For over 15 years now, we’ve been witness to all the Marvel movies in order, and what a journey it has been! We’ve come a long way since Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man first took flight, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe introducing so many characters into its movies and TV shows, that some of our favorites just haven’t had enough of the limelight yet. Let’s talk about the MCU characters that could use more screen time than they’ve currently been given.

Valkyrie

After the dismal reaction to Thor: The Dark World, the God of Thunder had an awesome comeback in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. The third Thor movie was partially awesome due to the debut of Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, who instantly became a fan favorite for her wit and all-around standout performance. Despite all the love for Valkyrie, she’s remained on the sidelines in every one of her appearances.

Captain Carter

OK, so technically Hayley Atwell had a television series on ABC in the early days of the MCU called Agent Carter, but watching that series only made me want to see the character more. Especially when Peggy Carter came back in the Multiverse Saga for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for a short cameo and in animated form for …What If? Captain America’s great love is one of the most interesting MCU characters who deserves to have her hero’s journey fleshed out more.

Maria Hill

Early in the MCU, Cobie Smulder’s Maria Hill was established as a key part of the universe in The Avengers as Nick Fury’s right hand, but over the years, she’s never really gotten any sort of major arc in either of the movies or TV shows yet, despite sharing she’d love to do more. She was barely in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and has mostly been used for a few jokes here and there over the years.

Morgan Stark

One of the most heartbreaking arcs in the MCU was the death of Tony Stark, especially after it was revealed that the character had a daughter with Pepper Potts, named Morgan Stark. (We’ll never forget the “I love you 3000” line). While it does make sense to wait a bit before we see Morgan Stark again, it would be interesting to catch up with the daughter of Iron Man, and see how her life progresses in the MCU following Endgame.

Jimmy Woo

Randall Park’s FBI agent character Jimmy Woo was first seen in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp as Scott Lang’s parole officer. Woo has since been seen in WandaVision and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in brief roles. Sure, Jimmy Woo isn’t a huge Marvel character or anything, but Park is so hilarious, I’d love it if he earned a larger role in the universe.

Okoye

One of the best Black Panther characters is definitely Danai Gurira’s Okoye, who has had somewhat of a central role in both of the movies, but when you look at the screen time she actually had (about 13 minutes in Black Panther and 16 minutes in Wakanda Forever), she’s still rather a minor character. The former general of the Dora Milaje and head of Wakandan armed forces isn’t just very impressive in her strength and power, but a magnetic character I’d watch a whole movie about.

M’Baku

Winston Duke got on the Hollywood map due to his role in Black Panther, and while he was only in the first movie for about six minutes, he left a lasting impression on fans that had us wanting to see more. Especially following the end of Wakanda Forever, where he actually assumes the role of King of Wakanda. Here’s hoping the next Black Panther project gives him more to do.

Adam Warlock

As soon as Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock was announced to be part of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Marvel fans were excited to see the cosmic being in live action. However, it felt like the third Guardians movie didn’t really know what to do with the character, and is admittedly filed under “the worst thing” in our list of best and worst parts of every Marvel movie. The character deserves some redemption!

Cosmo the Spacedog

In the final Guardians of the Galaxy movie, James Gunn decided to introduce one of the cutest Marvel characters, Cosmo, but she was barely in the film! The Labrador astronaut, who has enhanced intelligence and psychic powers is such a fun and hilarious character, especially as voiced by Maria Bakalova. While it seems like the Guardians movies have wrapped up, I would love to see more of Cosmo.

Lady Sif

In the original Thor movie, Jaimie Alexander’s Lady Sif was brought on board the MCU as an Asgardian warrior and good friend to the God of Thunder. However, the heroic character, who is based on the Norse goddess who is known as the wife of Thor, had an anticlimactic role in the franchise. After showing up for around eight minutes in the first movie, her only other big appearance was in an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She’d be a solid character to show up in the next Thor movie.

Moon Knight

Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight getting a TV show rather than a big-screen movie will always be a mystery to me. Sure, he’s not the most popular Marvel hero, but given the studio has sold us on all sorts of smaller characters over the years, I don’t see why an antihero with dissociative identity disorder with roots in Egyptian mythology would have pulled in a crowd.

Korg

Not only is Thor: Ragnarok a movie that is so much fun on its own, but it also introduces Taika Waititi’s hilarious character of Korg, a Kronan warrior who Thor meets on Sakaar. Korg has only had short supporting moments in the last two Thor movies, but because he’s so loveable, we’d happily catch his return.

Quicksilver

Aaron Taylor-Johnson played Quicksilver, the brother to Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but had a hero’s death while shielding civilians from gunfire coming from Ultron. We have to wonder if the MCU would ever bring back the actor’s version of the character, especially after the multiverse was opened up. The actor has since jumped to playing another Marvel character for Sony’s Spider-Verse with the Kraven The Hunter movie.

Wong

When Doctor Strange came out in 2016, Benedict Wong’s role of Wong introduced the keeper of ancient books of the mystic arts. Since the MCU has progressed, Wong has been promoted to the Sorcerer Supreme. Following his title shift, we’re thinking about how the character could get a bigger spotlight that follows his own adventures.

America Chavez

When it was announced that America Chavez was coming to the MCU, we were excited to get to know the hero, also known as Miss America. Xochitl Gomez was highlighted in the key plot of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but she deserves a lot more attention in the MCU. Perhaps, she could be in the Young Avengers team we think the MCU is quietly setting up.

Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire)

After Tobey Maguire was the first big-screen Spider-Man in a trilogy of blockbuster films, his Spider-Man joined the MCU in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. While we imagine his appearance was more for nostalgic purposes, we’d genuinely love to see Tobey’s Peter Parker be part of the MCU again, and perhaps see Sam Raimi do the Spider-Man 4 movie that was previously cancelled. Spider-Man 3 ended the character on such a sour note, and the actor makes for such an awesome version of the hero.

Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield)

Andrew Garfield was such a Spider-Man in Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man movies, however, they came at the time right before Disney earned the rights to the character. So, the cord was pulled on Garfield’s version and Tom Holland was part of the reboot. Garfield’s version technically joined the MCU when he showed up in Spider-Man: No Way Home. We’d love to see Garfield return to the MCU with his Spidey brothers, and perhaps continue where his movies left off.

J. Jonah Jameson

In Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movies, J.K. Simmons was perfectly cast as J. Jonah Jameson, so we were unsurprised when the MCU cast him as the character for short cameos in Tom Holland’s movies. Except in the version we’ve seen, he’s only been seen on TV screens across the city. We don’t have a lot of Spider-Man 4 details right now, but wouldn’t it be fun if Holland’s Peter Parker began working for him?

Ned Leeds

Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds has always been such a fun addition to the Spider-Man movies with Tom Holland. Ned is Spider-Man’s “guy in the chair”, but the comic book character has more of a backstory that can be explored in upcoming Spider-Man movies. In the Spider-Man comics, Edward Leeds becomes a supervillain called the Hobgoblin!!

MJ

Mary-Jane Watson has always been an iconic part of the Spider-Man universe, but the character herself has yet to ever get a larger role that surpasses simply being a love interest to Spider-Man. Zendaya’s MJ is a step in the right direction for the character, but we have to wonder if there’s more the MCU could do with her.

Dane Whitman

When it was announced Kit Harrington was joining the MCU in 2019 in the role of Dane Whitman/Black Knight, we thought it was going to be a much bigger deal than it turned out to be. Harrington ended up having a rather anticlimactic role in Eternals, and we’re not even sure if we’ll get the payoff for the awesome character who has been in teams like the Avengers and Defenders in the comics.

Kate Bishop

When it comes to the best Marvel TV shows, Hawkeye is definitely one of the good ones, especially for how perfectly it established the character of Kate Bishop. Hailee Steinfeld hit the bullseye when it comes to portraying the second generation of Hawkeye. After being in her own TV show, Kate showed up in The Marvels mid-credits scene with Kamala Khan, and we hope the MCU does promote her to an Avenger.

The Collector

In the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Benicio del Toro’s take on The Collector was brought into the MCU. He’s a villain in Marvel comics with a long history dating back to 1966 and tons of storylines with the Avengers and such, however, so far del Toro’s character has only had a few cameos.

Zeus

The king of the gods, Zeus, has even entered the MCU. In Thor: Love and Thunder, Russell Crowe had a small role as the Greek mythology legend. Since it’s such an epic character, and Crowe is an incredible talent, we’d be hyped for Zeus to have more screen time.

Luis

In Ant-Man, Michael Peña brought lots of laughs to the MCU as Luis. The character doesn’t have a comic backstory, and is really just a regular guy who used to be the cellmate of Scott Lang. However, Luis is so genuinely hilarious that we’ve missed him lately. We were especially bummed that he wasn’t in the third Ant-Man movie.

Namor

In the second Black Panther movie, audiences were introduced to the king of the underwater kingdom of Talokan, Namor. Tenoch Huerta did a fantastic job playing the villain of Wakanda Forever, and while he was technically defeated by Shuri in the movie, he’s very much alive, and is an interesting enough character to get more screen time, somehow.

Heimdall

It’s a shame that Idris Elba’s Heimdall died in Avengers: Infinity War, because the Asgardian gatekeeper was never really given much of a role in the MCU. The character could sustain a movie on his own considering what he does on Asgard, but here’s hoping he is still afforded the chance.

James “Rhodey” Rhodes

Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes was introduced in Iron Man 2, after Terrance Howard previously played the character in the first movie. Rhodes has become a member of the Avengers as War Machine / Iron Patriot, but he’s definitely been among the members of the team that’s not highlighted enough. At least the character is still reportedly set to front his own movie called Armor Wars, which would be very much deserved.

Madisynn King

In She-Hulk, a hilarious MCU character was born with Patty Guggenheim’s Madisynn (“with two n’s and one “y”, but it’s not where you think”). She was accidentally sent to a hellish dimension before crossing paths with Benedict Wong’s Wong, which she lovingly calls “Wongers.” She’s a laugh-out-loud addition to the universe that’d be so fun to see pop up again somewhere.

Sharon Carter

The niece of Peggy Carter, Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter has been in two Captain America movies, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and an episode of What If...? But still, it never fully feels like the MCU knows what to do with her. Perhaps if she was interwoven into the plotline more, she could have deeper ties to the universe.

Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss’ Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is the director of the CIA in the MCU, who has been sprinkled in recent chapters in the MCU and is set to be part of the Thunderbolts cast. Currently, she isn’t giving us a lot to care about her, so here’s hoping the MCU does her character right and gives her more screen time going forward.

Hulk

May we remind you that Hulk is the only member of the original Avengers who has never been given his own solo project? It’s so wild! Yes, he left a huge mark on the main Avengers saga, but Mark Ruffalo is so good as Bruce Banner, that he deserves his own arc without being part of a team.

The 2024 movie schedule is filled with some awesome titles, many of which are serious blockbusters. A feature that’s sure to make an impression on cinema buffs is The Fall Guy, which we know a bit about at this point. It’s an action thriller, which sees Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in the two leading roles. They’re not the only notable names in the mix, though, as the cast features several other famous faces, all of whom we’re going to discuss. 

Based on the ‘80s TV show of the same name starring Lee Majors, the movie was originally conceived as another vehicle for Dwayne Johnson, who would’ve teamed up with filmmaker McG. But by 2020, it was reported that Ryan Gosling was working on a similar-sounding project with Iron Man 3 and Hobbs & Shaw writer Drew Pearce and David Leitch, the director of Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and more. The production was revealed to be The Fall Guy in 2022 and, by August of that year, Emily Blunt was confirmed for the action movie. The story centers on a veteran stuntman working with the star who he doubled for (and was replaced by) years prior. And suddenly, said actor disappears. Given that the cast has now been filled out, it’s only right that we make note of the rest of the stars. Now, let’s get to it: 

Ryan Gosling

What hasn’t the Canadian superstar done at this point? His film career began with Remember the Titans, Believer and other flicks, yet it was 2004’s The Notebook that really earned him recognition. From there, he’s landed roles in dramas such as Half Nelson, The Place Beyond the Pines, La La Land and First Man. Of course, the A-lister is also known for his roles in blockbuster fare, with The Nice Guys, Blade Runner 2049 and The Gray Man being among his action-related outings. In the summer of 2023, he stars in the highly anticipated Barbie, in which he plays a Ken (complete with holy abs and platinum blonde hair). Gosling plays washed-up stuntman Colt Seavers in the upcoming thriller and, as seen in the Fall Guy trailer, the role suits him.

Emily Blunt

A titan of the stage and screen, Emily Blunt has truly been around the block. She made her big-screen debut in drama film My Summer of Love, before solidifying herself as a force in the iconic fashion dramedy The Devil Wears Prada. She’s since starred in The Jane Austen Book Club, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Adjustment Bureau and more. Though she shines in smaller films, she’s also a bonafide blockbuster mainstay, thanks to Looper, Sicario, Jungle Cruise and the like. But her crowning achievement in the realm of thrillers is Edge of Tomorrow. She more than held her own alongside co-star Tom Cruise, who apparently called her a pussy. (Blunt has since clarified the comments) The actress, who’ll appear in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer in the summer of 2023, plays Colt Seavers' first-time director ex-girlfriend, Jody Moreno.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Most actors would love to have a career like Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s, which includes a wide array of productions. While he began appearing in films during the 2000s, his breakthrough role wouldn’t come until 2010 in the form of the comic book film Kick-Ass, and he’d star in the 2013 sequel as well. Taylor-Johnson has starred in small drama films like Nocturnal Animals and A Million Little Pieces, which he co-wrote. However, it’s the big-budget circuit where he’s truly made his name. He’s dazzled audiences in major movies, including Godzilla, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tenet, The King’s Man and Bullet Train, on which he worked with David Leitch. He’ll also return to the superhero genre in late 2023 in Spider-Man spinoff Kraven the Hunter. Taylor-Johnson will play the missing star in Leitch’s latest, a character by the name of Tom Ryder.

Winston Duke

A lot of people would probably agree with me when I say Winston Duke is a special kind of talent, and his rise within Hollywood has been swift. After making guest appearances on TV shows like Law & Order: SVU and Modern Family, he jumped to the big screen in a big way via Black Panther in 2018. His portrayal of the mighty M’Baku has earned considerable praise, and he only improved on his work in the 2022 sequel, Wakanda Forever. In between those two box office hits, he also starred in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame as well as Us, Nine Days and Spenser Confidential. Per reports, Duke joins The Fall Guy as Colt's best friend, Dan Tucker, a stunt coordinator.

Stephanie Hsu

Any production would be fortunate to have a performer like Stephanie Hsu, who’s proving herself to be one of the entertainment industry’s best and brightest. She booked TV gigs in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Awkwafina if Nora from Queens and Poker Face, with her next small-screen role coming by way of American Born Chinese. When it comes to movies, Hsu played a small role in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She took the movie world by storm in 2022, however, with her show-stopping (and Oscar-nominated) performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Hsu, who was a breakout star in The Spongebob Musical, returned to the big screen in the summer of 2023 with the comedy film Joy Ride. The Universal Pictures movie tapped Hsu to play Alma Milan, the assistant to Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Tom Ryder.

Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham is easily one of the most popular actresses in the business right now. She’s been in the game for some time, earning notoriety from shows like Game of Thrones and Krypton. The series that just about everyone seems to know her from, though, is Ted Lasso, which earned her a Primetime Emmy. Since then, she’s been nabbed some solid film roles in The Hustle and Hocus Pocus. And she’s signed on to the cast of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two as well as the animated Garfield movie. Waddingham plays film producer Gail Meyer in The Fall Guy, marking yet another instance in which she portrays someone who’s large and in charge.  

Teresa Palmer

Another cast member with plenty of experience under their belt is Teresa Palmer, who’s amassed more than a few recognizable credits in nearly the past two decades. Some might remember her from The Grudge 2, The Sorceror’s Apprentice, I Am Number Four and Warm Bodies. She’s starred in her fair share of thrillers as well. When it comes to that genre, she can claim, Point Break, Lights Out, Hacksaw Ridge and Message from the King among others. And in terms of TV, she most recently starred as the lead of A Discovery of Witches, which ended after three seasons in 2022 Palmer’s role in the Ryan Gosling-led movie was not initially disclosed, but it was later revealed that she plays Tom Ryder's girlfriend, Iggy Starr.

The Fall Guy is now available to stream with a Peacock subscription!

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are ahead!  

Ever since Marvel Studios decided not to recast T’Challa following Chadwick Boseman’s passing, we knew that someone else would become Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That person, as so many people assumed, ended up being Letitia Wright’s Shuri, T’Challa’s sister, who embraced the heroic mantle to protect her people from Tenoch Huerta’s Namor and his forces from the underwater nation of Talokan. However, following the battle’s conclusion in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it appeared as though Winston Duke’s M’Baku, not Shuri, would be leading Wakanda going forward, and now Duke has clarified that key moment for his Marvel character.

For those who need a refresher, in the MCU, just because one is Black Panther doesn’t automatically guarantee them the Wakandan throne. During the coronation ceremony, the ruler-to-be must defeat any challengers in ritual combat, and in 2018’s Black Panther, we watched T’Challa emerge victorious over M’Baku. Cut to the ending of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri did not attend her coronation ceremony, with M’Baku instead appearing before the crowd. During an extensive interview with Esquire, Winston Duke confirmed that in Shuri’s absence, he will indeed be serving as king of Wakanda. As the actor explained:

While Winston Duke didn’t elaborate upon if M’Baku is simply leading Wakanda until Shuri returns or if he’s officially Wakanda’s king, no takebacks. Either way, it’s a big moment for the character, as we’ve seen how effectively he leads the Jabari and how much he cares for his country as a whole. Sure, the leadership reins were passed to him unconventionally, but now he’s in a position to guide the people of Wakanda to a brighter future. 

So will we actually get to see M’Baku carry out his kingly duties?  Officially speaking, that’s unclear for now, and Winston Duke noted that he hasn’t been looped in on his character’s future. That said, given how critical well-received Wakanda Forever has been and its impressive start at the box office, it’s likely we’ll one day get Black Panther 3. Throw in that Danai Gurira’s Okoye is reportedly set to lead a Wakanda series for Disney+, and the possibility that M’Baku could show up Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and/or Avengers: Secret Wars (just like he did in Infinity War and Endgame), and I’d say the chances are strong we’ll get at least one look at M’Baku sitting on the Wakandan throne in the coming years.

Until then, be sure to read our thoughts on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s end-credits scene and check our other coverage on the sequel. If you’re looking to relive M’Baku’s past MCU exploits or simply rewatch the Marvel movies in order, break out your Disney+ subscription.

Black Panther was one of the most successful movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Domestically, the movie outperformed even Avengers: Infinity War at the box office, so it was essentially a forgone conclusion that we would get a Black Panther 2. At the D23 Expo in 2019, Marvel Studios confirmed the Black Panther sequel was coming, but then everything changed following the death of Chadwick Boseman.

With the loss of the first Black Panther movie's star, nobody knew quite what to expect from the sequel. Would we see T’Challa recast? If so, who could possibly take the role? And that assumed, of course, that the movie wasn’t cancelled entirely. Here’s a look at the complete story of during the lead up to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and what finally happened to T’Challa and Boseman on screen. 

At First, It Wasn’t Clear We Would Even Get a Black Panther 2 Without Chadwick Boseman 

Work on the sequel was in its very early stages when Chadwick Boseman passed away, so it was very possible that the response to Boseman’s death would be that the movie would be scrapped entirely. Just a few weeks after the tragedy, co-star Letitia Wright was asked about making Black Panther 2 without the star, and she admitted she had a hard time imagining the movie even happening, saying:

This was a sentiment held by a lot of people. Most of the comments from producers and the powers-that-be at Marvel early on very much took a 'wait and see' approach. There was plenty of time, as Black Panther 2 was still planned to be two years away.

One Decision About Black Panther 2 Was Made Early On 

However, even before there was confirmation that Black Panther 2 was moving forward, there was confirmation of one thing concerning the role of T’Challa: Marvel Studios would not use CGI to recreate Chadwick Boseman's likeness.

We’ve seen lots of favorite movie characters return to popular franchises, and appear at the correct age, thanks to the use of CGI technology, either by de-aging an actor or digitally recreating a face over another actor. While the tech certainly isn’t perfect, it’s improved a lot over the years, so the idea that a CGI T’Challa could appear, even in a limited capacity, had to  be entertained as a possibility. However, Black Panther producer Victoria Alonso made it clear in November 2020 that would not be happening:

It’s clear from this comment that a lot of decisions still haven’t been made. The people in charge at Marvel know they want to honor Chadwick Boseman the right way, and while they’re not entirely sure what that is, they do know what it is not. At this point, recasting the role is technically still on the table, but CGI is not.  

Kevin Feige Responds To The Idea Of Recasting Chadwick Boseman 

In the MCU, the buck stops with producer Kevin Feige, so when he spoke about the future of Black Panther 2 in early 2021, people listened. Feige reiterated that CGI would not be used, but also took things a step further by confirming that Black Panther 2 was moving forward, with writer/director Ryan Coogler working on a story that would not include T’Challa as a character because he would not be recast. Feige explained:

So from here we had a path forward. Feige even hinted at the general idea of what the eventually-titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would be about, as it was apparently always going to focus on Wakanda as a place much more than T’Challa as a character. Now this would be done out of necessity.

Not Everybody Was Against Recasting T’Challa 

While it seemed that the decision had been made and Black Panther 2 had a plan to go forward, it has to be said that not everybody was on board with this plan. A fan petition was started asking Marvel to recast T’Challa. Even Boseman’s own family, such as his brother Derrick, believed that recasting the role was the right call. He went so far as to say that he believed Chadwick Boseman would be in favor of recasting himself.    

The general consensus among the people with this view was that the role of Black Panther is important and ultimately bigger than Chadwick Boseman. The feeling was that Black Panther needed to exist in the MCU because of what the character meant to people; who played him was far less important.

Kevin Feige Explains Why Recasting Black Panther Was Not Considered 

So Black Panther 2 went into pre-production and was eventually titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. We understood what the plan was; that something would happen to T’Challa to take him out of the story and things would go forward from there. What we didn’t know yet was why this decision was ultimately made. Kevin Feige would explain things in September 2022 that because the world was clearly hit hard by the death of Chadwick Boseman, it only made sense for the movie to do the same. Feige said:

So perhaps if Black Panther 2 had been delayed and come out years later, it would have made more sense to recast T’Challa, but since the man was still being mourned, it felt like the movie needed to deal with the same things that the fans were going through. 

Black Panther Co-Star Winston Duke Agrees With The Decision To Not Recast T’Challa 

For the most part, everybody involved in the production of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever seems to feel the same way as Kevin Feige. Winston Duke, who plays M’Baku in the franchise, recently said that Chadwick Boseman stood for many of the same things as the Black Panther, so it was just too hard to see anybody else play the role. 

It all certainly makes sense from that perspective. If Chadwick Boseman was the right man to play Black Panther because the reality mirrored the fantasy, it only fitting for the sequel to do the same thing, including with his loss. 

How Chadwick Boseman, And T’Challa, Appear In Wakanda Forever 

Leading into the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the big question wasn’t what would happen to Black Panther as a mantle, the trailers showed us there would be a new person taking on the identity . The question was how would the movie handle the fact that the previous Black Panther was gone.

Wakanda Forever opens with a sequence that shows Letitia Wright’s Shuri in her lab, as she’s trying to synthesize the heart-shaped herb that was destroyed in the previous film. T’Challa isn’t mentioned by name, but it’s clear that this is an attempt to save somebody’s life. In the end, she’s unable to even try to save him, as T’Challa has died from an unnamed disease. The exact cause of his death is never specified.

From there, the movie cuts to the traditional Marvel Studios logo. Traditionally this sequence is full of scenes showing all the various characters of the MCU, but in this one, we only ever see Chadwick Boseman either as T’Challa or his actual self. The graphic package has no music at all, and it’s done in a shade of royal purple. This is followed by a funeral procession for T’Challa before the movie jumps forward a year.

We don’t see Chadwick Boseman in the movie proper until the final scene. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a story about dealing with grief, and Shuri is never able to grieve for her lost brother. In the end, she finally burns her mourning clothes, and while she sits quietly, we see what she is thinking about and images of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa play until Shuri finally cries and the movie comes to an end.

The question of how Marvel would handle the death of Chadwick Boseman has lasted for more than two years since we lost him. Going forward, there will likely be a debate as to whether or not all the decisions that were made were the right ones. There will never be a truly definitive answer, but Marvel Studios clearly set out to honor Chadwick Boseman, and in the end, they succeeded with that. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a super popular empire, but certain franchises like Black Panther stand out as fan favorites. Ryan Coogler’s sequel Wakanda Forever is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies, and is nearly upon us. And the movie’s cast recently spoke to the “powerful” new story that puts Black women in the spotlight.

The story of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was changed by Ryan Coogler and company following the unexpected death of franchise star Chadwick Boseman. The upcoming movie will honor both the late actor and his character T’Challa, with the cast no doubt channeling their real-life emotions into the performances. This is especially true for the outstanding women of the movie: Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, and Lupita Nyong’o. Actor Winston Duke (aka M’Baku) recently spoke to Ebony about the focus on the franchise’s cast of Black women, saying:

Is it November 11th yet? The wait for Black Panther 2 has been hard for the generations of fans out there, myself included. And these types of comments tease how emotional and fresh the story of Wakanda Forever will be. And that’s seemingly because supporting characters from the first movie are taking more of the spotlight this time around. After all, Angela Bassett’s Queen Ramonda has been heavily featured in the movie’s trailers and marketing campaign. 

Much of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s contents are currently a mystery, as Marvel Studios is known for its tight security. But art is seemingly going to imitate life, with moviegoing audiences mourning both T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman himself. Fans have been wondering who would take on the mantle of the Panther and the ruler of the fictional country, although all signs point to one returning character in particular. And smart money says some of those fans will be rewatching the Marvel movies in order.

In the same interview with Ebony, Okoye actress Danai Gurira also spoke to the power of Black Panther 2’s focus on the franchise’s cast of Black women. While Ryan Coogler’s first movie broke new ground in regards to representation, the sequel will follow suit in a different way. As the Walking Dead actress put it,

Exactly how these stories will play out remains to be seen, but it seems like we’re going to get an even deeper understanding of Wakanda and its inhabitants throughout the course of Black Panther 2’s 161-minute runtime. As a reminder, you can check out one of the most recent trailer below:

Some early screenings of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have already occurred, and the reception has been quite positive. And with anticipation being further buoyed thanks to a new song by Rihanna, smart money says it’s going to be another box office smash. Luckily the wait is nearly over.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit theaters on November 11th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Celebrities being starstruck by other celebrities is nothing new. They’ll have a crush on someone famous before obtaining fame themselves, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Winston Duke is no different. Duke had a serious crush on pop superstar Rihanna. Making his big-screen debut as M’Baku in Black Panther afforded him the chance to finally meet her. But once the chance presented itself, things didn’t go as planned. The Wakanda Forever star revealed a funny story about blowing it when he met the Super Bowl halftime performer, and how his buddy roasted him afterward.

The Black Panther star spilled about the embarrassing interaction while promoting Wakanda Forever on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. After achieving A-list status following the first film’s blockbuster success, Duke finally got the chance to meet his celebrity crush. He met Rihanna at a Hollywood party in 2019. The MCU star recalled being starstruck upon first seeing the pop singer in real-time. He spilled to Fallon that he went into the exchange with a game plan to connect over their Caribbean background and art. That night, he was on a mission to impress the “Lift Me Up” singer. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned after Duke’s friend set him up for the introduction.

Well, that didn’t go well for the A-lister. After being dressed down by the Grammy winner, Duke had no choice but to walk away with his tail tucked between his legs. His Rihanna story is nothing new as countless men in Hollywood have been awestruck by her sheer confidence and nonchalant personality. That’s why he “folded like fresh laundry” in her presence.

After being turned down by Rihanna, his humiliation didn’t end there. The Us actor retreated to his friend after he failed to impress the pop singer. But instead of finding comfort, his guy friend went into roast mode while pushing Duke to approach the “Umbrella” singer again.

Duke was defeated after his failed interaction, and his pal didn’t help the situation. But guys will be guys. Sometimes, men get roasted a little bit before boosting someone’s confidence.

But his Rihanna interaction wasn’t a total failure as it was announced the Spenser Confidential actor would be part of the all-star lineup for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4, which premieres through an Amazon Prime Video subscription on November 9. That was on the heels of the pop singer releasing her first song in six years for Black Panther 2, following those rumors of her joining the cast in 2020. Getting the fashion mogul to return to music took some convincing from director Ryan Coogler.

While he eventually connected with Rihanna, fans will finally see Winston Duke’s return as M’Baku when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on November 11. With the Black Panther sequel set as the Phase Four finale, there are still new Marvel movies being released in 2023, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is likely one of the most anticipated of the upcoming Marvel movies, particularly after the success of the 2018 blockbuster. The Oscar-winning superhero movie is considered among the best Marvel movies, but as development of the sequel began, plans had to change when star Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer in 2020. The decision was made not to recast T’Challa, and the final movie in the MCU’s Phase 4 will see the leaders of Wakanda fighting to protect their nation in the wake of the king’s death. The movie has screened ahead of its November 11 release, so let’s see what people are saying about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 

Ryan Coogler returns as the writer and director of this MCU sequel, and a number of the first movie’s actors will reprise their roles, including Letitia Wright as Shuri, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda, Martin Freeman as Agent Everett K. Ross, and Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia. Those who were able to screen the movie have taken to social media to expand what we know about Black Panther 2, and CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell tweets that Chadwick Boseman’s loss is definitely felt in this story of legacy: 

Fico Cangiano of CineXpress also says the sequel is a beautiful tribute to Chadwick Boseman and audiences should be sure to stay for a moving mid-credit scene: 

“Cathartic” is a word used by multiple of the film’s early viewers, including Perri Nemiroff of Collider, who also lauds the film’s ensemble. She specifically names Winston Duke and Letitia Wright, and says they couldn’t have found a better actor than Tenoch Huerta to suit up as Namor: 

Film critic Josie Marie says Tenoch Huerta exceeded her expectations, and moviegoers should be sure to bring their tissues for this one: 

Brandon Davis of ComicBook.com is definitely on the Tenoch Huerta bandwagon as well, saying he kills it as one of the MCU’s best villains: 

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo also mentions the mid-credits scene, calling it the best in Marvel’s history. The movie overall is ambitious and rewarding, and he says Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is as epic as sequels get: 

Agreeing with the above assessments, Emily Murray of BBC Radio 5 simply says Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is something to be treasured: 

The movie also gets high praise from critic Orlando Enelcine, who notes that Black Panther remains the crown jewel of the MCU, and the actors give some of the best performances he's seen all year:

It sounds like fans will get a good dose of emotion to go with their action in the Black Panther sequel. We’ll know even more when critics’ reviews come out on November 8, so be sure to check back to CinemaBlend for more then. In the meantime, take a deep dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and see how to watch all of the Marvel movies in order. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to hit theaters on Friday, November 11, and see what else is coming to theaters soon with our 2022 Movie Release Schedule. 

Before the production of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever began, the world unfortunately lost its leading man, Chadwick Boseman. In the wake of Boseman's death, Marvel chose not to recast T’Challa. Even before the Wakanda Forever teaser trailer premiered, fans were spewing out a wider range of opinions online over whether the lead role should’ve been recast. The debate led to an online petition being created to have another actor play the Wakandian king. It still rages on as the sequel’s release date draws closer, and along with Marvel giving its take on the matter, one of the cast has  now spoken up on the subject. Black Panther star Winston Duke explained why he’s glad Boseman’s T’Challa wasn’t recast.

Of course, fans weren’t the only ones mourning Chadwick Boseman’s passing, as the cast and crew lost not only a co-star, but a family member. Director Ryan Coogler revealed he almost quit filmmaking following the Oscar nominee’s death. Two years after Boseman's death, the online uproar over recasting T’Challa has reached a fever pitch. While the cast, for the most part, has ignored it, Duke faced the pushback head-on during his interview on the Jemele Hill is Unbothered podcast. The Black Panther 2 star was candid as he explained why not recasting Boseman’s T’Challa was the right one.

The personal connection between the late Boseman and the Wakandian king was inevitable from the first moment he appeared in Captain America: Civil War. As Duke pointed out, casting the late actor as the Marvel hero involved taking on every side of its leading star. Despite the push for a recast, the character has been unfortunately defined by Boseman’s portrayal. If Marvel had listened to fans and cast another actor, the person and the studio may have received some backlash from those same fans. It could’ve tainted the new movie’s reception.

Winston Duke stood by Marvel’s sensitive decision. He knew the decision was more about paying tribute to Boseman’s T’Challa, especially as the sequel deals with the late star’s real-life death. The M’Baku actor also may have alluded to more than one Black Panther, as he brought up the MCU’s multiverse angle.

With Wakanda Forever serving as Phase 4’s finale, a new Black Panther could pop up at some point in Phases 5 or 6. Fans have seen this scenario play out in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also delivered some big multiversal cameos. So it could be a possibility in the future.

The recasting debate goes beyond Chadwick Boseman, as the Black Panther 2 trailer led to another debate over a woman taking up the mantle. Despite Marvel keeping T’Challa’s successor a secret, most fans have guessed that the fallen Wakandian king’s tech-savvy sister Shuri is in the suit. Others have thrown Ironheart’s Riri Williams and the Avenger’s love interest Nakia as feasible options.

Fans will have to wait until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever drops on November 11 to see who the new Black Panther is. While the sequel marks the end of Phase 4, there are upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to over the next year or so.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a massive place, but a few properties stand out as fan favorites. Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is in that category, and the sequel Wakanda Forever is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies heading to theaters. That blockbuster is fast approaching, and M’Baku actor Winston Duke recently revealed what he’s “most excited” for in the Black Panther 2.

Us actor Winston Duke made his MCU debut as M’Baku in Black Panther, before reprising his role in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame’s epic battles. He’s one of the many familiar faces that audiences can’t wait to catch up with in Wakanda Forever, and he gets some quick moments in the movie’s first trailer. Duke recently appeared at Disney’s annual D23 event (attended by CinemaBlend), where he spoke to the way his signature character and the overall story of Ryan Coogler’s franchise are changing in the sequel. In his words,

Is it November yet? It sounds like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is going to greatly expand the story of the titular nation, as well as the characters who occupy it. Chadwick Boseman’s absence as T’Challa might have been described as a “gaping hole” on set, smart money says it helped characters like M’Baku and Okoye get even more screen time this time around. We’ll find out in just a few months.

Winston Duke’s comments to the D23 audience (which accompanied new clips from the sequel) show how big of a change we should see with his Marvel character in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the first movie M’Baku and the Jabari tribe were against T’Challa’s reign and lived as recluses. But since then he’s gotten on the right side of history, and it sounds like he’s becoming a greater leader in the country as a whole. Could he be a contender to possibly rule Wakanda?

The contents of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are being kept under wraps, but it’ll seemingly follow the nation as they’re mourning the loss of their king. A new ruler will be needed, with that lucky person presumably becoming the next Panther in the process. Some of the most popular choices besides M’Baku include Letitia Wright’s Shuri and Danai Gurira’s Okoye. As a reminder, you can check out the super popular first trailer for Ryan Coogler’s sequel below.

As that powerful trailer suggests, Wakanda’s new leader won’t be the only plot line in the Black Panther sequel. The fictional country is also seemingly going to war with the MCU’s version of Atlanteans, led by Tenoch Huerta’s Namor the Sub-Mariner. So there’s going to be high emotional and physical stakes at play during the events of Wakanda Forever.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit theaters on November 11th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going for more than a decade, but it has, arguably, never had a movie make the kind of impact that Black Panther did. Director Ryan Coogler's Oscar-winning superhero movie, featuring a predominantly Black cast, is considered to be one of the best Marvel movies – if not the best – meaning it was only a matter of time before Black Panther 2 would receive the greenlight.

The, arguably, most anticipated chapter of the Marvel Phase 4 movies and one of the biggest 2022 fall movies has, previously, been subject to a number of setbacks and hardships, especially with the death of star Chadwick Boseman in August 2020, but is coming out very soon. We shall discuss when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to hit theaters and everything else we know about the movie.  

The Black Panther 2 Release Date Is Set For November 2022

In August 2019, around the time its working title was still Black Panther II, Agent Everett Ross actor Martin Freeman revealed in an interview with Uproxx that the sequel would go into production in 2021. That much would prove to be true, with plans to film the movie in Georgia in June of that year going strong, but establishing an official release date was a different story.

At 2019’s D23 Expo, director Ryan Coogler announced his Black Panther sequel was intended to release in May 2022. More than a year later, Kevin Feige confirmed at Disney’s Investor Day in December 2020 that the movie’s release date had shifted by a few months to July 8. However, star Letitia Wright’s on-set injury caused a production shutdown, leading to another delay before the current release date of Friday, November 11, 2022, was confirmed in October 2021.

Ryan Coogler Wrote And Directed Black Panther 2

Ryan Coogler both co-wrote and directed Black Panther and was, thus, integral to its success, so it is encouraging that he returned to write and direct Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This was expected, given the reception to what Coogler did with the first film and how it showered Disney with ticket sales worth their weight in Vibranium.

It bodes well that Disney made sure to lock down the director for the sequel. The first film was very much Coogler's vision and his return ensures that there will be creative continuity between the two films as the director tackles his first sequel.

Black Panther 2 Promises To Continue Exploring Wakanda’s World And Characters

There is still not much that we know about the story of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, whose official synopsis says it will “continue to explore the incomparable world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.” The sequel’s first official trailer did not expand on that vague description too much further than that either, but did drop a couple interesting hints and provided a glimpse of a Wakanda without its beloved king. 

Indeed, Black Panther 2 did go forward without the first film’s lead hero, Chadwick Boseman. Ryan Coogler said that making the sequel after Boseman’s death was one of the hardest tasks of his professional career, but still found it incredibly motivating when looking back on what the actor “gave us” through his talent and “how [he] lived his life.”

There is a theory that Letitia Wright’s character, Shuri – T’Challa’s brilliant younger sister – is going to take her late brother’s place as Wakanda’s protector, just as she does in the comics. While some might agree it is best to keep the sequel’s new lead hero a secret for now, this transition seems to have a lot of potential, based on a shot in the trailer of a new person donning the Black Panther costume and actors confirmed to appear on the cast.

Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, And More Are Returning To The Black Panther 2 Cast

As you can imagine, the cast list for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever does not look like it used to following the loss of Chadwick Boseman, but many of our favorite supporting characters from the original Black Panther cast are set to reprise their roles. Among the returnees, we have Letitia Wright as Shuri, Danai Gurira as Okoye, and Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda. Martin Freeman is also set to appear as Agent Everett K. Ross along with Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, her Us co-star Winston Duke as M’Baku, and Florence Kasumba as Ayo. 

One notable newcomer to the Black Panther 2 cast include Emmy winner Michaela Coel, who was revealed as Dora Milaje warrior Aneka during SDCC. Despite previous comments by the film’s costume designer suggesting the contrary, as reported by ScreenRant, Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya will not return as W’Kabi, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with Jordan Peele’s hit horror movie, Nope. There is no telling at the moment if Killmonger will be revived in some way for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, despite how often Michael B. Jordan is asked about the subject.

Black Panther 2 Will Introduce Namor And Riri Williams Into The MCU

There are a couple of other newcomers to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cast we certainly should mention. The official trailer already revealed the appearance of Tenoch Huerta as Namor, the Sub-mariner and Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams. 

Former Narcos: Mexico star Huerta’s portrayal of the aquatic anti-hero marks his long-awaited MCU debut, alongside Mexican actress Mabel Cadena as his cousin, Namora. Following her breakout role in If Beale Street Could Talk, Thorne is making her debut as Tony Stark’s teenage successor before she leads the upcoming Ironheart TV show, which is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2023.

Ryan Coogler Is Planning A Black Panther Spin-Off Series For Disney+

Probably the one thing that most excites me and, I am sure, many others about this Black Panther sequel is the chance to go deeper into the world of Wakanda. The culture is fascinatingly unique, the scientific advancements are enlightening, and the natural landscape is simply a wonder to behold. Luckily, it appears that the MCU’s exploration of the country will not stop at the big screen.

You can now add a Black Panther spin-off series to your list of upcoming Marvel TV shows to look forward to. It was announced in February 2021 that Ryan Coogler and his production company secured a five-year deal to develop programming for Disney+, including one project set in Wakanda.

The success of this franchise, the scope of a country like Wakanda, and the love people have for this world and these characters is enough to incite an endless amount of stories that would continue to inspire generations. Let us hope that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever lives up to that promise and to the legacy of its late, beloved star.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has faced an uphill battle since the death of Chadwick Boseman. Production delays and on-set injuries have plagued the sequel. With rumors still swirling over Letitia Wright’s status within Wakanda Forever, another fan-favorite character will reportedly have a larger role in the upcoming sequel.

According to THR, sources close to Marvel claimed Winston Duke’s fierce Jabari Tribe leader M’Baku will play a significant role in Wakanda Forever. The character will reportedly become a major part of the franchise. The move was allegedly a response to Duke getting a significant pay raise to take on the vigilant warrior once more. Of course, it hasn’t been confirmed how expansive his role in the sequel will be.

Much like Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger, the Us star’s M’Baku became a standout when Black Panther arrived in theaters. The Jabari leader was the antithesis of global-minded T’Challa as he almost bested the prince of Wakanda in their battle for the mantle. He came off as aloof, stubborn, and very narrow-minded. But his character spoke to audiences with his secret alliance with Boseman’s T’Challa. The character’s popularity made him a fan-favorite amongst Marvel fans as well as an imaginary boyfriend for millions.  Winston Duke’s star power has increased since his breakout role as evident by his work for the sequel.

The expansion of M’Baku in Wakanda Forever may hint at ways the film will deal with Chadwick Boseman’s absence. It appeared not recasting T’Challa has opened the door for more Wakanda stalwarts to step up. Along with Winston Duke’s bigger role, it’s been alleged that Letitia Wright might take over the Black Panther mantle. Her on-set injury did call that status into question, but THR hinted that the Death on the Nile star is allegedly the sequel’s lead. Boseman’s passing led to an expansion amongst the Wakanda Forever cast. It’ll be interesting to see how Shuri and M’Baku step up considering the extraordinary circumstances.

Wright and Duke’s status in the sequel may be concealed. But the void left by the Da 5 Bloods star’s death allowed more characters to come on board. Dominque Thorne’s Riri Williams will make her MCU debut in the film with Michaela Coel and What If…?’s Lake Bell reportedly appearing in undisclosed roles. It remains unclear how the sequel will address the lack of T’Challa.

Everything appears to be on track again as Letitia Wright has returned to the Wakanda Forever set. With Shuri also taking on a bigger role, it appeared the actress is well enough after recovering from her serious injuries. Along with Wright and Winston Duke returning, Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danai Gurira will be in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as well.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will arrive in theaters on Nov. 17.

Winston Duke got his big onscreen acting break recurring as Dominic Besson on the CBS series Person of Interest, but he achieved worldwide fame starring as M’Baku in Black Panther, a role he reprised for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and will play once more in Black Panther 2, a.k.a. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Of course, to play the leader of the Jabari Tribe, Duke needs to be in tremendous physical shape, and a recent photo indicates that the actor isn’t having trouble accomplishing this, to the point that we should probably just officially nickname him M’Backu. See what I did there?

Over on Instagram, Winston Duke showed off his ripped back as part of his work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Take a look!

It’s fitting that Winston Duke references a silverback gorilla in the above post considering that in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Jabari Tribe worships the gorilla god Hanuman. More importantly, that ripped back is impressive, and while that alone doesn’t provide any clues about what to expect from M’Baku in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, at least we can take comfort knowing he’ll still be boasting a warrior’s physicality. Really though, what will it take for everyone to try to make ‘M’Backu’ a thing? What’s that? You want me to leave it alone? Ok, moving on.

While the MCU’s version fo M’Baku differs heavily from his Man-Ape counterpart from the comics, Winston Duke’s performance as the adversary-turned-ally in Black Panther was among the many praised elements of the 2018 movie. We briefly saw M’Baku fighting Thanos’ forces in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, but Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will finally allow us to spend some significant time with him again. It’s just unfortunate that we won’t see him interact with T’Challa again, as Chadwick Boseman passed away last year, and Marvel Studios opted not to recast his role.

With less than a year to go until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s release (with the sequel having begun filming in late June), there still aren’t any official plot details to absorb. Casting-wise, along with Winston Duke’s M’Baku, the lineup of familiar faces includes Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, Dania Gurira’s Okoye, Angela Bassett’s Ramonda and Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross. Wakanda Forever will also introduce Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams ahead of the Ironheart series premiering on Disney+. Michaela Cole and Tenoch Huerta have also been cast in undisclosed roles, although it’s been rumored that the latter will appear as Namor the Sub-Mariner. Behind the scenes, Ryan Coogler returned to the director’s chair and co-wrote Wakanda Forever’s script with Joe Robert Cole.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever slashes its way into theaters on July 8, 2022. To pass the time while we wait for more updates about the sequel, look through the upcoming Marvel movies guide to learn what else the MCU is prepping for the silver screen.

Few actors have achieved it, but these days in the golden age of superhero movies, if you’ve managed to mark off a Marvel and DC project off on your resume, you’re doing well for yourself. And it looks like Black Panther fan-favorite Winston Duke is getting the chance to play the most beloved DC character there is thanks to a new project he is working on where he’ll play Batman.

Winston Duke is set to play the Dark Knight for Spotify’s first project with DC titled Batman Unburied. It will be a narrative podcast and psychological thriller for fans of the Bat to take with them on car drives, morning walks and so forth. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harry Potter’s Jason Isaacs will be playing his Alfred in the audio series.

It’s going to be an exciting new way to connect with the Caped Crusader as the story unfolds over a season. We don’t yet know how many episodes Batman Unburied will be or how the episodes will be released, but the report did include this exciting logline about the series:

Winston Duke is a great choice to take on the Dark Knight and hearing his version of the Batman sounds like it’s going to be a really fun way to get our fix on the character in between films. It also helps that the series is coming from the screenwriter of The Dark Knight, David S. Goyer.

Winston Duke most famously played M’Baku in Black Panther in 2018 and is set to reprise his role in the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Duke has been starring in more major films as of late, with a memorable role in Jordan Peele’s Us and alongside Mark Wahlberg in Spenser Confidential. Jason Isaacs played Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films along with over 100 acting credits including turning in voice work for Netflix’s Castlevania.

There will be a lot of Batmans to keep up with in the near future between Robert Pattinson’s version in Matt Reeves’ The Batman coming in 2022 followed by appearances of Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton’s Batman in The Flash in late 2022. The more the merrier as Winston Duke comes into the fold for Batman Unburied! Duke’s role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is expected to come to theaters on July 8, 2022.

The Black Panther side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and cinema in general, was dealt a heavy blow last year when Chadwick Boseman passed away at age 43. As such, plans for Black Panther 2, now officially known as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, needed to change, but the sequel will still boast plenty of familiar faces. The latest of this lineup to be confirmed is Winston Duke, who will be back as M’Baku.

Winston Duke revealed that he’ll be taking part in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever while talking about his new movie Nine Days with Collider. The sequel began shooting in late June, and here’s what Duke had to say about reuniting with his Black Panther costars:

Debuting in Black Panther as the leader of Wakanda’s Mountain Tribe, a.k.a. the Jabari, Winston Duke’s M’Baku was among the 2018 superhero movie’s most praised aspects. M’Baku was initially depicted in an antagonistic light, as he challenged Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa for the Wakanda crown in ritual combat. However, after Erik Killmonger entered the picture, M’Baku proved to be a key ally in helping T’Challa defeat the villain’s forces and seize the Wakandan throne back. A few months after Black Panther’s release, Duke reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War, and the following year, he briefly popped up in Avengers: Endgame.

Now we’ll see the next chapter of M’Baku’s MCU journey unfold in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, although understandably, Winston Duke did not disclose any details about the movie’s plot or what we can expect from his character. Sadly, one thing we do know going in is that we won’t see M’Baku and T’Challa’s relationship develop further. Last December, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that T’Challa will not be recast, and visual effects will not be used to recreate the character either. There’s no word yet on how T’Challa’s absence will be addressed.

Along with Winston Duke, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s returning actors include Letitia Wright as Shuri (who will have a larger role in the sequel), Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Dani Gurira as Okoye, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross and Angela Bassett as Ramonda. Narcos: Mexico actor Tenoch Huerta has also joined the cast, and a rumor floated around last month that he’ll be playing Namor the Sub-Mariner, which has in no way been confirmed. As with the first Black Panther movie, Ryan Coogler is directing Wakanda Forever and co-wrote the script with Joe Robert Cole.

While we count down to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s July 8, 2022 release date and wait for more updates on its progress, learn what else the MCU is sending to the big screen with our upcoming Marvel movies guide.

When it comes to Modern Family, there are so many stories and characters who intersect on a regular basis. While there have been celebrities who have popped up for recurring storylines on the long-time running show, there have also been several Modern Family actors who have appeared once or twice.

Most of these you might have forgotten, as some were from a long time ago. I mean, the show did run for eleven seasons, so there are guaranteed to be plenty of guest stars who have disappeared into the backs of our minds. These ten actors and actresses appeared on Modern Family at some point in time – let’s see how many you can remember.

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Guillermo)

He certainly didn’t throw away his shot to be on TV.

Before the success of Hamilton and the worldwide phenomenon that Lin-Manuel Miranda became, he was known for a few smaller projects, one of which was In The Heights, a Tony-award-winning production. However, prior to him starting to expand his horizons with amazing work such as Moana, Mary Poppins Returns and more, Miranda had a guest spot on Modern Family.

In this episode, he portrays Guillermo, a man who meets Gloria at a grocery store where he works. Gloria decides to bring him home to pitch his innovative dog training ideas to Jay. It’s certainly a smaller guest role, but even funnier to watch now that Lin-Manuel Miranda has reached higher heights of fame.

Winston Duke (Dwight)

To be honest, M’Baku was one of my favorite parts of Black Panther, just because, with all the drama that of that now-classic, he had some of the best one-liners in the movie. However, prior to him appearing in the hit Marvel movie, as well as the horror-thriller Us, he appeared in a couple of episodes of Modern Family.

In his episodes, Dwight, Duke’s character, was the star player on the football team that Cameron coached, and he ended up staying with Cam and Mitchell for a while after his home life became unstable. While he wasn’t in the series for long, his story certainly had more impact than many other pop-up celebrities who have appeared on the show.

Dan Levy (Jonah)

Before his success on the mega-hit that was Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy had some smaller guest appearances on shows like Modern Family. While Schitt’s Creek was already on air at the time, it would take a while for the show to become as popular as it did. And, his character was just as hilarious as you would expect him to be.

Jonah, Levy’s character, is actually a courtroom sketch artist, who draws unflattering pictures of Mitchell when they are in court. Is it silly? Yes. It is still hilariously funny? Of course it is. It’s Dan Levy. You really can’t go wrong.

Keegan-Michael Key (Tom)

While Keegan-Michael Key has had plenty of work on his hands, from his projects on TV hits like Key & Peele, to movies like Jingle Jangle and Pinocchio, which will be coming out in the next couple of years, he is no stranger to guest roles on sitcoms. That’s exactly what happened with Modern Family.

In this episode, Key’s character, Tom, is part of a couple that Claire and Phil meet while on vacation. While they do hit it off and end up all going on double dates together, it seems that Claire and Phil always ended up with the check – a truly annoying circumstance. But, I mean, how can you not smile when eating dinner with Keegan-Michael Key? I’d pay for his check any time.

Edward Norton (Izzy)

While he was, most certainly, extremely famous prior to making his appearance on Modern Family, Edward Norton was still a great addition to the cast for one episode. While Norton has been in such hits as Fight Club and American History X, he takes a bit of a turn in this – a comedic one.

Norton’s character, Izzy, is hired by Claire because she believes that he was once part of Phil’s favorite band. Hilariously, though, was not and Phil has no idea where any of his music came from, creating a mess of a situation where they basically invited a total stranger into their home. Sounds like a normal Dunphy weekday, to me.

James Marsden (Barry)

This was one I really forgot because it was so early in the series that it happened, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s not a hilarious moment. You’ve seen James Marsden play a wide variety characters in films like Hairspray, the X-Men franchise, maybe even The Notebook, but in Modern Family, he’s simply a hot guy in a hot tub.

Seriously, that’s his role. In this early episode of Modern Family, Marsden plays Barry, a man that Cam and Mitchell find in their hot tub one night and decide that because he’s good-looking, they’ll allow him to stay. Near the end of the episode, thought, they end up finding out he has been staying in their daughter’s playhouse in the back. I can’t tell you how uncomfortably funny I found the episode the first time I saw it.

Aisha Tyler (Wendy)

Aisha Tyler, best known for her work in some big-time TV shows like Ghost Whisperer and Criminal Minds, also ended up stopping by the Modern Family set at one point for a guest appearance. In this episode, she plays Wendy, a former classmate of Mitchell’s at law school.

What’s even more interesting is that Mitchell actually ends up reporting to Wendy at the legal aid society which she founded, so it intertwines their lives even further. While it’s one of the most low-key guest appearances on this list, it’s certainly one of the best ones, in my opinion, for how natural it felt.

Josh Gad (Kenneth)

Ah…do you remember pre-Frozen Josh Gad? I swear every time I hear his voice now, all I can think about is Olaf. But, then I see his face and I’m reminded that he’s been really funny ion several things, and that was no different when he made his guest appearance on Modern Family.

In this episode from 2011, Phil meets Kenneth, a man who is now a billionaire because he, ironically, looked up to Phil and idolized him, trying to achieve his success through some of the methods that Phil used in the past. While the guest appearance is one of the older ones here, it creates a great character-building moment for Phil, establishing the question “what would Phil Dunphy do?”

John DiMaggio (Boat Captain)

Line this up as another one of those cameos that have surely evaded your mind. John DiMaggio actually had an appearance on the show. You may not recognize his face, but his voice is one of the most iconic out there, as he plays a robot that everyone loves – that’s right, he's Bender from Futurama. Which makes this rare guest appearance so much more fun.

In this episode, DiMaggio simply plays a boat captain, who stops Gloria, Jay, and Mitch from boarding. Again, it was so long ago, and such a small role, but if you know, you know.

Lauren Cohan (Receptionist)

I can almost guarantee that you didn’t remember this one – because I certainly didn’t. As a The Walking Dead fan, I know Lauren Cohan as soon as I see her. I know who she is and how awesome of an actress she is. So, color me surprised when I re-watched the show and noticed that she actually had a Modern Family guest role.

Don’t be shocked, it was quite a small role. She played a receptionist who guided our favorite characters in the right direction. But, I mean, if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead or even Supernatural, you know exactly who she is, which makes her appearance even more entertaining to see.

Which one of these surprised you the most? It’s a shame that Modern Family won’t be on the 2021 TV schedule but I’m sure there will be so many other comedies to look forward to as well – with even more amazing guest appearances.

Given how exceptionally Black Panther performed on both the critical and commercial fronts in 2018, it’s hardly surprising that Marvel Studios eventually gave the green light to a sequel. Unfortunately, Black Panther 2 will lack its predecessor’s lead actor, as Chadwick Boseman passed away last August from complications related to colon cancer. The following December, Marvel producer Kevin Feige announced that T’Challa will not be recast for Black Panther 2, leaving the ultimate fate of the character shrouded in mystery.

Nevertheless, Black Panther 2 is still pushing forward as the first theatrical release of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5, with filming reportedly beginning this June. While we await story details for the sequel, let’s go over the actors who’ve been announced so far to make up the main cast, many of whom you’ll remember from our last Black Panther outing.

Letitia Wright

Wakanda has Princess Shuri to thank for many of its modern technological innovations, and T’Challa certainly wouldn’t have gotten far in Black Panther without his sister’s help, which included her giving him a nanotech-enhanced suit contained inside a Panther Habit. Letitia Wright reprised Shuri in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame; the former movie saw her attempting to extract the Mind Stone from Vision without killing him, and she participated in the latter movie’s climactic battle after being returned to life by Hulk’s Infinity Stones-powered snap. Because a new actor won’t be playing T’Challa in Black Panther 2, it’s been speculated that Shuri might inherit the Black Panther mantle like her comic book counterpart did, but that has yet to be confirmed.

Danai Gurira

Within the MCU, Danai Gurira’s Okoye leads the Dora Milaje, Wakanda’s all-female special forces group. She was one of T’Challa’s key allies in Black Panther and fought alongside her king in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Presumably Okoye will still be leading the Dora Milaje when Black Panther 2 rolls around, so she’ll likely continue to support Black Panther (whoever that is) out in the field. It’s also worth noting that unlike T’Challa and Shuri, Okoye survived Thanos’ genocidal snap, so it might be interesting to touch on what life was like for her away from the Avengers during those five years when half of the universe’s population was gone.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia was once part of the Dora Milaje, but then shifted to being a War Dog, i.e. an international spy for Wakanda. It was also noted in Black Panther how she and T’Challa used to be romantically involved, and at the end of the the movie, it looked like they were resuming their relationship. However, Nakia did not appear in Avengers: Infinity War or Avengers: Endgame, and because T’Challa won’t be involved in Black Panther 2, it stands to reason we won’t get to see the couple’s story properly concluded. Obviously it would be welcome for Black Panther 2 to explore how Nakia is dealing with T’Challa’s absence if something tragic has happened to him, but it would also be nice to learn what Nakia has been up to since Black Panther ended, including if she was among the people turned to dust by Thanos.

Winston Duke

The Jabari Tribe wasn’t on the best of terms with the rest of Wakanda at the beginning of Black Panther, and its leader, M’Baku, even challenged T’Challa for the right to lead Wakanda. Later on though, Winston Duke’s character ended being a key ally to T’Challa when Killmonger took the Wakandan throne, and by the end of Black Panther, he’d become a member of Wakanda’s national council. M’Baku was later seen battling Thanos’ forces in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, but with Black Panther 2 back to focusing on Wakandan life, hopefully we’ll see how M’Baku has settled into collaborating with Wakanda’s other prominent figures rather than keeping the Jabari isolated.

Angela Bassett

Ramonda didn’t have a whole lot to do in Black Panther, but it was clear that she was a good mother to both T’Challa and Shuri, as well as a wise ruler. Angela Bassett briefly reprised Ramonda in Avengers: Endgame, but Black Panther 2 provides the opportunity to give her a bigger role in this corner of the MCU. If the Wakandan throne is now empty, perhaps Ramonda could sit back in it while a new leader is chosen. Or, if Shuri is crowed Wakanda’s queen, then needless to say that Ramonda’s counsel would be most welcome as her daughter is getting the hang of leadership.

Martin Freeman

In the pages of Marvel Comics, Everett Ross is one of United States’ chief experts on Wakanda. Martin Freeman’s iteration of the character looked to be heading in that same direction, because although he and T’Challa got off on the wrong foot in Captain America: Civil War, during Black Panther, Ross ended up being of invaluable assistance during the final battle against Killmonger’s forces. It’s unclear if Ross is now a U.S. liaison to Wakanda when Black Panther 2 begins or if he’s been stationed elsewhere, but either way, I imagine if he finds his way back to the African nation, he’ll be received warmly.

Tenoch Huerta

Tenoch Huerta is arguably best known to American audiences for starring as Rafael Caro Quinto in the Netflix series Narcos: Mexico. He also had a two-episode stint in Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle, and can be seen later this year in The Forever Purge. Huerta was the first new actor to be reported for Black Panther 2, although his involvement hasn’t been confirmed yet. If he does sign onto the sequel, Huerta would apparently play one of the movie’s antagonists, with some sources saying he could be cast as White Tiger. If that’s true, that would be taking the character in a different direction, as White Tiger is usually portrayed in a heroic light.

Black Panther 2 is currently slated for July 8, 2022. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on its development, including the announcements of more actors. In the meantime, you can learn what else the MCU is prepping for the big screen with our Marvel movies guide.

It may be one of the most astonishingly successful and culturally important films in recent memory, but there is still plenty that even the biggest fans of Black Panther may have yet to learn. What went on behind the scenes of the 18th installment in the MCU is arguably just as fascinating as what happened on screen.

Director Ryan Coogler’s groundbreaking 2018 film, which earned more than $1 billion worldwide and became the first superhero movie to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, stars Chadwick Boseman in the title role, Wakanda’s royal leader and protector T’Challa. However, do you know which famous actor had previously sought out to play the lead of Black Panther?

You can learn the answer very soon, but that is not all. The following is a collection of 12 interesting facts about Black Panther that might change the way you look at this cinematic milestone forever.

Wesley Snipes Wanted To Play The Lead In Black Panther

Among those considered to play T'Challa before Chadwick Boseman's casting were Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Anthony Mackie, and Djimon Honsou (who actually did voice the role in a 2010 animated miniseries). However, long before any of them were considered and even before the dawn of the MCU, Wesley Snipes was gunning to star in a 1990s Black Panther adaptation pitched by John Singleton that was eventually scrapped. On the bright side, Snipes went on to receive Marvel glory as the first actor play vampire hunter Blade, and has vocally expressed his approval of Ryan Coogler's film.

Black Panther's Lupita Nyong’o And Winston Duke Previously Bonded Over Marvel Movies

Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke actually knew each other years before playing Wakandan natives Nakia and M'Baku, having met while studying theatre at Yale. Coincidentally, as Duke recalled in a 2018 interview with Esquire, the young aspiring actors saw The Avengers together in 2012, inciting them to fantasize about, one day, starring in a film just as popular Joss Whedon's once groundbreaking MCU crossover event. Of course, Black Panther eventually became just one of several blockbusters they are each known for today, such as Jordan Peele's 2019 thriller Us, in which the longtime friends played spouses and their respective doppelgängers.

Danai Gurira Already Knew Many Of Her Black Panther Co-Stars

Winston Duke and Lupita Nyong’o are not the only previously associated Black Panther stars, and that's not even counting director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan's frequent collaborations. In fact, you might win the longest streak in a game of "Six Degrees" with Okoye actress Danai Gurira, who, during a 2019 appearance on The Tonight Show, recounted living with Sterling K. Brown in grad school and seeing Nyong’o lead a 2016 production of her play, Eclipsed, not realizing either of them had been cast in the Marvel movie at the time until Coogler attended a performance. What's even crazier than that is Letita Wright (Shuri) starred in Nyong'o's role in the same play a year earlier.

Black Panther’s Production Designer Wrote A “Bible” Of Wakandan History

In 2019, Hannah Beachler became the first black nominee and winner of the Academy Award for Production Design on Black Panther, an honor she shared with her co-designer Jay Hart. The creation of Wakanda's authentic and strikingly lived-in appearance stemmed from her drawing up a 515-page book of historical anecdotes and visual concepts which she referred to, in an interview with NPR, as her "bible." Beachler used this same method when previously working with Ryan Coogler on the production design for the brutal biopic Fruitvale Station and boxing film Creed.

Black Panther Composer Ludwig Göransson Traveled To South Africa For Inspiration

Also one to strive for authenticity is Ludwig Göransson, another frequent collaborator of Ryan Coogler's and winner of the 2019 Academy Award for Best Original Score for Black Panther. In an effort to capture the essential sound of Wakanda, an African country that only exists in the Marvel universe, the Swedish composer traveled to South Africa to study its traditional stylings of music to better reflect that in the film's score. He recounts the experience in an interview with Pitchfork, during which he also talks about observing Kendrick Lamar's work on Black Panther's original tracks, including the Oscar-nominated "All the Stars," and co-producing with Childish Gambino, otherwise known as fellow Marvel star Donald Glover.

Three Out Of Five Wakandans Are Deliberately Barefoot in Black Panther

Ruth E. Carter also earned an Academy Award for her work as the costume designer for Black Panther, making her the first black person to win the category. In addition to T'Challa's sleeker suit design, Carter received praised especially for Wakanda's fashion sense, which possesses an almost futuristic feel while still honoring styles traditional to Africa (such as choosing certain color schemes associated with real tribes), as she explained to Collider. This same attention to authentic detail informed the decision to make three out of every five Wakandan natives appear barefoot, considering the fictional country's climate.

T’Chaka Actor John Kani’s Real Son Plays His Young Self In Black Panther

Filming Black Panther got to be a true family affair for John Kani, who plays T'Challa's late father and former Wakandan king, T'Chaka. To play his younger self in the film's prologue, set in 1992 Oakland, Kani's actual son, Atandwa Kani, was enlisted to star opposite Sterling K. Brown and a young Zuri, played by Denzel Whitaker. Who, ironically, is not related to Forest Whitaker, who plays the older, modern day version of the character.

Wakandans Speak An Actual Language In Black Panther

Speaking of John Kani, the actor was actually instrumental in Marvel Studios' decision that Xhosa, a true African language, would be adopted as the official language of Wakanda in Black Panther, as MTV reports. In fact, the decision dates back to the filming of 2016 Captain America: Civil War, in which Kani first appeared as T'Chaka. The actor taught the language to his onscreen son, Chadwick Boseman, for a scene in which they exchange words in their native tongue.

Denzel Washington Inspired Killmonger’s Scarring In Black Panther

Another veteran actor who was influential to one of the more memorable elements of Black Panther is Denzel Washington, but his inspiration was more indirect. In 2019, at an AFI Life Achievement Gala honoring Washington, Michael B. Jordan presented a story in which he learned that the actor wore scars on his back while filming Civil War drama Glory for the entirety of the shoot, even when they weren't visible, to better inform his Oscar-winning performance. Jordan added that he adopted the same method with Erik Killmonger's self-inflicted scarring to maintain the character's raw, emotional intensity throughout his stunning portrayal of the tyrannical, yet empathic antagonist.

Michael B. Jordan Went A Little Too Method On The Set Of Black Panther

If you were ever seeking another reason to empathize with Michael B. Jordan's role in Black Panther, just consider the emotional toll portraying Erik Killmonger ended up having on him. In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, the actor revealed that to stay in the mindset of the Wakandan descendent and victim of a tragic, lonely childhood, he choose to keep his distance on set. It was an emotionally draining routine that seemed to funnel into his personal life. Jordan eventually sough therapy to disconnect himself from his otherwise winning performance in the Marvel movie, so here's hoping that he has an easier time if Killmonger is to be resurrected in a sequel.

Martin Freeman’s Black Panther Character Was Inspired By Sitcom Stars

In Black Panther, Everett Ross (who, like T'Challa, first appeared in Captain America: Civil War) is actually a vast departure from his comic book iteration, particularly for how the film portrays him as more of an ally than a nosy antagonist. However, even in British actor Martin Freeman's performance, it is easy to see what unlikely characters Marvel writer Christopher Priest took inspiration from to create the CIA agent. In an interview with Elite Daily, Priest referred to Ross as combination of Friends' Chandler Bing (played by Matthew Perry) and Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox's breakout role from Family Ties).

Black Panther Stars Filmed A No-Phones PSA For Alamo Drafthouse

It seems that Chadwick Boseman loves playing T'Challa enough to prolong the character's persona outside of the MCU, and even with just an appearance as himself. This is evident from a PSA that he and co-star Letitia Wright filmed for the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater chain to play at screenings of Black Panther. The first part of the spot sees Boseman boasting an intimidating look to keep the audience off their phones as the movie plays, prompting Wright to explain that he cannot watch them for the entirety of the film, only to prove her wrong in the second part of the PSA, appearing after the film, in which the T'Challa actor exclaims that he is "still watching!"

Be sure to check back for more information and updates on Black Panther and other future MCU endeavors, as well as more behind-the-scenes trivia about your favorite movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

Minor spoilers for Netflix’s new movie Spenser Confidential can be found throughout this piece.

Netflix’s Spenser Confidential has consistently been a top watch on the streaming service since it premiered on March 6. The flick has Mark Wahlberg, Black Panther’s Winston Duke, comedienne Elisa Schlesinger and veteran actor Alan Arkin, but if you ask the cast, it’s not their top notch talent that’s really reeling in the viewers. Instead, it’s the movie’s mascot Pearl.

We first hear about Pearl when Spenser is still in prison. He’s asked about “his girl” and he waxes poetic about Pearl for a while before ultimately getting into a prison fight. It’s only later when Alan Arkin brings him back to his hometown of Boston that we learn Pearl is a dog.

Now that Spenser Confidential is out and streaming and we’ve seen how much of a scene-stealer Pearl is, it’s no real surprise to learn the cast knows it’s all about Pearl. In a recent interview with Decider, star Winston Duke admitted as much, saying,

Everything about that amuses me, particularly given that the whole bit between Winston Duke’s character Hawk, Spenser and Pearl is that Pearl has really settled into Hawk’s affections while Spenser has been in prison. In real life, the dog who plays her spent enough time with Winston Duke that he even has a poop-related story about her.

That’s how you know it’s true love I guess.

Winston Duke’s not the only person obsessed with Pearl. A quick perusal of fans on social media shows a lot of love for Pearl the pup, who is sadly not a pup that is credited in the credits scenes. This person thinks she’s an award-worthy doggie though:

This person, like Winston Duke, knows Spenser Confidential’s real star is Pearl.

Yet another person liked the Netflix original movie so much they are already asking for a sequel. And yes, Pearl needs to be a part of it.

Ultimately, Netflix has not greenlighted Spenser Confidential 2 yet. However, if you’ve watched the movie, you should already know it blatantly sets up for a second movie during its final scene. In addition --and as I noted prior -- it's consistently been a trending Top 10 movie on Netflix since its release. In fact, I just checked and a couple of weeks after its initial streaming launch, it’s still at #4.

So, if you haven’t caught it yet, it may be one to watch at some point if you’re into action at all. That, or simply into cute pups. This wasn’t even my favorite Netflix movie but I’d watch another thanks to Spenser’s girl.

Last year’s Avengers: Endgame featured a large ensemble of heroes, villains and everyone in between from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even more so than Avengers: Infinity War in 2018. But with so many players involved, needless to say that not everyone was going to be on camera for a significant amount of time. In the case of Winston Duke’s M’Baku, he could only be briefly seen in Endgame’s final battle.

As it turns out though, Winston Duke could have had much more screen time in Avengers: Endgame, but those extra scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. The actor explained:

So while it sounds like M’Baku still would have only participated in Avengers: Endgame’s climactic conflict, which saw the Avengers and their allies clashing with Thanos and his army, at least we would have been treated to more shots of him in action. Not that it wasn’t already clear that M’Baku bravely faced down The Mad Titan’s forces, as he could be seen alongside the likes of Black Panther, Captain America, Hulk and more charging into battle.

Nevertheless, with so many moving pieces in Avengers: Endgame’s final battle, it’s understandable why M’Baku’s extra fight scenes were cut, which Winston Duke acknowledged when speaking with THR. While Endgame’s home release has come and gone, maybe there’ll be an opportunity down the line for those deleted M’Baku scenes to be shown to the public, like how the scene of Tony Stark seeing his daughter Morgan as a teenager within the Soul Stone was thrown onto Disney+.

Introduced in Black Panther, Winston Duke’s M’Baku, the leader of Wakanda’s Jabari Tribe, was initially shown in an antagonistic light, as he didn’t feel that T’Challa was worthy of leading the African nation and challenged him for the crown in ritual combat. T’Challa emerged victorious, though rather than kill him opponent, the king of Wakanda persuaded M’Baku to yield.

Later in the movie, M’Baku became an unexpected ally to T’Challa after he was overthrown by Killmonger. Granted, he was initially unwilling to help T’Challa take back his throne, but M’Baku and the rest of the Jabari eventually provided some much-needed assistance at the last minute against Killmonger’s forces. M’Baku returned in Avengers: Infinity War to fight alongside Wakanda’s warriors and the Avengers against Thanos’ hordes, and he was among the half of the universe that survived The Snap.

It hasn’t been announced yet if/when M’Baku will be seen in the MCU again, but one would imagine he’ll return in Black Panther 2. However, Winston Duke is game for M’Baku being the villain this time around, as his character is usually depicted in the comics.

Whether or not that happens, we here at CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all the biggest developments concerning Black Panther 2, which comes out May 6, 2022. Find out what other MCU movies are forthcoming with our handy guide.

Spoilers for Spenser Confidential on Netflix can be found throughout this article. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg are no strangers to teaming up. The two have worked on Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon, Mile 22, and Patriots Day – all movies with deep and dramatic storylines. Now they are back with Netflix’s Spenser Confidential, a new movie that also has plenty of action but plenty of humor as well.

Which is why it’s not a huge surprise to learn that probably the most fun action set piece in the movies wasn’t really rehearsed.

Although I’d hear an argument for Black Betty running over a bunch of black good SUVS as being the most fun action set piece, there’s actually a scene earlier in the movie that I think takes the cake. In it, Mark Wahlberg’s Spenser is minding his own business and ordering Mexican food in a restaurant when a bunch of guys with machetes attempt to take him out. It's one of many, many scene in the movie in which Mark Wahlberg gets his butt kicked while in a scrape.

Spenser, of course, isn’t going to get murdered, although it's not easy to take on multiple dudes with machetes. So the scene features the actors working his way though some wildly complicated movies, including stabs and punches as he works to diffuse the situation. Apparently, as cool as it looks onscreen, the whole scene wasn’t really rehearsed.

The action-heavy scene is wildly complicated. Mark Wahlberg is taking on multiple baddies (who are brandishing machetes) at once while his pal Hawk jams out to some music (fake music, according to Duke) in a car. Eventually Hawk rams said car into the Mexican restaurant to get his pal Spenser out of the sticky situation.

As a whole, the fighting sequence seems very complex and Winston Duke even told Netflix as part of the interview that he’s not the guy driving for the majority of the stunt. (Although it is his foot we see driving later on in the scene.) It’s astonishing to me that something could turn out so well that wasn’t really rehearsed in advance.

I assume it helps the scene was shot in pieces so Mark Wahlberg and the rest of the stunt guys only had to learn a few moves at a time. It is also worth noting out the thing is choreographed for safety purposes and they aren’t just on-screen whaling on one another for funsies. Still, for how professional the whole thing looks.

This is in sharp contrast to other franchises such as John Wick or even Daredevil that have spent a considerable amount of time rehearsing and rehearsing and rehearsing to get scenes to looks so good on the screen.

If you haven’t caught the scene in full yet, you can give it a watch with added commentary from Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke below.

Ultimately, there's no current information on how much Spenser Confidential cost to make, but Mark Wahlberg previously told Fox News its one of those in-between budget movies for the subscription streaming service. So, it has some big set piece and some smaller action sequences that clearly seem to have come together pretty rapidly. I assume it helps that action is old hat for a guy like Mark Wahlberg.

In addition, it likely helps that the stunt team has worked with Peter Berg and co. previously. Mark Wahlberg also pointed out when the camera panned to one of the many bad guys with machetes that the stuntmen are all people he has worked with before, noting,

If you'd like to catch the big action sequence at the Mexican restaurant or the following sequence with Black Betty that wraps up Spenser Confidential, you're in luck. The new movie is already streaming on Netflix and if enough people watch the flick does set up for a sequel at the very end.

Spenser Confidential has finally hit Netflix and it comes with all of the action you might expect from a Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, Iliza Shlesinger, and Post Malone starrer. The new movie also has an ending that absolutely sets up Peter Berg’s movie for a sequel, which is fascinating given the main story wraps up tidily during the movie's 111 minute runtime.

In fact, a sequel to Spenser Confidential would be unlikely to feature the same big baddies and the setup of the ending should lead to a totally different storyline next time around, although our heroes would probably be the same. So here’s what happens and how Netflix sets up for Spenser Confidential 2 at the end of its newest original movie.

We’re obviously about to get into some major spoilers regarding the ending of the Mark Wahlberg movie, so if you haven’t binge-watched it yet, now would be a good time to hop out.

What Happens At The End Of Spenser Confidential

Basically, the entire premise of Spenser Confidential revolves around Mark Wahlberg’s Spenser not being able to let anything go and often getting his butt kicked because of it. We see him in jail at the beginning of the movie for having beat up his superior after his superior beat up his own wife. He gets out of jail and said superior gets murdered shortly after his release. A separate incident involving a second dead police officer spurs Spenser's involvement, as he wants to help out the cop's widow.

Instead of just butting out, our buddy Spenser gets in deeper. He uses his police skills and instincts to follow a set of clues leading to corrupt cops, drugs and a lucrative real estate deal. Partway through the movie we even learn Spenser’s former partner Driscoll (Bokeem Woodbine) is also involved.

Eventually Spenser and his newfound boxing pal Hawk (Winston Duke) make some headway with their side investigation into the cop killings. They figure out how to rip off a drug deal from under Driscoll’s nose, but Driscoll has his own plans and ends up kidnapping Spenser’s mentor Henry, played by Alan Arkin.

The end result is that Spenser borrows Black Betty, a semi he’s basically wanted to drive throughout the entire movie, and uses it as a battering ram. The good guys win and the bad guys go down. Spenser ends up arresting Driscoll and the feds finally get involved. It all wraps up pretty tidily, but it looks like Spenser and Hawk aren’t done being heroes.

How Then Does The Mark Wahlberg Movie Set Up For A Sequel?

Two key things happen after the main events in Spenser Confidential. The first is that Iliza Schlesinger’s character, Cissy, officially makes up with Spenser after flirting with the idea (and one notable sex-in-a-bathroom scene) through basically the entire movie’s runtime. The second is that she asks Spenser to take her for a lobster.

The whole gang – Hawk and Henry included all go to get a lobster (or lobstah really). While eating and enjoying themselves now the threat has abated, Spenser sees a news report.

In it, a firefighter in his hometown Boston-area community is accused of an arson crime at a church he says he didn’t do. Spenser mentions he went to high school with the fire chief, while Henry tries to get the restaurant to change the channel, surmising what Spenser is thinking. But Spenser is tuned in and you can already tell he already wants to get involved.

Bring on a sequel.

Good News: Mark Wahlberg And More Should Be Back If Spenser Confidential 2 Is Greenlighted

Mark Wahlberg plays Spenser in Spenser Confidential, so if a sequel were to be greenlighted by Netflix he would definitely be the key ingredient to bring back. However, the movie does a good job of giving major character moments to Hawk, Henry and even Cissy. All of them are alive and kicking at the end of the movie. Even Post Malone's character technically doesn't die during the film's runtime and bad guy Discoll is arrested and sent to jail, so the movie leaves a lot of people who could theoretically play a role or pop up for a cameo if a sequel were to happen and they had some germane info related to the case, of course.

One other character who will probably get her moment to shine in Spenser Confidential 2 is Pearl. Pearl is Spenser’s “girl” at the beginning of the movie and we later learn she’s his longtime dog pal. Please don’t confuse this with the dog Mark Wahlberg has talked about dinging him “up pretty good” during the making of the movie.

That dog is in a scene in which Mark Wahlberg trespasses onto another person’s property while trying to track down a yellow car. Spenser's dog, on the other hand, is tiny, docile and adorable. It should also be noted this movie has a ton of dogs, as Cissy owns her own dog-sitting agency. Most of them are very cute during their limited time onscreen.

The point is, if you like the key ingredients or the main team in Netflix’s Spenser Confidential, if a sequel comes, it's highly probable we’ll get more of those same team-ups.

Ultimately, Netflix has not said a sequel is coming yet, which is pretty par for the course for the streaming service as it figures out how many people are interested and tune in over a given movie or TV series' first few weeks. However, the parties involved, including Mark Wahlberg, have all said they are interested, with producer Neal Moritz specifically telling the LA Times:

Plus, that final scene in the movie is about the most blatant bid to kickoff a franchise that I’ve ever seen. If people are really streaming the new movie, I’d expect we hear more about another project in the coming months.

In the meantime, what do you think? Did you enjoy Spenser Confidential enough for another round?

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Taking into consideration what makes up the basic buddy movie formula, Spenser Confidential is a film that looks great on paper. The two-hander story pairs exciting up-and-comer Winston Duke opposite buddy movie veteran Mark Wahlberg; it has experienced action director Peter Berg at the helm; and it is co-written by L.A. Confidential’s Brian Helgeland, adapted from a best-selling series. The problem is that movies ultimately need to exist beyond their ingredients listed on paper, and when brought to life as the newest release distributed by Netflix, the basic genre formula is all it really has to offer.

Spenser Confidential very clearly wants to be the launching pad of a new series, but unfortunately what it brings to the table is a string of generic characters, and an overly-familiar plot. It has its peaks as it plays out its series of action beats and fight sequences with a comedic flair not typically seen in Mark Wahlberg-Peter Berg team-ups, but it’s a movie of mostly valleys as it unfolds trope after trope in the central narrative.

Feel free to keep count of the clichés on your hands as I lay out the plot, but be warned that you will run out of fingers.

The audience is introduced to Mark Wahlberg’s Spenser as he is finishing up the final hours of a prison sentence – an ex-cop shown to be not too well liked among the prisoner population via a cold open brawl. The violence excused away by a guard as “self-defense,” his release plans are kept on schedule, and he ends his incarceration walking into the welcoming arms of his elder mentor, Henry (Alan Arkin). Of course, what Henry fails to tell him is that there is a roommate waiting for him at home named Hawk (Winston Duke) – a tech savvy wannabe MMA fighter who inexplicably doesn’t know how to throw a punch.

Spenser starts to form an exit strategy, hoping to leave his past in Boston behind and start a new life for himself as a trucker, but finds those ambitions halted when he learns that his former captain (Michael Gaston) – a corrupt cop who our protagonist assaulted, leading to his arrest – has been murdered. A conspiracy is alleged as the finger is pointed at a police officer found dead, a suspected suicide, so Spenser teams up with Hawk to both prove the accused’s innocence, and take down those actually responsible.

A super basic plot never allows Spenser Confidential to get interesting.

By their nature, buddy movies are primarily meant to be driven by characters and the relationship between the leads, but even still there is some expectation for compelling story, and Spenser Confidential never even starts to get one going. There are some extremely minor tweaks in the familiar, like Spenser actually committing the crime he went to jail for instead of being the victim of a frame job, but that doesn’t take the movie far.

All the details of the investigation move the film in the exact directions you expect, and it fails to generate a single surprise or twist. Without saying too much in this spoiler-free forum, it’s obvious who the villains are just because of the transparency of certain roles getting a bit more focus in the casting process. It’s all simple and rote.

Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke seem like they’d be a great on screen pair, but the material doesn’t allow it.

A further extension from the bland script, the film is also unable to cultivate the chemistry-filled dynamic that you want from Spenser and Hawk. Part of it comes from a lack of parity in the size of the roles, as the focus on the former in the movie definitely outweighs the focus on the latter, but the issues are mostly rooted in character, and how Spenser Confidential never makes a real focused effort to develop their relationship. They both bring their own tools and resources to the case, but spare for a few training scenes there’s never a moment where they fully click as a duo.

Given their past performances and characters, one could definitely see characters played by Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke clicking on screen, but the movie never gives them the material needed to show them as a good fit.

At the very least, watching Spenser take a series of serious beatings is entertaining.

What certainly works in Spenser Confidential’s favor is the fact that it doesn’t ever take itself too seriously, and the best result of that is its fight scenes, most of which feature the titular character getting his ass whupped and being able to walk away only because of stamina and/or outside help. It’s charming to watch a hero constantly get knocked down – either by villains, or, in one particularly great sequence, a protective guard dog – and then get back up to keep fighting the good fight. It’s an energy you wish more of the film had.

Rather than being a raucous buddy movie or a taut Boston-set thriller, Spenser Confidential’s profile as a viewing experience is more akin to a film playing on television on Saturday morning: something you can play in the background and tune in and out of without ever losing track of the plot. It could certainly be much worse, but there is also a lot of potential left on the table.

Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther 2 is still a couple of years away, but that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating about the sequel to the wildly successful 2018 film. One of the major points of speculation has surrounded who the film’s villain should be. Will T’Challa face off with Achebe, Mephisto, the Skrulls, Namor or will Killmonger return somehow? It turns out that actor Winston Duke has a surprising idea for who the villain should be in Black Panther 2: M’Baku. Winston Duke explained his reasoning, saying:

It definitely comes as a surprise to hear Winston Duke say that his character M’Baku should be the villain in Black Panther 2. Although M’Baku started off as, if not an outright villain, at least an antagonist in Black Panther, by the end of that film and then through Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame he was very much a hero. But as Winston Duke tells Screen Rant, it’s more complicated than that.

According to Winston Duke, M’Baku is a hero, but as a character he has a lot going on and that complexity would lend itself to making him a great villain in Black Panther 2. M’Baku and the Jabari tribe are proud people who have had serious ideological differences with T’Challa and the rest of Wakanda. It’s those qualities that could allow for M’Baku to assume a villain role.

What Spenser Confidential star Winston Duke seems to be describing is a trait that is most commonly associated with Magneto. He’s often a villain that does some horrible things, but he’s also kind of right and he sees himself as the hero. Winston Duke elaborated on his thinking, saying:

Villainy is a matter of perspective. Loki vacillates between hero and villain, often finding himself as the frenemy of the more cut and dry superheroes. Even though Thanos advocated genocide on a universal scale, he did so because he truly believed it was for the greater good. In Winston Duke’s estimation, it was Thanos’ conviction in his beliefs, not the Infinity Stones, that made him such a threat. It’s a great point from the M’Baku actor.

It seems that Winston Duke believes that M’Baku has some of these same qualities because he is a character that sees things in his own way and is strong in his beliefs and aims. Therefore, if the actor had his druthers, he would have M’Baku be the villain in Black Panther 2.

It’s an interesting idea, even if I think it unlikely. While M’Baku is compelling and formidable, I think Black Panther 2 would have to do some serious legwork to convince audiences that he was a genuine threat to T’Challa. That said, I think the franchise would be well served by keeping M’Baku as a bit of a foil to T’Challa.

The two can still be friendly and unite against common enemies, but it would be interesting to see M’Baku remain not villainous, but antagonistic. T’Challa is the king of a nation and continuing to see him have ideological differences with someone that is both friend and rival would really play into the weight of the crown.

As for now the villain and the plot of Black Panther 2 remain a mystery. Black Panther 2 hits theaters on May 6, 2022. Assuming you want to see movies before then, you can check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what’s coming out this year. And you can see Winston Duke opposite Mark Wahlberg in Spenser Confidential, streaming on Netflix on March 6.

In a month already filled with twists and turns for the MCU, the following news was announced: Kevin Feige is working on a Star Wars movie. Yes, the Marvel Studios chief at the helm of the jaw-dropping, universe-building, box-office dominating MCU over the years is brainstorming for a galaxy far, far away. Now the question is: who will he bring along for the light speed ride across the stars?

Per the initial report about Kevin Feige and Star Wars, he already knows who he wants to cast in the lead role. Could this mean he’s drawing from the expansive MCU family of actors we’ve previously seen don superhero suits and discuss Infinity Stones? If so, Kevin Feige has no shortage of talent to call up for the movie’s various roles. Here are our picks:

Annette Bening

Earlier this year, Captain Marvel enlisted the legendary actress Annette Bening to play the Supreme Intelligence and Dr. Wendy Lawson. The four-time Oscar nominee always brings a certain esteem to her performances, and her work alongside Brie Larson's Carol Danvers was a standout in the ‘90s set origin story. However, her role in the MCU doesn’t look like one that would continue past the first Captain Marvel movie, but we’d still like to see her do more in the sci-fi genre! She has major range – she could pull anything off really.

Winston Duke

The Star Wars franchise has always loved casting fresh talent in its movies, and Winston Duke is about as fresh as it gets! The actor found his big-screen debut as M’Baku in 2018’s Black Panther and has since charmed in Jordan Peele’s Us. Although Duke has been stealing scenes in major projects, it feels like we haven’t seen the full scope his talents just yet. He’s already a familiar name, but now Feige has the power to solidify Duke’s star status.

Chris Evans

Then there’s Captain America. Now, Chris Evans has just wrapped up a decade-long chapter of being in the spotlight as Steve Rogers. But even before that, he was finding roles in big movies such as Fantastic Four. He’s great in indies too, but Evans has always thrived in blockbusters. I can see Evans coming to Star Wars to take on something incredibly different than his boy scout role. He and Feige trust each other. Plus, he’s already shown his direct interest.

Laurence Fishburne

Is anyone else a bit disappointed Laurence Fishburne is in the MCU, but wasn’t given much to do? He had a supporting role in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp as Dr. Bill Foster. The Matrix star is an incredible character actor who has delivered great performances throughout his career, but we’re always itching for another powerhouse role from the 58-year-old actor. He’s established roots with Disney with the Ant-Man sequel, Black-ish and the upcoming Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur series, so now it’s time for him to stun in the Star Wars universe!

Danai Gurira

Ever since Danai Gurira graced the big screen for Black Panther, she speared a scar right into our hearts. She has this unique combination of commanding a powerful presence and injecting heart into scenes. She’s one of the most interesting new actors to join the MCU. Now, we know Black Panther 2 is happening and she could have a larger role in the sequel. Still, put Danai Gurira in Star Wars, Kevin Feige. She’d be an instant favorite!

Daniel Kaluuya

Ok, yes, this is list is stacked with Black Panther actors, but there’s so much talent there! Daniel Kaluuya didn’t really get a large enough role to really shine in the Wakanda-set epic either. He deserves a larger swing in the Star Wars movies. The Get Out actor earning an Oscar nomination for the breakout Jordan Peele horror movie. Whatever big plans Lucasfilm has for the franchise, the actor is in high demand following Get Out and it’d be smart to bring him in!

Brie Larson

It helps to be a big Star Wars fan if you’re going to make one of its movies. Kevin Feige is certainly a longtime one. So is Brie Larson. She has made it known in the past by posting awesome pictures of her at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge, wielding lightsabers and such. She’s good friends with Samuel L. Jackson (a.k.a. Mace Windu) and looks great in Jedi garb. Following a more restrained performance in Captain Marvel, it would also be nice to see what else she can do on a large scale movie!

Evangeline Lilly

It's time to help Evangeline Lilly complete a record. She’s been in the Lord of the Rings franchise and the MCU, so Star Wars would complete the trifecta! Since becoming a favorite on Lost, the actress has remained iconic with the blockbuster roles she’s accumulated and she’d be a solid addition in Star Wars too! She actually once admitted to approaching J.J. Abrams for a role in The Force Awakens. And hey, her Lost co-star (and LoTR’s Merry) Dominic Monaghan is about to be in The Rise of Skywalker.

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell in space! Need I say more? The actor is a Disney legend, who got his start with the studio playing a teen in a variety of the studio’s films in the ‘60s and ‘70s. It’s always great to see him return to his roots for films such as Miracle, Sky High and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but a turn to the Star Wars franchise would be nothing short of epic. He has the star power to get fans excited. Who knows? He could be the next Obi-Wan Kenobi type for a new generation.

Tilda Swinton

Lastly, the incomparable Tilda Swinton would be a magnificent addition to the Star Wars universe. She’s adept with disappearing into unconventional character roles perfect for the alien world often uncovered in Star Wars. Between her roles in Wes Anderson movies, Snowpiercer, Suspiria or Okja, it only seems like a matter of time before Tilda crosses over to a galaxy far, far away! While she has a vital role to play in the MCU as the Ancient One, there’s always room for more of her talent on the big screen.

There's so much talent in the MCU! Which is your favorite pick? Or what did we miss? Share your selections in the comments below!

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Jordan Peele’s debut film, Get Out, earned him an Oscar and instantly announced him as a bold and exciting new filmmaker with a clever voice. His eagerly anticipated follow up, Us, arrives in theaters this week, and I can tell you (as someone who was lucky enough to catch it at the South By Southwest film festival) that you are going to want to go out of your way to see it. In fact, make plans to see it twice.

There’s a twist in Us. That’s all I’ll reveal. But the twist changes the movie, and a second viewing will open up several new avenues of discussion. I’m not alone in thinking that repeat viewings are essential. One of the movie’s stars, Winston Duke, spoke with AMC Theatres and told them, regarding repeat viewing of Us:

Winston Duke is not blowing smoke, but it’s really hard to elaborate on what he is saying without giving away the true joys of Us. So, we will dance around it.

Think of it this way. You likely saw Get Out. Do you remember how many clues and references Jordan Peele included in that socio-political thriller that weren’t clear until after you knew, fully, where the movie was going? Us is like that. You will enjoy it the first time through. It’s terrifying, and highly engrossing. But once you fully understand Us, you literally will want to do a 180-degree turn and buy a ticket for the next showing, because you will NEED to see it again.

Here’s the trailer for Us, to prepare you for this movie’s unique brand of insanity.

Want to go in cold? I can’t say that I blame you. Here’s all that you need to know about Us. It follows a family, led by Winston Duke and Lupita Nyong’o, as they embark on a restful weekend by the sea. But they are in for horrors when they are confronted by home invaders who look exactly like themselves. Who are these people, and what might this mean?

Find out for yourself when Us opens in theaters on Friday, March 22.

Last year, Black Panther took the U.S. by storm and became one of the highest grossing movies of all time. The film was packed with standout characters like Shuri and Okoye, but M'Baku became a surprise scene-stealer. Winston Duke brought some serious charisma to the imposing M'Baku, and while Black Panther helped put the actor on the map, it almost cost him a role in Jordan Peele's Us. The director said he initially thought Duke might be too tough for the horror movie.

Jordan Peele's highly anticipated (and rated) Us finds Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke playing a wife and husband who take their two children on vacation in a beach town, only to be stalked by strangers who look exactly like them. It's hella spooky and frightening, but I bet you'd feel a little safer if you had M'Baku on your side.

Jordan Peele was thinking the same thing, which is why he was originally hesitant about casting Winston Duke in his new horror film. Duke is a physically strong man, so would people be scared for this family knowing the dad fought aliens with the Avengers last summer?

Thankfully, Jordan Peele decided that Duke's charisma overpowered any of his physical might and that he was ultimately a great fit for the role. Just listen to how he sang "I Got 5 On It" in that trailer! That's charisma city.

Also, if the family is attacked by doppelgangers, then that means Duke's doppelganger is also tough-looking. If the father character was "weaker" or less imposing then the same would be true for the enemy, and then the audience would be left wondering why this guy is supposed to be scary.

Either way, Winston Duke is happy that he was cast in the role. He told The Hollywood Reporter that he loved playing M'Baku, but he was receiving offers for a lot of tough guy parts after Black Panther, so he was thankful to get the opportunity in Us.

Us will take the world by storm and arrives in theaters on March 22. It's already got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so we are beyond hyped to see this thing. Check out our 2019 movie release guide for everything else hitting theaters.

When Black Panther was released earlier this year, it was at the forefront of conversation for a number of reasons such as box office records, black representation and its powerful cultural message. One of the film's breakout stars is Winston Duke, who played Jabari leader M'Baku. And Duke thinks there's something else really special about the superhero film, deeper than its diversity. In his words:

In a lesser movie, Black Panther would be the lone dynamic actor in the film, but writer/director Ryan Coogler's film had T'Challa introduced among his Wakandan people, with a rich culture and immense technological advancement found within them. Black Panther allowed a long list of black actors to shine with each of their characters, instead of perpetuating a culture where only room for one or two actors of color were featured.

Per Winston Duke's comments to Entertainment Weekly at Savannah Film Fesival, Black Panther's inclusion of a vast black cast, each with a personality specific to them and talent to give to the film, displayed a unique equality to the actors on film that actors of color such as Duke hadn't witnessed before.

For playing Black Panther's M'Baku, Winston Duke actually made his feature film debut. Winston Duke previously starring in television as a recurring character of Domino in Person of Interest along with appearances in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Messengers and Modern Family. The actor was a drama student at Yale with co-star Lupita Nyong'o back when The Avengers came out in 2012, unaware the two would star in a Marvel film together some years later. Soon Duke will be starring in Jordan Peele's upcoming film Us with Nyong'o, following the director's incredible success with his first directorial project Get Out.

While M'Baku was originally written in 1969 as an offensive character known as "Man Ape," the writers of Black Panther took the opportunity to tell a story of M'Baku as the head of a religious minority instead. Winston Duke's role in the film was a scene stealer as the character went from an antagonist to T'Challa to an ally and friend. The character returned for the Battle for Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War and was one of the lucky half of humanity to survive Thano's snap. With Black Panther 2 is in the works, you check out everything we know so far about the upcoming sequel.

Having already proven himself a comedic talent time and time again on camera in projects like Mad TV, Key & Peele and Keanu, Jordan Peele has now stepped behind the camera to focus on his directing career. Last year, his directorial debut, Get Out, was not only met with critical acclaim and earned numerous accolades (including Peele winning the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay), it also made over $255 million worldwide off a $4.5 million budget. Peele's next movie will be Us, and it's been confirmed that another Black Panther actor is joining the cast: Winston Duke, who played Jabari leader M'Baku.

Winston Duke confirmed that he's appearing in Us with the above Twitter post, and it sounds like he's excited to be working alongside Jordan Peele on what will be Duke's third movie. He will perform alongside Lupita Nyong'o, who played Nakia in Black Panther and confirmed her involvement in Us last month. Before Black Panther, Duke was arguably best known for his recurring role as Dominic/Mini in Person of Interest, and he'd also appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Messengers, Major Crimes and Modern Family. He also reprised M'Baku for Avengers: Infinity War, with the Jabari leader fighting alongside T'Challa, Okoye and Wakanda's other warriors to help the Avengers combat Thanos' forces. Duke was arguably the breakout star in Black Panther, so it will be interesting to see him lend his talents to Us, a movie that, while we don't know much about it, will almost certainly feel much different from a Marvel Cinematic Universe entry.

The only plot details that have been revealed so far about Us is that it will focus on two couples, one black and one white. Along with Winston Duke and Lupita Nyong'o, The Handmaid's Tale's Elisabeth Moss was said to be negotiations to join the movie, but we have yet to learn which actor is being looked at to round out this quartet. Along with both starring in Black Panther, Duke and Nyong'o attended the Yale Drama School together, so the two of them being more directly paired together will ideally be a treat. As was the case with Get Out, Us will be produced by Jason Blum, and given Blumhouse Productions' track record with horrors and thrillers, the next Jordan Peele picture will hopefully be another enjoyable theatrical experience, though I am curious how Us' more unnerving elements will compare to what Get Out offered.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on how Jordan Peele's Us is coming along. In the meantime, if you're curious about what movies are coming out later this year, head over to our 2018 premiere guide for release date information.

As many people discovered this past weekend, there's a lot in Ryan Coogler's Black Panther to marvel at. The world-building is stupendous, the production design is gorgeous, and the themes of the film are wonderful, deep, and ridiculously relevant. There are many things about the blockbuster that are just jaw-dropping, but for star Daniel Kaluuya the whole thing really hit him when he stepped into T'Challa's throne room for the first time. He recently told me,

Late last month I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with Daniel Kaluuya and Winston Duke during Black Panther's domestic press junket in Los Angeles, and it was at the end of the interview that I learned about the moment it all fell into place for Kaluuya. Noting that it was his first time being a part of such a big production, I asked if there was a specific moment where he realized the epic-ness of the project, and the Academy Award-nominated actor fired back with an excellent story about his first day making the movie.

In Black Panther, Daniel Kaluuya plays W'Kabi, a member of the Border Tribe and a close personal confidant of King T'Challa -- having known him since he was a child. Because of this bond, T'Challa keeps W'Kabi right by his side when he becomes the king of Wakanda, giving him a seat right next to him in his throne room. As you can see in the still above, production designer Hannah Beachler did a tremendous job creating the look of this brilliant, regal set, so it's not really too surprising that Kaluuya was taken aback seeing it for the first time in real life.

You can watch Daniel Kaluuya discuss his memorable moment on the Black Panther set -- and his hilarious recreation of his interaction with producer Nate Moore -- by clicking play on the video below!

Now that Black Panther is in theaters around the world, audiences are having their own special moments recognizing the epicness of Wakanda. If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and seek it out at your local theater -- and be sure to come back to find a whole lot more of our coverage here on CinemaBlend!

Ryan Coogler's Black Panther is a beautiful, action-filled comic book blockbuster, but not to be ignored is the surprising depth of its socio-political themes. The central nation of Wakanda is unlike any nation on Earth -- incredibly advanced thanks to its unique Vibranium mines -- but the fact that it's shut off from the rest of the world creates a fascinating conflict: do the immense resources manifest a responsibility for the country to help people beyond their borders, or does the horrible history of colonization and slavery in Africa justify their choice to stay hidden? It's the issue that ultimately drives the entire film -- so it may not surprise you to learn that the actors playing it out on screen have some strong opinions on the subject.

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down with the cast of Black Panther during the film's Los Angeles press day, and my first question in every interview was exactly the same: if you were a Wakandan citizen knowing what you do about the rest of the world, how would you feel about the country's border policy? The responses I got were impressively diverse, and it was Lupita Nyong'o -- who plays Nakia in the Marvel film -- who pointed out the reason why: because I was hardly the first person to bring up the topic. Said the Oscar-winning actress,

One very important advocate for keeping the borders of Wakanda secure in Black Panther is T'Challa himself -- and as it turns out, Chadwick Boseman shares the perspective. While most of the actors I talked to weighed both sides of the challenging argument in their responses, the star of the film made a straight argument for why the African nation is better off in isolation. According to Boseman, history and the incredible dangers of the outside world both contribute to the argument for staying hidden, but also worthy of consideration is the geography of Wakanda:

The nation of Wakanda was founded on top of the aforementioned mine full of Vibranium, which found its way to Earth courtesy of a meteorite crashing down from space. Because of this, the country is naturally concealed within a crater -- which Chadwick Boseman seems to interpret as a kind of sign. If Wakanda were meant to interact with the rest of the world, it wouldn't be surrounded by natural walls.

Danai Gurira, however, disagrees. While her character in the film, Okoye, is extremely loyal to the classic traditions of Wakanda, she personally recognizes that Wakanda's relationship with the rest of the world doesn't entirely coalesce with where we are in modernity, and sees the border policy as archaic. Said Gurira,

You can watch all of the stars of Black Panther -- including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis, Winston Duke and Daniel Kaluuya discuss the controversial Wakanda border debate in the special video we've cut together below!

I loved talking with the Black Panther cast about their thoughts on Wakandan border policy -- but it was only one of many things we talked about during the interviews. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more stories, and check out the film in theaters on February 16th!

In bringing the world of Wakanda to the big screen for the first time, writer/director Ryan Coogler united a remarkable ensemble of incredibly talented actors. Sure, he may have inherited Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, and John Kani as T'Chaka, but the rest of the Black Panther cast is made up of name after jaw-dropping name. It makes you wonder who else could possibly join the special corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a future film... and it turns out that the stars of the movie have some awesome suggestions.

I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with many members of the Black Panther cast last week during the film's Los Angeles press day, and during those individual and paired conversations I took the opportunity to ask them about actors they would want to see join the franchise someday. They not only had some great ideas, but even some interesting reasons for their choices, as you'll discover below and across the next few pages!

Michael B. Jordan Suggests: Yara Shahidi

In the last few years, Yara Shahidi has made some big moves in her career. She broke out in a big way back in 2014 with her role as Zoey Johnson on the hit ABC comedy Black-ish, and in just the last few weeks saw the launch of her very own spin-off series, Grown-ish, on Freeform. Only time will tell where her career goes from here, but if it were up to Michael B. Jordan, her future will involve a role as part of the Black Panther family.

The actor who plays Erik Killmonger in Black Panther not only suggested Yara Shahidi as someone he'd like to see in the world of Wakanda, but even offered up the role that he would love to see her play. He clearly thinks that she would be fantastic paired up with actress Letitia Wright, offering that she could play a best friend of Shuri, T'Challa's genius younger sister. There would be an annoying question lingering asking where she was during the events of Ryan Coogler's movie, but that would be something easily paved over with a single line of dialogue. And while Shahidi doesn't exactly have a long blockbuster resume (she played "Salt's Young Neighbor" in Salt), you have to start somewhere, right?

Daniel Kaluuya & Winston Duke Suggest: Ludacris

In case you can't tell simply by the actors I interviewed for this feature, Black Panther has one of the most amazing casts ever put together for a Marvel Studios film -- and this fact isn't lost on stars Daniel Kaluuya and Winston Duke. During my interview with them, they expressed amazement at not only the collection of talent, but how well-suited everyone is for their particular parts. This very much influenced their response to my actor question, because while they namedropped Ludacris specifically, the larger message was that the filmmakers could realistically bring in anybody to a future story and make it work.

Ludacris a.k.a. Chris Bridges is certainly no slouch when it comes to starring in blockbuster movies -- as he has long been a staple of the Fast and Furious franchise -- but he has yet to dip his toe into the superhero world. If he were to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, as Daniel Kaluuya and Winston Duke noted, one can guess that the franchise would find the perfect part for him.

Danai Gurira & Lupita Nyong'o Suggest: Snoop Dogg

When I asked Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o my question about the actor they'd like to see join the Black Panther family, their answer was definitely different than everyone else. Specifically, they found inspiration from a special moment on set. Between takes during the shooting of the Warrior Falls sequence -- where T'Challa battles for the right to be king of Wakanda -- the drummers on set started to play the beat to Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot." It created such a special moment that the actresses want to see it honored in a future Marvel movie.

But who would Snoop Dogg potentially play? Apparently Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o would be cool with keeping it a small part -- an Easter egg for anybody who knows the story of what happened behind the scenes of the first Black Panther. Gurira suggested some kind of small cameo for the rapper/actor, and Nyong'o suggested him playing a police chief. The ball is definitely in Marvel's court now.

Forest Whitaker Suggests: Wesley Snipes

Comic book fans think of Blade when they think of Wesley Snipes, but for a long time he had a very different Marvel character in his sights: Black Panther. When the actor was at the height of his fame during the 1990s, he made strides to try and bring the first ever black superhero to the big screen, though obviously he walked away from those efforts empty handed. Now Chadwick Boseman, a very different actor, is playing the big screen version of T'Challa, but Boseman's co-star Forest Whitaker told me that he would love to see Snipes become a part of the Black Panther family.

Forest Whitaker actually worked with Wesley Snipes as a director when he made Waiting To Exhale back in 1995, and was very clearly aware of the actor's Black Panther movie efforts when I asked him the question during the press junket. Obviously nobody expects the Marvel Cinematic Universe to replace Chadwick Boseman with Snipes as the King of Wakanda at this point, but it's also hard not to agree with Whitaker that the Blade star should be recognized for his past efforts trying to bring exposure to the important character. There are many, many roles within the Black Panther sphere that he would be appropriate for (Brother Voodoo, Achebe and Kiber The Cruel to name a few), so now it just needs to happen.

Because Marvel Comics started back in the 1940s, certain elements of the canon are reflective of different eras -- and the character of M'Baku a.k.a. Man Ape is one such example. He was first created by John Buscema and Roy Thomas back in 1969, but by modern standards isn't exactly a racially sensitive figure. All the same, he is still an important figure in the history of Black Panther comics, so when it came to including him in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster certain changes had to be made, including the context of his role in the nation of Wakanda. As producer Nate Moore explains it,

M'Baku is played by actor Winston Duke in writer/director Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, and it was while visiting the set of the film last year that I first learned about how the film would be including him in the story. Nate Moore was specifically asked about the character during a roundtable interview with a group of journalists including myself, and the Marvel filmmaker explained how they had to do some tip-toeing before finding a proper way to include the potentially offensive antagonist into the movie.

As alluded to by Nate Moore, the nation of Wakanda is very much influenced by its different religious sects -- some more powerful than others. The most significant figure of worship is the Panther God a.k.a. Bast (which obviously inspires the design of the lead Wakandan warrior's costume), but the cat isn't alone. In the comics, M'Baku is the leader of the Jabari tribe, which is a group that prays to Ghekre the Gorilla God as part of the White Gorilla Cult. It would seem that the conflict that exists between the two fellowships on the page will continue to the big screen -- though it's worth mentioning that M'Baku's larger role in the plot of Black Panther has not yet been revealed.

The marketing campaign for Black Panther hasn't let us see much of M'Baku -- the trailers focusing much more on Chadwick Boseman's titular hero and Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger -- but it won't be long until we learn much more. Fans will be able to see Winston Duke's portrayal very soon, as the latest blockbuster from Marvel Studios will be arriving on February 16th.

Since last year's San Diego Comic-Con, Black Panther has slowly been unveiling its cast, and last week, Marvel officially announced who all the main players will be, including the villains. Along with Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger and Winston Duke as M'Baku (as previously reported), it was also finally confirmed that Andy Serkis will resurface as Ulysses Klaue in next year's blockbuster. So while T'Challa is getting the hang of ruling over Wakanda, he'll also have deal with three baddies determined to give him hell in one way or another.

Now that Black Panther's main villains are public knowledge, we've decided to go over their comic book histories, any other media appearances they've made and what we can expect from them in the movie. Let's start with Erik Killmonger, who seems to be the primary antagonist of the MCU installment that will hit theaters on February 16, 2018.

Erik Killmonger

Erik Killmonger was born as N'Jadaka, a Wakandan native whose father was forced into being one of Ulysses Klaw's slaves following the physicist's attack on the country. N'Jadaka's family was eventually killed, and the boy ended up in the United States with a burning hatred for T'Chaka, the king of his homeland, for allowing his loved ones to die. Taking the name Erik Killmonger, he became quite the learned man as an adult, obtaining a PhD in Engineering and an MBA at M.I.T. When he learned that T'Challa had taken over the Wakandan throne, Erik initiated his plan to destroy the son of the man he believed wronged him.

Pretending to be a Wakandan who simply wanted his exile from Wakanda to end, Erik Killmonger made contact with T'Challa in New York and secured repatriation back to the African nation. Once there, Erik began collecting resources and allies to help him seize the Wakandan throne and take the country. In Erik's eyes, the only way for Wakanda to truly thrive was to move away from the "white colonialist" influences of the present day and re-embrace the the country's ancient roots. Erik's first coup against T'Challa was successful, but the Black Panther later bounced back to defeat his enemy, and during their battle (but not by Black Panther's hand), Erik was killed. In traditional comic book fashion, he was later resurrected, and since then hasn't let up in his attempts to control Wakanda. Outside of the comics, Erik has only been seen as a playable DLC character in the video game Lego Marvel's Avengers, so Black Panther will essentially be his first major appearance off the printed page, giving Michael B. Jordan plenty of room to put his own spin on the character.

M'Baku (Man-Ape)

Before becoming Man-Ape, M'Baku was known as Wakanda's greatest warrior, second only to the Black Panther himself. However, M'Baku eventually grew dissatisfied with T'Challa's rule and Wakanda's reliance on technology, so he decided to grab the throne for himself. Allying himself with the outlawed White Gorilla Cult, M'Baku went through the ancient ritual of bathing in the blood of the tribe's namesake animal and eating the same kind of flesh, which gave him abilities like super strength, enhanced stamina and durability. However, even with his new powers, M'Baku was defeated in combat by Black Panther. Man-Ape has tried a few more times to gain control of Wakanda, but he's also become more of a conventional super-villain, striking partnerships with evildoers like the Grim Reaper and joining teams like the Lethal Legion and Masters of Evil.

Other then a few video game appearances, Man-Ape's most prominent appearance in other media is in the animated series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, where he killed T'Chaka and gained control of Wakanda. T'Challa left Wakanda to become Black Panther and properly defeat Man-Ape, and by the episode "Panther's Quest," he accomplished his goal. So far Winston Duke's iteration of the character has only been referred to as M'Baku, so it's unclear whether he'll become a monstrous ape-like man like in the comics or will be a more normal bad guy in Black Panther.

Ulysses Klaue

Ulysses Klaw started out as a normal human obsessed with one thing: sound. His ultimate goal was to create a machine that would convert sound waves into physical mass, but the only substance capable of powering such a device was vibranium. Klaw subsequently snuck into Wakanda so he could steal the metal, and during his trip there, he killed King T'Chaka, though he also lost his hand in the process. Years later, he resurfaced with a sonic gun replacing his lost appendage, and not long after during his confrontation with Black Panther and the Fantastic Four, he was transformed by his machine into a being of pure sounds. He now boasts abilities like super strength, durability and manipulating sound waves on his own, but he can no longer revert back to a natural human form. Although Klaw is arguably Black Panther's greatest nemesis in the comics, he also given heroes like Spider-Man, Daredevil and the Fantastic Four plenty of trouble over the years.

Klaw's other media appearances include The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Avengers: Ultron Revolution and BET's Black Panther animated series. However, unlike Erik Killmonger and M'Baku, Klaus has already appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, the eponymous villain tracked down the arms dealer to pay him a handsome price for his vibranium supply. Unfortunately for Klaue (as it's spelled in this continuity), he noted how Ultron quoted Tony Stark, and that observation cost him his left arm. Still, since he's billions of dollars richer, it's possible that Klaue has been outfitted with a state-of-the-art prosthetic, serving as a subtle callback to his comic book counterpart's more unusual-looking bionic arm. Whether the MCU iteration of the character eventually becomes a being of sound or will be transformed in some other way remains to be seen.

Which villain are you looking most forward to seeing in Black Panther next year? Let us know in the comments below.

Just because T'Challa will be back home in Wakanda during Black Panther doesn't mean he won't be plagued by threats. This past summer at San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Creed star Michael B. Jordan would appear as Erik Killmonger, one of Black Panther's oldest adversaries. However, now there's word that a second villain has been added to the mix, who will be played by Person of Interest actor Winston Duke.

Variety is reporting that Duke has been cast as M'Baku, better known as Man-Ape, in Black Panther. No details were provided about this version of the character, but if he's anything like his comic book counterpart, he'll be quite a powerhouse. Black Panther will be Duke's first film role, as his acting credits until now have been on television. His notable appearances include a recurring stint as Dominic in Person of Interest, as well as guest spots on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Major Crimes.

In the comics, M'Baku was a powerful Wakandan warrior who wanted to usurp the throne with the help of the outlaw White Gorilla Cult. He gained his powers (including super strength, speed, agility, stamina, the usual stuff) when killed one of the namesake animals and both ate it and bathed in its blood. Now calling himself Man-Ape, he returned to Wakanda to challenge Black Panther, determined to move Wakanda way from technology and back to its primitive state. Unfortunately for Man-Ape, he was defeated in battle by the Wakandan king and thought to be dead for a while. However, as is the case with many comic book baddies, he eventually resurfaced and has been a recurring thorn in Black Panther's side since. On occasion, he has also joined forces with several super villain teams, like the Lethal Legion and Masters of Evil. Man-Ape's other media appearances include Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Lego Marvel's Avengers.

Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, which ended with T'Challa capturing his father's killer (Helmut Zemo) and providing Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes asylum in Wakanda, Black Panther will follow the young king as he learns the ropes of ruling over a nation. Having two villains attacking him certainly isn't going to help matters, though it will be interesting to see whether Man-Ape ends up being Erik Killomonger's main muscle or if they will be partners in the effort to eliminate T'Challa. Along with Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and now reportedly Winston Duke, the movie's cast also includes Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia and Danai Gurira as Okoye, both members of the Dora Milaje.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, who also co-wrote the script with Joe Robert Cole, Black Panther slashes it ways into theaters on February 16, 2018.