Blade star Wesley Snipes told a Nigerian journalist this about the long-anticipated Black Panther: "Wow. 'The Black Panther' means a lot of things, but what my friend over there is talking about is a presently unannounced project of mine based on a '60s Marvel comicbook of the same name," said Snipes. "I've always been attracted to the story because the protagonist is a strong African figure, a monarch who is very intelligent and powerful, who uses his gifts to protect his people from external forces. In it, Africans are it."
Snipes continued "And as for me doing research here in Nigeria, no: that's not what I'm here for. But now that you've mentioned it, it sounds like a great idea. I'd absolutely love to do 'Black Panther' in Nigeria."
Black Panther is part of Marvel's new production deal.