RUMOR: BLACK PANTHER 3's Villain Has Been Revealed; [SPOILER] Also Reportedly Set To Make MCU Return

It appears Black Panther 3 will feature two major antagonists, with one familiar face from the franchise's past and another from Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira's Black Panther comic book run...

News

By JoshWilding - Jan 29, 2025 10:01 AM EST

Filed Under: Black Panther

We've been hearing a lot about plans for the MCU's Black Panther in recent weeks. It all started when the news broke that Marvel Studios is supposedly looking to cast a new T'Challa, with the prevailing theory being that the Multiverse Saga will somehow age up Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Toussaint.

Regardless of whether it's T'Challa II or a Multiversal Variant, the news that Black Panther will live to fight another day has pleased most fans. Following in the late Chadwick Boseman's footsteps will not be easy, but the majority seem ready to see another actor honour his and the character's legacy.

Black Panther 3 is officially in the works with Gladiator II star Denzel Washington already confirmed to appear. Ryan Coogler will once again direct the project, while MCU veteran Nate Moore is attached to produce despite recently announcing his Marvel Studios departure.

Now, we have news on the threequel's villains.

According to scooper @MyTimeToShineH, Achebe will be one of the antagonists. Created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira, the villain debuted in 1999 and has been described by the former as "the Joker to [Black] Panther's Batman."

Achebe is a brilliant strategist and manipulator. Hailing from Nigeria, he's a master of psychological warfare and is known for his ability to twist people's minds, causing chaos and manipulation on a grand scale. His goals typically revolve around destabilizing Wakanda's leadership and exploiting its resources for his own gain. Oh, and he has major ties to Mephisto.

While far from confirmed, we've heard rumblings that this might be the role Washington has signed up for.

In related news, the insider claims Namor will also return in Black Panther 3. Played by Tenoch Huerta in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the character hasn't been seen since. Huerta got caught up in accusations of sexual misconduct in 2023 but nothing appears to have come of it. Now, we may be one step closer to seeing T'Challa vs. Namor in live-action.

Letitia Wright was asked about her MCU future late last year and, despite playing coy, all but confirmed that she'll return to the role of Shuri in Avengers: Doomsday.

"If it's, uh, let's just say, let's just say..." the actor teased, clearly choosing her words carefully. "I would like to continue with Shuri. She's one of my favorite characters, such a blessing, honestly, I kid you not. I'm so grateful for her. There's a lot coming up."

In other MCU news, Daniel Richtman has shared a minor Vision update. He claims shooting will begin early this year, with a young teenager set to serve as the show's co-head. The insider also reiterates previous reports about J.A.R.V.I.S. and F.R.I.D.A.Y. factoring into the Disney+ series.

As always, stay tuned for updates as we have them.

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54 Comments

1 2

AnEye - 1/29/2025, 10:12 AM

Pretty obvious it could be Denzel as Achebe...just saying.

IronDean2099 - 1/29/2025, 10:19 AM

Hopefully we're getting some villains tied to Mephisto like we had with Loki and Ronan to Thanos, building up to a big supernatural crossover down the line.

Side note; I just finished season 3 of What If (it's bad), but it seemed obvious to me that it was made under the presumption that Iron Heart would already be out, seeing as Riri and The Hood were both pretty central figures.

Vigor - 1/29/2025, 10:21 AM

Time for another memorable performance from Denzel
Achebe is cool. Real cool
But black panther needs a physical threat as well.

Using dark knight rises as an example of two villains:
If Achebe is Ra's daughter. The movie needs its BANE

TheVisionary25 - 1/29/2025, 10:33 AM

@Vigor - besides my dislike of that twist in TDKR , I get what you mean

I do think it would be cool if we had a pure mental threat since we had both mental & physical in the past 2.

However splitting them up could work too with someone like a henchmen of Achebe being the more physical one

You could do a version of Tetu perhaps?

soberchimera - 1/29/2025, 10:40 AM

@Vigor - Well that’s basically what Man-Ape was in the comics, but they decided to make him comic relief instead.

Apophis71 - 1/29/2025, 11:07 AM

@Vigor - Doesn't have to be a second antagonist that BP must physicaly overcome depending on how they play it as in the comics he drew BP away in order to destabalise the government, takes power and then gained access codes from Ramonda for Wakanda's last line of defense, giant panther robots. I mean there has been that giant Panther on full display every time we have seen the place, maybe that could be the huge physical threat?

So we could still have a Mephisto connection if setting him up as a puppet master type behind the scenes running threat however the main other would be who ever he manipulated in order to gain a position of power in Wakanda whilst T'Challa isn't there.

I mean we currently have M'Baku ruling the country who typicaly shunned technology in the comics so there is a starting point there for how instability could start in the country that Achebe could exploit. That COULD involve M'Baku being killed to then in a source accurate way be resurrected and become a villain like he was in the comics joining the lethal legion or a version of the Masters of Evil down the road.

There is also the aspect that the rumor says Namor will return to consider but unsure if they'd want another fight between him and a Black Panther in the next film after having had that in the last one.

Vigor - 1/29/2025, 11:10 AM

@Apophis71 - yes good point. In the end Jr's all about the writing. Marvel loves their EXPENSIVE third act spectacles. So that's why I said physical threat. A large panther robot could be fun haha

newhire13 - 1/29/2025, 11:28 AM

@soberchimera - They made him the King of Wakanda actually.

soberchimera - 1/29/2025, 11:36 AM

@newhire13 - And not a villain, which is what he’s supposed to be.

ItsNotForMeWahh - 1/29/2025, 11:37 AM

@Apophis71 - I am less familiar with Black Panther comics but what you laid out here sounds great to me!

MakeAmericaGrea - 1/29/2025, 11:48 AM

@Vigor -

Achebe is a physical threat.

Super12 - 1/29/2025, 10:27 AM

Very cool. There's so much potential to explore in the Black Panther world. Lots of fun new villains and settings most audiences haven't seen before. Lets go!

soberchimera - 1/29/2025, 10:47 AM

@Super12 - Not really, they used up his 3 main villains in the first film. Which is why they’re going with Achebe, who isn’t much of a formidable villain anyway, he just monologues a lot. Maybe if they give him demonic powers via Mephisto, he could be more of a threat.

BillyBatson1000 - 1/29/2025, 10:27 AM

Back in the day - if only - Denzel Prime as T'Challa.

narrow290 - 1/29/2025, 10:36 AM

@BillyBatson1000 - Would've been awesome to see him now passing the mantle

BillyBatson1000 - 1/29/2025, 11:38 AM

@narrow290 - Yep, that's the word: awesome!

TheVisionary25 - 1/29/2025, 10:39 AM

If true then makes sense…

After seeing him as Macrinus in Gladiator 2 , Denzel would rock as Achebe in BP 3 If he brings some of that energy to the role along with a more unhinged nature

Also if nothing did come of the sexual assault allegations and Tenoch is innocent then I would be glad to have him back in the role since I liked his & Coogler take on Namor (as long as they can fit him into the narrative that is).

soberchimera - 1/29/2025, 10:45 AM

T'Challa II or a Multiversal Variant, the news that Black Panther will live to fight another day has pleased most fans.
If it’s going to be a variant anyway, just have it be T’Challa I. People are going to complain regardless, so just rip off that band-aid and recast him properly.

bobevanz - 1/29/2025, 10:48 AM

Black Panther 3 will make less than the second, and so on. The hype is gone

Conquistador - 1/29/2025, 11:26 AM

@bobevanz - I dunno man. Box office doesn't always mean the movies good. All those bayformers movies come to mind.

But still, imo Wakanda Forever has been the best release since endgame. I liked No Way Home, but it relied too much on Nostalgia, same for Deadpo and Wolverine. Guardians 3 is a close second.

DocSpock - 1/29/2025, 11:09 AM

If true, I think most of this is great news.

Except for one thing. Namor was terrible. A total clown show. If they continue him, I hope he is a variant played by some other actor who comes from the FFs world because this could be such a great character if done well.

BillyBatson1000 - 1/29/2025, 11:45 AM

@DocSpock - This.

MisterBones - 1/29/2025, 11:24 AM

The Priest run was so good. Always worth a re-read

ObserverIO - 1/29/2025, 11:26 AM

So glad MTTSH got a job as Marvel Studios official representative, so she could publicly reveal these things to the press.

MotherGooseUPus - 1/29/2025, 11:44 AM

@ObserverIO -

WEAPONXOXOXO - 1/29/2025, 11:31 AM

Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira's work was EPIC!

SATW42 - 1/29/2025, 11:38 AM

I’m so glad Mackie made his recent comments so I could go on another blocking purge. This site really is chill when you get rid of the extremists

Forthas - 1/29/2025, 11:54 AM

@SATW42 - I have considered doing that...but don't they just keep creating new accounts?

Apophis71 - 1/29/2025, 12:14 PM

@Forthas - Some do, yeh, most don't unless they overstep and get banned in a prior account.

Forthas - 1/29/2025, 12:28 PM

@SATW42 -
@Apophis71

What I don't understand is why more normal people don't comment in the sister site sections like fantasy, horror, and anime. Has the same articles and so far it is clear of the right wing extremists! I comment in those sections, but it seems like I am the only one.

Apophis71 - 1/29/2025, 12:32 PM

@Forthas - I used to at times for thinking it would result in normal nerdy convos sans the normal flame wars we too oft get here but never got replies so stopped doing so and assume same for most.

SATW42 - 1/29/2025, 1:42 PM

@Forthas - it seems like a few came out of the woodworks with this recent news, but blocky blockity block block block and they’re gone lol.

JayLemle - 1/29/2025, 11:38 AM

Whatever they do with this movie, they need to have Denzel look like he did in Gladiator II. His overall look made him look younger. In real life, dude is... frumpy! I guess I'm not quite getting used to these actors aging. But still... make it happen, LOL.

TheVisionary25 - 1/29/2025, 11:39 AM

@JayLemle - it seems like he’s lost weight aswell

If so good for him

MotherGooseUPus - 1/29/2025, 11:43 AM

MakeAmericaGrea - 1/29/2025, 11:46 AM

Is the villain President Ross? Bushman? Standardized testing? Klaw? Achebe?

Cleander - 1/29/2025, 12:04 PM

I'm tired of Coogler's wonky politics in each one of his BP movies.

Fogs - 1/29/2025, 12:05 PM

Luigi - 1/29/2025, 12:11 PM

I was just thinking "I wonder if we'll ever get Namor in the MCU" forgetting completely about Wakanda Forever

RUMOR: BLACK PANTHER 3's Villain Has Been Revealed; [SPOILER] Also Reportedly Set To Make MCU Return

It appears Black Panther 3 will feature two major antagonists, with one familiar face from the franchise's past and another from Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira's Black Panther comic book run...

BLACK PANTHER Director Ryan Coogler's SINNERS Gets A Creepy New Teaser Ahead Of Tomorrow's Full Trailer

BLACK PANTHER: Fans Want Aldis Hodge As New T'Challa; Marvel Said To Be Meeting With "Light-Skinned" Actors

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