Marvel's surprise announcement that Chadwick Boseman would be playing T'Challa on the big screen seemed to come out of nowhere, but for those that keep up to date with the CBM rumor mill, it won't have been the first time they heard his name mentioned in connection with the role. Credit where it's due,
Latino Review were the first to report on Marvel's interest in casting Boseman as
Black Panther all the way back in May of last year when they claimed the actor was at the top of a "very short" shortlist. Since that, Boseman has played coy in any interviews that quizzed him about this, although he never outright denied his involvement. He seems to be something of a DC fan too, having also expressed interest in possibly playing John Stewart/Green Lantern in the past.
So what should you know about the man who'll bring Black Panther to life in live-action for the very first time? Chadwick Boseman was born near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Anderson, South Carolina in 1976 (at 37 he'll actually be one of the older members of The Avengers), and is not only an accomplished actor, but a playwright and screenwriter too. He's a graduate of both Howard University in Washington, DC and the British American Dramatic Academy at Oxford, England. He began his TV career in 2003 with roles in the likes of
All My Children and
Third Watch, followed by film roles in
The Express and
The Kill Hole. Boseman really gained the public's attention when he played legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson in 2013's
42, and that was followed by his critically acclaimed turn as James Brown in
Get on Up. He will also play Thoth in upcoming fantasy flick,
Gods Of Egypt.
Physically he seems a good fit for Black Panther too. He stands approximately 6 feet tall, and has gained/shed significant amounts of weight for his various roles over the years, so shouldn't have too much trouble putting on mass for a superhero physique.
As I'm sure you all know by now, Boseman will debut as T'Challa/Black Panther in
Captain America: Civil War in 2016, which will be followed by his solo outing as the character. The actor has also signed a 5-picture deal with Marvel, guaranteeing that we'll be seeing him claw his way into more than just those 2 pictures. So there you have it -- our new, and first, Black Panther. What do you think of Boseman for the role? Vote below and be sure to sound off in the usual place.