros' Hard Boiled which is based on the Frank Miller graphic novel. Miller wrote the script for the studio with the hope of directing it back in 2008. Hard Boiled went into development-limbo when Frank's The Spirit bombed at the box office. A futuristic debt collector in a massive violent noir city figures out something important about himself while a large body count amasses around him.

RONIN: Ronin is another Frank Miller project setup at Warner Bros. that has script but is also development-limbo. That film had Sylvain White attached to direct but his other comic book film The Losers didn't do very well. After the release it was unknown if the project was going to get made. It focuses on a ronin from feudal Japan that is transported to a futuristic New York City.

LONE WOLF AND CUB: The iconic manga series Lone Wolf And Cub spawned a bunch of Japanese films and influenced Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. Kamala Films is developing an American take on the material with Justin Lin attached to direct. However, Lin has been dropping out of films in record speed with films like Terminator 5 and Highlander previously. It's possible that Justin could exit this project too. I could see this being right up Pete's ally. The film has a script in development from David and Janet Peoples (Unforgiven, Blade Runner, Blade Runner Sequel). A betrayed executioner for the Shogun and his son travel the roads of Japan while being pursued by a neverending flood of assassins. At one point Darren Aronofksy was trying to make a version himself before the rights were lost.

SPECULATION: Will The Skrulls, Black Panther And Spider-Woman Be In AVENGERS 2?

So it's somewhat been confirmed that Guardians of The Galaxy will be the lead in for Avengers 2. Cosmic villain Thanos was teased at the end of Avengers and the Guardians have links to the Mad Titan sort of a lock that he'll be the baddie for that film first. Eventually, having Thanos and Mistress Death the main villains for Avengers 2. Fans had been upset that the less popular Chitauri were chosen over the Skrulls as Loki's army (thanks to Thanos pulling the strings). It's likely that Thanos could end up using the more dangerous Skrulls to conquer Earth if he needs a stronger force. Also, two possible additions to the Avengers lineup have links to the Skrulls.

The Mad Titan is planning on creating his own empire by conquering the universe. To do this he's going to need his own army which likely will see the Chitauri being replaced with a stronger group. Considering how easily they were defeated by the Avengers. Thanos has used the Skrulls for his own means in the past fuelling the Kree and Skrull war on Earth. It wouldn't be hard to imagine him using the shape-shifting Skrulls to obtain the infinity gems in Guardians and then have them infiltrate the Avengers and SHIELD to prepare his invasion of Earth and Asgard (for the infinity gauntlet/cosmic cube). Joss has been talking covertly about a smaller sequel. Perhaps he could end up making it more like a thriller ala Ten Little Indians/The Thing which could be interesting. Having the Skrull force in smaller numbers than the overboard amount of Chitauri in the first film.

The Skrulls main threats is their advanced technology which enables them to reproduce superpowers and abilities. This could be a very dangerous combo if they're able to make a group of super soldiers, iron men and godlike goliaths. Throw in the fact they can make themselves look like anyone at anytime and you've got a much superior force compared to the Chitauri. Not to mention a good way to lead into the war with the Kree or introducing them (along with Captain Marvel/Ms. Marvel) to begin with if they're not already mentioned in Guardians. This could also be a great way to have at the very least cameos from Wolverine and Spider-Man in the sequel.

Having the Skrulls could also be a way to introduce audiences to Black Panther and Wakanda. Panther fans and Marvel fans alike were shocked Panther wasn't added to the Phase Two lineup. T'Challa was rumored for an introduction in Captain America: The Winter Soldier but nothing has been confirmed. However, if the Skrulls end up in Avengers 2 they could show up in Wakanda first to steal their advanced technology and vibranium for their own means. Recently the Skrulls tried to go up against Black Panther and the Wakanda army, having their asses handed to them. It could be a great way to have Black Panther join the Avengers team.

Another possible addition could be Hydra spy turned SHIELD Agent/Avenger Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) joining the group only to be found as being Veranke the leader of the Skrulls in disguise. It would be an obvious one but her inclusion would make a great complex female character with powers which the franchise is currently lacking. While it's likely the female lead (Anna Kendrick) in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is Sharon Carter, another possibility is Jessica. That could be a great setup if Steve's fellow soldier (love interest?) turns out to be the enemy the entire time.

Six Directors That Should Direct 'BLACK PANTHER'

We learned this week that Marvel Studios is looking finally put Black Panther into production as the studio is happy with the script from Mark Bailey. Yesterday it was revealed that The Russo Brothers are in talks to direct Captain America 2. It's only a matter of time before we start hearing talk of directors for Panther. I've come up with my own short-list of directors along with some honorable mentions that include some up and coming television directors.

STEVE MCQUEEN: McQueen has to be the hottest non-studio director at the moment. His two films Shame and Hunger starring Michael Fassbender have been critical favorites (mine as well) placing him in a very special place as a director. Allowing him to make his passion projects instead of being under the thumb of a studio. However, Marvel has been very director friendly in it's short time as a studio. If Steve ever considered making a studio film he couldn't go wrong with Marvel Studios. I could see Black Panther a big enough challenge for Steve that he might actually entertain the thought. While an NC-17 movie like Shame isn't a credit you would attribute to a family-friendly film. Alan Taylor who is directing Thor has a rather background in adult material.

DANIEL ESPINOSA: The Swedish director currently only has two films under his belt but Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Snabba Cash) has been making a name for himself as a very stylish director. His slick shooting style and stunning visuals seem pitch perfect for the superhero genre. Daniel had been in talks to helm X-Men First Class and The Wolverine but was ultimately looked over. His next film will be the Yakuza thriller The Outsider and should cement him as director watch out for. Marvel doesn't keep their directors around for sequels (the exceptions are Favreau/Whedon) so it could be another project to get Espinosa exposure on an international level. It's expected that the film would spend sometime on location in the now studio friendly South Africa (doubling for Wakanda landscapes). Where Daniel spent a bulk of the Safe House production shooting.

TOM TYKWER: German director Tom Tykwer has had a mixed career. He knocked it out with his film Run Lola Run which was one of the most visual foreign films from the 90's. He would later jump into studio thrillers with gorgeous serial killer film Perfume: The Story of A Murder and the less than perfect The International. Tom recently co-directed Cloud Atlas with The Wachowskis which should bring him back into the spotlight. He could be in a position to demand more money than the television directors Marvel has been recently hiring. That aspect might rule him out as Marvel plays hardball with contracts.

DAVID TWOHY: If I had to choose a director who could easily pull-off Wakanda's scale and mix of tribal/advanced technology aesthetics it would be David Twohy (Pitch Black, Chronicles of Riddick, Riddick 3). Say what you will about the Riddick franchise he's been able to create a rather large world along with a very solid anti-hero. The sheer detail involved in Chronicles should be enough to land him the gig. David has a similar artistry as Captain America director Joe Johnston. Twohy also was involved with writing The Fugitive which is one of the best non-genre films starring Harrison Ford. He also directed Chris Hemsworth in one of his first Hollywood productions A Perfect Getaway.

JOE WRIGHT: I wouldn't have considered Wright (Atonement) as a director to make a film like this until Hanna. The film is far from perfect but it's entertaining as hell, helped by it's interesting father/daughter dynamic. A similar dynamic is explored in with T'challa and his father. Avengers used Wright's director of photography so I'm sure he's on their radar. The only problem is that Wright is a director who focuses more on his personal films rather than being a hired gun director. He's worked with two of the major Marvel actors Robert "Iron Man" Downey Jr. and James "Professor X" McAvoy, so it's possible he's on Marvel's radar.

JOE CORNISH: Yes, Cornish is a comedic director but considering Marvel has hired Edgar Wright (Spaced) for Ant-Man and The Russo Brothers (Community, Arrested Development) for Captain America 2 it's very possible to see him land the gig. Joe got high praises for his fantastic British alien invasion comedy Attack The Block. He's also been successful as a writer working with Edgar Wright on both Tintin and Ant-Man. I assume if Mark Bailey's script is as good as it's rumored to be it could be nice to have a director who is able to add sutle humor in the takes or add scenes on the spot. Each of the Marvel directors have a unique vision and Joe is no exception.



HONORABLE MENTIONS: Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing), Antoine Fuqua (Brooklyn's Finest, Training Day, Shooter, Replacement Killers), Brian Kirk (Luther, Game of  Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Luck, Dexter, Tudors), Sam Miller (Luther, Spooks, Walking Dead) and Allen Coulter (Rome, Sopranos, X-Files, Six Feet Under, Sons of Anarchy). 

DREAM CAST: Who Should Play 'BLACK PANTHER'?

Now that Black Panther is next for Marvel Studios, the question is who should play him? There is a steady stream of seasoned and new actors that could take the role. Panther is a compassionate, level-headed, supergenius (similar to Reed Richards and Tony Stark) with superhuman skills in marital arts, who is also the protector/leader of Wakanda. Marvel will need to find an actor who can make Panther their own. While it's likely that the studio will be aiming to create their own action star out of obscurity like with Chris "Thor" Hemsworth.

CHIWETEL EJIOFOR: This Whedon-alumni is quickly becoming a rather big name in the acting world. His upcoming film period drama 12 Years A Slave will likely end up earning him Oscar and BAFTA nominations. Chiwetel has been apart of some extremely interesting films such as Children of Men, American Gangster, Amistad and Inside Man. He's also been apart of genre flicks such as Joss Whedon's Serenity, Redbelt, 2012 and Salt so he's not opposed to making a comic book film.

ANTHONY MACKIE: Mackie is my favorite so far as he has an equal amount of award type films and fun popcorn flicks. His serious roles include Million Dollar Baby, Hurt Locker, Half Nelson, 8 Mile and Gangster Squad. Anthony also has lighter roles as well in films like Real Steel, Eagle Eye, Pain And Gain, The Adjustment Bureau and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (action focused role). I feel like Chiwetel,  Mackie could give real depth to T'challa.

DAVID OYELOWO: British actor David Oyelowo has been suggested by ThePlaylist, who have an in-depth look at possible actors. David got his start on the BBC spy series Spooks (M:I-5) leading to roles like The Last King of Scotland, The Help, Rise of The Planet of The Apes, Red Tails, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and Christopher McQurrie's Jack Reacher. Oyelwow might be a little older for the role but like Chiwetel is a seasoned actor that could knock it out of the park. Fitting in nicely among the other high profiled actors in the Avengers sequel.

NOEL CLARKE: Noel has been well-known in the UK developing himself as a talented actor and even director. Clearly his standout roles have been in Kidhulthood, Adulthood, Centurion and Doctor Who. The latter two must have caught the attention of J.J. Abrams leading to a supporting role in Star Trek 2. If Marvel wants another Chris Hemsworth type to mold as their own star, Clarke would make an excellent candidate.

NATE PARKER: Parker had been apart of Red Tails, which was a misstep of producer/writer George Lucas to make a large action war film focusing on a black cast. While the young talent was apparent in the film, it wasn't well written or directed becoming a missed opportunity to make a great war film. I feel Nate would be a similar casting find as Derek Luke, who had been cast in Captain America as Gabe Jones (Howling Commandos) and stole a majority of his scenes. Luke had been cast because of his standout role in Spike Lee's WWII drama Miracle At St. Anna. Jones would easily be one of the more interesting/developed black characters in the Marvel films as the eloquent linguist soldier was an empowering character that just didn't use brute strength or anger to fight a problem. T'challa is a brilliantly developed character so with the right actor it could be career making role.

I feel like Marvel would be smart to pool younger unknown talent like Parker so they can create a new star into their fray like Chris Hemsworth. Like Hemsworth, he's just as obscure and could develop into a solid action star. The studio's mission statement has been to develop their own stars instead of just hiring established ones. I could be speaking out of school here but black audiences have proven with the massive success of the Tyler Perry films (and other black led casts) that you don't need large stars to peak the interest of the black moving going public. BadassDigest has a solid write up on why Marvel is smart aiming for the black demographic alongside the comic fan audience. Panther could be the first stepping stone to see more faces of color as the lead heroes in these superhero films. Besides we can't hang-onto Blade being the greatest black superhero, since he's a niche character that isn't accessible to children.

'BLACK PANTHER' Next For Marvel Studios

While Kevin Feige has mentioned that the next Marvel film will feature a character outside of the Avengers world. He might have been talking about the phase one Avengers. As LatinoReview is reporting that Marvel Studios next feature will take audiences to the fictional tech-advanced African nation of Wakanda and introduce us to The Black Panther. If you follow the comics or even the Avengers cartoon T'challa ends up joining the Avengers team as a longtime member. They also claim that Mark Bailey's script is "fantastic" which is promising news in itself. There hasn't been news of a director but I wouldn't be shocked if some of the names connected to Captain America 2 are also being looked at for Panther.

THE BLACK PANTHER is going to headline his own film! How do I know? Let’s say I got it from FOUR different trusted sources. Marvel is going BIG TIME after the urban film audience and I applaud them for that. Last year, it was reported that Marvel hired Mark Bailey to pen the script and I hear the script is fantastic.The clues were always there. They showed Wakanda on the map in Iron Man 2 and Captain America’s shield is made from Vibranium which also hails from Wakanda.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje had been campaigning for the role but knowing Marvel they'll go the route of Cap and Thor hiring a younger actor to keep a franchising going for years to come. My bet is that since they cast Derek Luke in Captain America they could be looking at similar projects like Red Tails to find a promising lead. I'm just proud to see Marvel going all-in with this next adventure and I'll be first in line to see when it hits theaters.