The impressive Black Panther cast continues to expand today with the addition of Michael B. Jordan! The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Jordan, who previously worked with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler on both Fruitvale Station and Creed, is also no stranger to Marvel Comics adaptations. He played Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in 20th Century Fox‘s Fantastic Four. Jordan joins a Black Panther cast that includes Chadwick Boseman in the title role and, assuming negotiations pan out, Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o in another undisclosed role.
Ryan Coogler is both writing and directing Black Panther, which will continue the story of Boseman’s T’Challa, the warrior King of Wakanda, following his debut in this summer’s Captain America: Civil War. It’s unclear what other characters will appear in the film, though Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaw, who made his debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron, is one strong possibility given the villain’s role in the comics. It’s also quite likely that we’ll see the return of Martin Freeman’s Civil War character Everett Ross who, in the comics, worked closely with T’Challa.
Although Black Panther made his comic book debut in Fantastic Four #52 back in 1966, don’t expect any connection between the film and last year’s Fantastic Four movie. That franchise belongs to 20th Century’s Fox’s corner of the Marvel Universe and, following a disappointing worldwide box office of just over $167 million, the future of the Fantastic Four is uncertain.
