The former BET President of Entertainment and comic writer Reginald Hudlin talked to NEWSARAMA about the past and future of a Black Panther adaption:
On Why Marvel Knights Animation: Black Panther Never Aired:
"By the time it went into production, I had left (BET) and wound up producing the project. When the show was completed, the network had changed direction and gone in a much different direction programming-wise, going for an older, more female audience," said Hudlin on why the Black Panther animation series never aired.
On Why A Black Panther Movie Starring Wesley Snipes Never Got Off The Ground:
"I've danced with it several times through the years. After I did my first film, House Party, and I had a deal with Sony Pictures. We had talked about doing it. When I had a deal with Tri-Star, the rights (to the Panther film) were at Columbia."
"Either way, it never happened. And then the rights were tied up with Wesley Snipes, and he had his own vision about what he wanted to do. Then he ended up doing Blade films," said Hudlin.
On The Future Of A Black Panther Movie:
"Ultimately, Marvel controls the movie rights. They're going to make their decision.
I'm just glad that by writing the comic book and doing the animated series, I at least gave the world my vision of who T'Challa is and what the Black Panther is," said Hudlin.
Marvel Knights Animation: Black Panther hits DVD January 18th starring Djimon Hounsou as T'Challa/Black Panther, Alfre Woodard, and Kerry Washington