You may know Raw Leiba from
The Wire where he portrayed Stringer Bell's bodyguard, Cave. Leiba was also featured on several other TV and Major Motion pictures both in the U.S. and Brazil, including Knights of Prosperity (ABC), Kidnapped (NBC), LifeSupport (HBO)and was named Gym Magazines "Fittest Human" for 2007. Recently, Leiba and is manager Charlie Wright, visited the offices of Marvel Studios to discuss both Luke Cage and Black Panther.
CoventryTelegraph.net, reports that Leiba was discussing potentially playing Luke Cage or playing the villain, Erik Killmonger in Black Panther.
Recently, Marvel Studios has generated a lot of buzz about Luke Cage, meeting with Rampage Jackson and Isaiah Mustafa. Several big name celebrities have actively campaigned for the role, including Idris Elba, Tyrese Gibson, and little known Eric Thomas Wilson.
Back in January, it was reported that Marvel had tapped Mark Bailey to pen The Black Panther adaptation but relatively few details have surfaced since then. The Black Panther was reacquired by Marvel in 2005 when the rights to several characters were returned to the studio from Lionsgate.
Seems that Marvel is indeed actively pursuing developing their Luke Cage property. And this unexpected news about the Black Panther villain sheds some light about the direction of Mark Bailey's script. Here's Eric Killmonger's history, courtesy of the
Marvel Wiki: N'Jadaka's father was pressed into working for the villain Klaw. After Klaw fled the country N'Jadaka's family was exiled.
He ended up in Harlem, New York, where he developed a hatred of both Klaw and the Wakandan king. N'Jadaka changed his name to Erik Killmonger, and dedicated his life to avenging his father's death. He studied extensively at MIT.
He contacted T'Challa the Black Panther, who repatriated Killmonger to Wakanda. He feigned trying to make up with the king. Killmonger settled in a village that would later change its name to N'Jadaka Village in honor of him.
Killmonger dedicated his time to the overthrow of T'Challa's government, seeking to make himself ruler through various plots. Despite being defeated, and even killed, Killmonger would be resurrected by his followers and continue to plot.
He also raised a leopard named Preyy.
Killmonger was eventually able to defeat the Black Panther in ritual combat, gaining him chieftain status of the Panther clan. However, his body had a severe reaction to the heart-shaped herb all chieftains must eat as part of the ascension rite.
Killmonger remains on a life support machine while Wakandan scientists search for a cure.
Leiba will next be seen in the upcoming Conan the Barbarian reboot.
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