Djimon Hounsou Says It Would Be "An Honor" To Play BLACK PANTHER

Djimon Hounsou Says It Would Be "An Honor" To Play BLACK PANTHER

Frequently fan cast for the role, and having already voiced the character in an animated series, Hounsou speaks in detail to MTV about the chances of playing T'Challa on the big screen, and how he thinks a movie should be approached..

By MarkCassidy - Oct 11, 2012 10:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Black Panther
Source: MTV Splashpage

Out of all the great actors brought up when anyone mentions a Black Panther movie, Djimon Hounsou's name still remains at the top of most fan's wish-list. The versatile actor has already provided the voice for T'Challa in a short lived animated series, but seems very interested in bringing the character to life on the silver screen as well. "Oh man. It would be an honor. I really think that it really transpires into all of the stuff that I’ve been wanting to do and I also dream about doing." The actor told MTV News in a recent interview. He added, "It definitely is a great story and 'Black Panther' would be quite amazing. But it needs to be done right and it needs to be done as well as the other ones."



By the other ones, Hounsou is of course talking about Marvel's previous movies, which have managed to maintain a very high level of quality - for the most part - right up to the best of them all, The Avengers. But when the possibility of a Black Panther movie has been brought up in the past, there have been naysayers. One, rather silly, argument was that the fictional Country of Wakanda would be a bit too much for audiences to accept, but Hounsou is against changing the setting..

"I think as far as Africa is concerned, you really have to create a fictional country and that country is a character within the story as well. You can’t go to Congo and say 'Oh, let’s make it Congo.' Congo is a war-torn country and it’s not stable! Not like the west."


So what does he think the chances of him being asked to step into the role are? "It’s left to Marvel and there are a lot of great actors out there ... but I think definitely it would be an honor to be asked to do that."

For the full interview click the link below.









GLADIATOR II Star Denzel Washington Confirms He'll Star In BLACK PANTHER 3 After Ryan Coogler Wrote Him A Role
Related:

GLADIATOR II Star Denzel Washington Confirms He'll Star In BLACK PANTHER 3 After Ryan Coogler Wrote Him A Role

BLACK PANTHER Star Lupita Nyong'o Says Black Doesn’t Sell Myth Had Marvel Shaking In Their Boots
Recommended For You:

BLACK PANTHER Star Lupita Nyong'o Says "Black Doesn’t Sell" Myth Had Marvel "Shaking In Their Boots"

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2 3
RunDTC
RunDTC - 10/11/2012, 10:34 AM
he was really good in Blood Diamond and The Island. I wouldn't mind him as BP.
PsyGuy
PsyGuy - 10/11/2012, 10:43 AM
He'd be awesome. Please get a real actor, Marvel
JDUKE25
JDUKE25 - 10/11/2012, 10:44 AM
That's nice.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 10/11/2012, 11:00 AM
He is a tad long in the tooth..though no way does he look 48, and he is in great shape. I could accept it with a bit of movie magic.
luckylu
luckylu - 10/11/2012, 11:23 AM
now that he has come out and said that, it is 100% sure he wont get the role :)
Spidex3000
Spidex3000 - 10/11/2012, 11:25 AM
I have faith because stan always name drops BP with dr strange
patriautism
patriautism - 10/11/2012, 11:32 AM
He's perfect for t'chaka but for t'challa he is a bit old..
sexfoodcomics
sexfoodcomics - 10/11/2012, 11:36 AM
Robert Downey jr is old too. They need to get him as Blakc panther. I don't want to see some young douche bag play the wakandan kind, this guy is an amazing actor.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 10/11/2012, 11:39 AM
An older version or perhaps T-chakka
TheAmazingSpidey63
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 10/11/2012, 11:39 AM
I could see this man playing as T'Challa. Although, considering his age (48 years old), I think he could also do well as T'Chaka. But, hey, if the man says he's up for the role and ready to get down with it, then who are we to stop him, huh? I just want Black Panther up their with his other Marvel colleagues more than ANY OTHER characters. I can't express how much I WANT to see Black Panther on the BIG screen. To see him fighting alongside with Cap, conducting such inventions and machines with Tony Stark and/or Hank Pym, talking with Thor, etc. I am just begging Marvel to just give me, us, Black Panther. Just sayin'. :)
sparkadv
sparkadv - 10/11/2012, 11:43 AM
He is cool but no one better than Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje for T'Chaka!
lokibane2012
lokibane2012 - 10/11/2012, 11:44 AM
Die his hair, sprinkle him with some 'movie magic' and voila!

T'Challa
santoanderson
santoanderson - 10/11/2012, 11:44 AM
Too. Damn. Old.

You can't compare RDJ to Djimon Hounsou. RDJ's name sells tickets, nowadays. He's got Oscar nominations coming out the wazoo, he's arguably the most popular actor of this generation, and he has a great redemptive story that people appreciate.

Djimon Hounsou was in Amistad, 15 years ago, and, uhhhh.... The Island: the Michael Bay movie that bombed, 7 years ago. Had they made a Black Panther movie in 1996, I would've totally been behind this casting.
QuanZen
QuanZen - 10/11/2012, 11:53 AM
Age really isn't a thing for this guy. He is in fantastic shape for 48. So everyone bringing up age needs to think about how old RDJ is. If you put them both side to side with just shorts on you'll see who looks more his age LOL
Optimus83
Optimus83 - 10/11/2012, 11:54 AM
MICHAEL JAI WHITE IS BETTER OPTION. ...

GoILL
GoILL - 10/11/2012, 11:56 AM
@sKeemAn

Totally agree.
thewonderer
thewonderer - 10/11/2012, 11:57 AM
@santoanderson

RDJ IS NOT the most popular actor this generation. Not even close, I'd say Fassbender and JGL are becoming that.
NightForce
NightForce - 10/11/2012, 11:58 AM
If he was younger I'd say say hell yes. But he's almost 50 that is way too old for Black Panther.
jimpinto24
jimpinto24 - 10/11/2012, 11:58 AM
I want Marvel to cast Michael Jai White as Black Panther.
lokibane2012
lokibane2012 - 10/11/2012, 12:01 PM
@santoanderson

Well, RDJ was a drugged out failure, before he got Iron Man...
The success came after.

So actually you can compare the two. In that Djimon is better off than RDJ was before getting the role.
lokibane2012
lokibane2012 - 10/11/2012, 12:03 PM
@thewonderer, santoanderson

are you guys [frick]ing kidding? RDJ is not the most popular actor. and Fassbender and JGL have a long way to go before they get there.

"most popular actor" is not synonymous with "my favorite actor".

I'd say someone like Johnny Depp (or Tom Cruise about 10 years ago) is what you could refer to as "the most popular" without looking like a fool.
lokibane2012
lokibane2012 - 10/11/2012, 12:06 PM
The comparison between RDJ and Djimon Honsou.

-Both are old
-The career's of both were nothing to write home about before getting the role (Yes, RDJ had an Oscar nomination, but what came after that more than derailed everything)
Nemeres
Nemeres - 10/11/2012, 12:07 PM
Black people don't seem to show their age as much as white, Asian or Latino folks. Look at Will Smith, he doesn't look at all like he's in his forties. I think he has a great look for the character, in that tribal, deeply African sort of way. If it happens, it should be with someone like him.
TheAmazingSpidey63
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 10/11/2012, 12:09 PM
Hmmm, yeah. I've been giving it some thought, and I do agree that he's too old for such a role as Black Panther (Sorry, Djimon. No offense, sir). Buuuut, as many have suggested for him, Marvel could offer him a role as T'Chaka, who, before T'Challa, donned the title as the Black Panther. So that could work for him, IMO. They could include flashback sequences to show T'Chaka as Black Panther before T'Challa could become BP. Maybe something like in Ultimate Avengers 2, y'know? Something along that line. Again, Djimon is, IMO, a great, strong actor. Unfortunately, he may not possibly play as BP because of his age. So T'Chaka could definitley work for him. But, who knows? There may be a chance for Djimon to don the role as BP, despite his age. We'll just have to wait and see. :)
ferg815
ferg815 - 10/11/2012, 12:12 PM
Hounsou as T'Chaka, White as T'Challa, and the end scene of Guardians of the Galaxy should have a massive ship made of Vibranium crash land in an African country ruled by the Panther clan. The resources and technology aboard enable the Black Panthers to establish their peaceful, advanced society.
santoanderson
santoanderson - 10/11/2012, 12:14 PM
Let me simplify my argument then. Robert Downey Jr has a career. Djimon Hounsou doesn't. The guy has ZERO buzz going for him right now.

When RDJ was cast as Iron Man, he was 41. (September of 2006). By the time Marvel gets a Black Panther movie into theaters, Djimon Hounsou will be at least 51. So is the RDJ/Djimon Hounsou age comparison even legitimate?
ATrueHero1987
ATrueHero1987 - 10/11/2012, 12:17 PM
He's a great actor but him as Black Panther....no.
MisterBabadook
MisterBabadook - 10/11/2012, 12:19 PM
Every time someone says "black panther" I think of Djimon, so I think he'd kick ass as an older Black Panther.
SageMode
SageMode - 10/11/2012, 12:20 PM
if Honsou was atleast 15 years younger, definitely. But i still say Aldis Hodge for T'Challa / Black Panther.

TheAmazingSpidey63
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 10/11/2012, 12:23 PM
@Sage - Yeah, I can see him as T'Calla in future MCU films. :)
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 10/11/2012, 12:24 PM
Aldis Hodge is my favorite for the role too but i wouldnt mind seeing Djimon in it.
They could approach the story by introducing already older and experienced T´Challa and show in flashbacks how he became Black Panther and the king of Wakanda.
TheAmazingSpidey63
TheAmazingSpidey63 - 10/11/2012, 12:26 PM
Hodge has the right age for such a role as Black Panther, right height, right build, great actor (love Leverage), and he could work well with the casts of the BIG MCU. If they can cast Hodge as T'Challa and Djimon as T'Chaka, then I would most definitely go for that. :)
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 10/11/2012, 12:26 PM
He would be perfect choice for T´Challa´s father if they cast younger actor as T´Challa.
FennecPilot
FennecPilot - 10/11/2012, 12:50 PM
Okay - I am not a big fan of Black Panther, nor am I a detractor. I feel like the character is a little weak. But, if someone can make a case for a stand alone movie, I would like to hear it. (by the way, this is not snark - I am sincere and if it seems there really is a good case, I would get behind the movie).


And I am a HUGE Dr. Strange fan. Strange was the first comic I ever subscribed to as a kid - back when it was a bi-monthly (try telling a 10 year old he has to wait 60 days to the next issue! ARGH!) and I think Strange has the most potential to open up new aspects of the Marvel Universe in the films. And if the rumor about Strange being in Thor TDW is true, they have a great way of introducing the character.

superotherside
superotherside - 10/11/2012, 12:52 PM
I just want them to make this movie already! Seriously. Black Panther movie for 2015 save Avengers 2 for 2016!
1 2 3
View Recorder