Is it Time For The Fresh Prince Of Wakanda?

Is it Time For The Fresh Prince Of Wakanda?

The World's Biggest Black Superhero Deserves The World's Biggest Black Actor!

Editorial Opinion
By Gab - Aug 20, 2010 12:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Black Panther

Marvel Comics wrestled with the thought of a Black Panther live action movie for some time now. Already having moviegoer's in a frenzy after the Iron Man movies, The Hulk, up and coming films such as Captain America, Thor, and the 2012 Avengers film. What will the comic book company do for an encore? Finding a spot for the biggest star in Hollywood... Mr. Will Smith in no better character than The Black Panther.


Will Smith has had six movies gross in the top 10 box office movies of all time. Hitch: $350,000,000, Independence Day: $306,169,268, Men In Black: $250,690,539, and Hancock: $227,946,274 etc. With the actors going rate of $20,000,000 per movie with his highest payday being $35,000,000 for one movie. Will Smith's box office stats shows that he is worth every penny! Marvel comics had already showed an interest in Smith when his name was rumored for the role of one of their characters a little over a year ago. The Black Panther would take on a greater need with the absence of major black superhero movies. The time is now for Marvel to plan ahead for the future. How many more Hulk, Spiderman, or Fantastic Four movie reboots before they tap into some other fine characters.

Kevin Feige told MTV that The Black Panther is on his radar...and for good reason. The Black Panther T'Challa is the King of Wakanda. He is one of Marvel's greatest fighters, the classic bouts aganist Captain America, The Fantastic Four, Doom, and The Klaw prove that! Being that Wakanda is a mystifying, fictional place with intruders trying to take over the land, the movie can have a touch of Avatar. With The Black Panther's endless money and high tech gadgetry a splash of Batman and Iron Man combined. Not to mention he is skilled in fighting styles unknown to man enhanced by a heart shaped herb, this would be one hell of a movie! Will Smith's talent, charisma, and charm would take the Marvel's movie franchise to new heights.

Add Tom Hanks as Ulysses Klaw.

And a cameo of Black Panther's wife Storm played by real life wife Jada Pinkett Smith and you get one word EPIC!!!


Marvel should be thinking big for The Black Panther, and if so there's no name bigger than Will Smith!!!
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Gab
Gab - 8/19/2010, 10:11 PM
@brazilianbatman I feel you but it's coming. Thanks for reading.
Gab
Gab - 8/19/2010, 10:23 PM
@brazilianbatman i like you dude i pick will smith because black panther is the first black superhero to get his own comic book that's big can't just use an extra for that you need a big time lead man. Plus some people may not know the character or even be interested in him you need a big time draw...oh yeah Tyrese for Black Falcon.
HotHead
HotHead - 8/19/2010, 10:35 PM
brazilianbatman@ that's damn right same goes for angelina jolie,sylvester stalone,bruce wilis,jhonny deep,miliy cyris,lady gaga,the black eyed peas,harrison ford,
jennifer lopez,cameron diaz,mike myers,tom cruz,steve carell,ben stiller,tina fey,daniel radcliff,all the other actor/actresses in the harry potter films,deniel day lewis,owen wilson,will feral,justin beibher,the kardasions,robbert pattinson kristen stewert taylor lautner and all other twilight actors/actresses exept ashley green and other people who shined in the movies,sam wothington, zoe saldena,siggurony weaver,samual lang,michel rodrigrez,or any other avatar actor/actress,the list goes on and on.and i can gerentie arnold,clooney,alba,afflek,garner,or even jackmen will be in another cbm.
any actor/actress that the audience will imediatly reconze is diculified from bieng cast in a cbm. and for that matter any wrestler model/pornstar or non-acting musician who dont have any acting ability whatsoever. unkowns forever!!! remeber the clooney/arnold incitend.
HotHead
HotHead - 8/19/2010, 10:37 PM
HotHead
HotHead - 8/19/2010, 10:43 PM
attention gab!!
HotHead
HotHead - 8/19/2010, 10:47 PM
attention will smith and all other super a-list celebrities who should be disculified for cbm's
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/20/2010, 5:17 AM
GAB @ My gal cast SMITH as PANTHER too (done a couple of castings lol). Yeah I can see it dude, probably something HOLLYWOOD would do if they went with a big name as well...

I like the idea of your STORM a lot, especially if they did use SMITH, good one, touch on that, STORM alone worths a thumbs up, very original an classy, I can see her a lot, good acting chops too, I like that new medical series shes in!

HANK's I gotta think about lol, tho I think it is HANK's turn to do a cbm... I know he did 'ROAD TO PERDITION' (Awesome movie) but I mean a Superhero type one. :)
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/20/2010, 6:06 AM
no,to will smith.

his a cock muncher,his always wants to get jiggy with it.

his a knob.

no,to will smith.
iconstatic
iconstatic - 8/20/2010, 6:27 AM
You had me right up until Jada Pinkett Smith as Storm. :P
But that wouldn't be an issue, since Fox has her film rights anyways.

Overall, nice choice. Black Panther is a character who would probably be a tough sell without an A-list actor anyway.
MrJosh
MrJosh - 8/20/2010, 6:38 AM
If you dipped white bread it white paint then tried to white it out it still wouldn't be as white as Will Smith... With several up and coming actors FROM Africa who can more than succeed at embodying Black Panther there is no excuse for Will Smith's name coming up at all... even if it were in the context of a water cooler conversation at Marvel studios where writer A says to writer B "did you hear Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are making another Bad Boys movie?" EPIC FAIL
dnno1
dnno1 - 8/20/2010, 6:44 AM
@Skyh00k - I'm not so sure. It would all depend on the budget of the film and the release date. Will Smith is "Mister Fourth of July" and could command a box office draw of over a half million dollars on his own (just look at what he drew with the film "Hancock"). I don't think that an investor would shy away from a pitch that included an action film with Will Smith, a production budget of $150 million, and a July release date. That's virtually guaranteed to make money.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 8/20/2010, 6:47 AM
This is a joke right? I am so sick and tired of the same plethora of actors. We need something different. Will can go make Hancock 2 or something. He is not right for the role. We need an almost unknown and a solid supporting cast. Everything shouldn't be about blockbuster.
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 8/20/2010, 6:54 AM
Mads Mikkelsen as Klaw
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/20/2010, 6:55 AM
DEADPOOL @ Lol, suppose you have a point there haha! : D

Yeah he is gonna be kinda busy with another CBM anyways MIB 3D! : P

ALEX @ MADDS would make an amazing KLAW!
FullAmpleSally
FullAmpleSally - 8/20/2010, 6:56 AM
oh hell no.
Will Smith is a great actor, but seriously? Black Panther is a native African, not an American speaking, American born African American!

Sorry man, Will Smith is the very last African American that should be cast. You need someone with a good accent, like Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
MassExecutions
MassExecutions - 8/20/2010, 6:58 AM
1) No, for all the reason stated above.

2) Marvel will NEVER be willing to pay for him. ESPECIALLY in an Avengers sequel where they are already paying for everybody else.

@AlexDeLarge666 - Once again, FANTASTIC casting. He would be a great Klaw.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 8/20/2010, 6:59 AM
I say no to Smith. Wesley Snipes would be cool as T'Chaka, but i would prefer Derek Luke as T'Challa


Derek Luke Pictures, Images and Photos


He's younger, and a decent actor.

Shaman
Shaman - 8/20/2010, 7:03 AM
Very insightful editorial. However, there's more to simply "getting the biggest star with the same skin color" to portray comic book characters accurately. Other than being buff & black, Will Smith couldn't look like T'Challa to save his life. Sure he has the talent to pull it off but IMO, not the presence. Don't get me wrong, if there's a black actor that has "presence" on screen it's Big Willy. But his particular presence doesn't exude the regal fierceness that T'Challa should have. That goes beyond acting talent. You either have it or you don't. James Earl Jones is a GREAT example of that "regal fierceness" (even though he looks NOTHING like the character). Djimon Hounsou has it, Idris Elba has it, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has it, Wesley Snipes has it, Michael Jai White has it, Will Smith does not. It's just not in him. He'd be an awesome Falcon but second fiddle would suck for such a great actor.
Acidust
Acidust - 8/20/2010, 7:08 AM
Will Smith is one of my favorite actors but I think he's gonna be too expensive. You need a good/great actor for the role but not necessarily a big name that's gonna take out money from the movie.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje would be good maybe if he was younger. But I would go for Chiwetel Ejiofor. This guy can act for sure, would be cheaper, not a big star and could have the role of a lifetime.
Kalabog
Kalabog - 8/20/2010, 7:11 AM
@Gab.
You may have something there. My original choice was Djimon Hounsou (Hope my spelling is correct ... sorry if not) but I realize he is too old. Black Panther character is so iconic (even for those who are not so familiar --like me) that he does deserves crowd drawer cast.

In fact with Smith I'm definitely going to watch it. I just hope he does do his homework give it a straight and definitive portrayal of the Black Panther.
MrJosh
MrJosh - 8/20/2010, 7:20 AM
For a site filled w/ purists I can't believe how many people are suggesting actors born and raised in America. How about finding an unknown and launching his career. Again there's been multiple actors who have come to the U.S. from Africa and put in stellar performances on t.v. and movies... Marvel can find one more
Shadowelfz
Shadowelfz - 8/20/2010, 7:32 AM
I can see it. Smith emerses himself in his roles so I think he can pull it off.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 8/20/2010, 7:33 AM
I think he'd make a better Falcon but I'm a huge Will Smith fan so I say "Hell Yeah!" to him playing Black Panther. Not a fan of your other casting choices though.
MassExecutions
MassExecutions - 8/20/2010, 7:35 AM
Gusto - Yeah. Duh.
grnkronic20
grnkronic20 - 8/20/2010, 7:39 AM
NO! NO! NO! It should only be either Michael Jai White or Djimon Hounsou.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 8/20/2010, 7:44 AM
Gusto whatever you are on this morning...it must be the business. Care to share?
Siolentvex
Siolentvex - 8/20/2010, 7:51 AM
Dear god, keep this title away from Will Smith. He made a great Ali but Hollywood keeps giving him parts that vastly surpass his acting ability.

Give it to Nelsan Ellis.
OdinsBeard
OdinsBeard - 8/20/2010, 7:54 AM
hey i'll watch will smith in anything! you've got my vote!

But i like the guy who played Eko on Lost. not even going to try and misspell his name.... good actor tho!
Deathlok
Deathlok - 8/20/2010, 7:57 AM
No way dude.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 8/20/2010, 7:57 AM
lmaooooo you want LaFayette to play black panther?
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 8/20/2010, 8:00 AM
What about Brad Pitt?? No? bunch of racists...lol
SiriusMrE
SiriusMrE - 8/20/2010, 8:01 AM
NO! Will Smith is WAY too overexposed. So is Jada Pinkett-Smith...
CapFanLex005
CapFanLex005 - 8/20/2010, 8:01 AM
I dig it Will Smith defiantly has the draw. I just would love to see good Avenger spin offs no matter what. If they can bring our world to screen the right way with the write talent, then who knows we may give Hollywood a break....maybe not
BIGBMH
BIGBMH - 8/20/2010, 8:01 AM
I like Will Smith, but not for Black Panther. I always saw T'Challa as a guy of darker complexion. I could see Will more as Falcon.
Shaman
Shaman - 8/20/2010, 8:14 AM
MsKyle- Damn girl!!! You look HAWT even in a lumberjack shirt!!! :))

MrJosh- Personally, i only listed all those actors on account of their type of "on screen presence". I'd be all for actual African "unknowns" but i can't suggest any cause... they're "unknown" to me.
jazzman
jazzman - 8/20/2010, 8:26 AM
i like Will Smith but hell no for Black Panther his always the default black actor in Hollywood
m2prod
m2prod - 8/20/2010, 8:27 AM
So tired of Will Smith.
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