Summary
TheBlack Pantherfranchise is still a ways off from a promised third installment, but one high-profile casting choice is getting yet another green light from the franchise’s lead creative visionary in advance of production.
Black Pantherwas late to the MCU party, first hitting theaters more than a decade after Robert Downey Jr. took his first flight as Iron Man and 6 years after the Avengers first assembled. Despite this late start, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa instantly became a fan favorite and a cultural icon, reaching heights of popularity that other characters just couldn’t equal. Unfortunately, Boseman would succumb to colon cancer after four years of working through the diagnosis, leaving the planned sequel film without its lead. The second film,Wakanda Forever,would honor his legacy and set the stage for arumoredBlack Panther 3to take the franchise in a new directionand bring new characters into the fold.
While it’s been pretty silent on the update front, it was widely reported at the tail end of 2024 thatBlack Panther 3was still happening and would include Denzel Washington, a rumored casting that has endured for several news cycles with nothing being officially confirmed. While the project and the potential castings are still in the lurch at Marvel Studios,Black Pantherfranchise director Ryan Coogler has given fans an unofficial update on the legendary star joining the MCU. “I’m dying to work with Denzel, and I’m hoping we can make that happen,” Coogler revealed on an episode of theNightcap podcast on YouTube. “I got every intention of working with him in that movie and as long as he’s interested — it’s going to happen.” This is great news for fans, as Washington was the first to mention the potential role to begin with publicly, and seemed fairly enthused at the time.
Denzel Would Be A Huge Get For Marvel Studios
The two would certainly have a stellar collaboration if it came to fruition, and that would be a great project for the MCU. It’s still unclearwhat role Washington would play inBlack Panther 3if he were brought into the fold, but there’s certainly tons of potential for the actor. With an incredible career and an extensive, varied catalogue to back up his talents, Coogler could pretty much cast Washington in any role and have a guaranteed marquee performance. While he certainly won’t be the focus of the upcoming threequel, just having the award-winning actor on board would boost the project’s visibility post-Endgame. With the MCU past its late-2010s peak, that sort of star power could be a vital part of getting the upcoming film to reach the same cultural heights as its predecessors did.
If the only condition set out is being interested, then there’s a pretty good chance thatBlack Panther 3has secured one new high-profile star. While it seems increasingly likely that Denzel will make his MCU debut in the upcoming third installment, most ofthe otherBlack Panthercasting rumors have been debunkedby those in the know. These included quite a few theories concerning a recast T’Challa for the MCU, and that seems less likely as the franchise moves on to its next cataclysmic arc. It’s entirely unclear what direction Coogler wants to take the culturally iconic franchise next, but fans can rest easy knowing that some major star power will be involved regardless.
