New Name Floated For Marvel's Black Panther
Filed under: Action, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, Scripts, Comic/Superhero/Geek
When the "Wesley Snipes as the Black Panther" rumors were reawakened (by none other than Wesley Snipes himself), I was more than a bit nervous. I enjoy Snipes in a number of roles, but I personally have trouble picturing him as the Marvel hero. However, given the NEW rumors regarding the lead character for the film, Snipes suddenly looks like solid gold. From the lips of Jamie Foxx comes the suggestion of -- are you ready for this? -- rapper/actor LL Cool J as the king of Wakanda. Stop laughing, I swear I'm not kidding. C'mon, stop laughing! Click here if you need further proof. Apparently, Foxx and J have mended whatever fences they broke while filming that prison football movie, and Foxx is now championing LL Cool J for the long rumored Marvel project. According to Foxx, he told J "My man, you the only cat that can really pull this off. There's this black superhero called Panther."Foxx is apparently serious about this, as he went on to comment "We're trying to get this Panther production set up, because I think he'll smash that." Oh yay, it is a match made in heaven. Just think -- if they follow through to sequels, we could see an LL Cool J/Halle Berry love story! The sheer thought of such a film sends shivers of despair down my spine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-12-2006 @ 2:32PM
Dirk said...
Two Words: Djimon Honshu.
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7-12-2006 @ 2:38PM
Cath said...
Let me second Dirk. We need someone with that unquestioned kingliness about him.
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7-12-2006 @ 2:47PM
bgdc said...
Prison football movie? Any Given Sunday had nothing to do with prison.
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7-12-2006 @ 3:00PM
Matt said...
How about Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje? The guy who plays Mr. Eko on Lost
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7-12-2006 @ 3:22PM
Chris said...
I think LL is holding out for Luke Cage. And by 'think' I mean 'am spreading the rumor that'.
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7-12-2006 @ 3:30PM
Chris said...
The only good reason I see for doing a Black Panther movie is so they can get an Avengers movie down the road. After the new Iron Man, Captain America, and Luke Cage movies come out they can put them all together. The solo movies can tell their individual origins, and then you lead up to an Avengers Assemble movie. They can even pick up Spidey after Rami walks away from that franchise too.
P.S.
I hear LL is going to be Luke Cage! I read it in a comment above!
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7-12-2006 @ 3:39PM
Myron said...
I like Snipes but I'm tired of his schtick. This guy from NYPD Blue struck me as having a super hero build
http://www.tv.com/henry-simmons/person/13202/biography.html
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7-12-2006 @ 3:48PM
tim said...
i'll toss in Peter Mensah. Yeh, i heard about LL running for Luke Cage. I don't even know who luke cage is. #5 totally broke open that story though.
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7-12-2006 @ 4:23PM
The Jeremy said...
Both Snipes and Mr. LL are inappropriate for this role; although LL would make a great Luke Cage.
I'd say this role should be given to either Chiwetel Ejiofor or Djimon Hounsou.
And if Blade ever returns to the big screen, go for Michael Jai White or Brian J. White to replace Snipes.
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7-12-2006 @ 6:21PM
Alan said...
I agree with Chiwetel Ejiofor for the role. He was about the only good thing about "Serenity" for me. I also like the fact that a real African can play T'Challa. But I am curious. What's so wrong with Snipes? What's the "schtick" you're tired of? I still think the man's viable with the right role.
Not feelin' LL for Cage, either.
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7-12-2006 @ 7:19PM
Chris said...
I think Snipes would be OK, but its to the point where he is just playing Westley Snipes in everything. He can go all the way up to 'Demolition Man' crazy, or down to "Passenger 57' cool, but that's not very far.
I don't know if he can do the dignified king/tight wearing super hero balance for Black Panther.
I did really like the guy in Serenity. He had more of a calm, cool, collected, badass feel. I think that would work well for this role.
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7-12-2006 @ 7:25PM
Dan said...
Isaiah Washington, maybe? And I agree on Adewale. I feel like I should be able to think of more.
The tendency in Hollywood is only to be able to remember one or two legitimate African-American actors at a time. The other parts for minorities are then filled with rappers or athletes because producers believe they can turn those performances into opportunities for cross-promotion or synergy. It's a bit sad, but sadly predictable...
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7-12-2006 @ 11:01PM
Finished.Law.School said...
Djimon Hounsou would be perfect for this.
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7-13-2006 @ 9:18AM
ajmcdaniel said...
How about the guy from She Hate Me: Anthony Mackie? Personally, I like Michael Jai White for the part too though.
LL is better suited to play Luke Cage. Between the two, I would rather Snipes get the Black Panther role.
All this talk of a star, what I /really/ wanna know is which supermodels will they get to play his two female bodyguards? =)
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7-13-2006 @ 10:57AM
kel said...
I'll 15th the choice of DH for the role, although I bet the suits will think that he won't be able to carry the movie.
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7-14-2006 @ 7:27AM
Warren Bradley said...
I agree 100% with you Kel. Djimon will be great- a strong thespian (that's actor folx), a regal character & he has that "man in tights" factor that someone mentioned earlier. Unfortunately he hasn't 'starred' in a major film yet, so the suits probably wont cast him. How about Isaac de Bankole- a French/African actor who has all of the above ???
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