Black Panther FanMCU Casting Call
Casting Call Notes:
This is intended to be realistic, so actors that only do movies they star or co star in, like Will Smith and Denzel Washington, have been left out. The actors are all cast in roles similar to ones they've played before, ensuring that they would do a good job.
Also note: all comic book pictures would be updated for the film.
T'Challa, The Black Panther - Anthony Mackie
Why He's Perfect:
Anthony Mackie is perhaps one of the strongest up and coming black actors today, from Hurt Locker to Eagle Eye to Adjustment Bureau, he's come a long way from 8 Mile. With T'Challa being very much all of that, a strong internally conflicted warrior and a bit of a guardian angel bucking against tradition, and his age fitting an origin story better than the otherwise perfect Chiwetel Ejiofor, Adewale Agbaje-Akinnouye, Djimon Hounsou or Michael Jai White, makes him the right candidate for the job.
Ulysses Klaw, Ruthless Mecenary - Sean Bean
Why He's Perfect:
Well, first of all, he's a top rate villain character actor. With Klaw, you have a very mercenary character like his Golden Eye agent, but a seeker, like his Odysseus or his National Treasure character. He is a leader of men, as on Game of Thrones, and he is unmistakably, the bad guy, though with a Boromir like twist, he really does believe that what he's doing is right for the world.
General M'Baka, White Gorilla/Man-Ape - Michael Clarke Duncan
Why He's Perfect:
Well, there's the size and intimidation first of all, and then there's the fact that he's an experienced actor who can drive home a lot of strong emotions, as he did in Green Mile. He is enchanting as a gentle giant, which will make him all the more menacing when he puts on his African dictator clothes and sits in front of a white ape pelt. This part is more flexible, another great comedy actor, Terry Crews, could also pull this off.
Everett Ross, State Department Liason - Alan
Why He's Perfect:
Alan Tudyk has incredible comic timing, and he really drives home these aloof, comically bumbling characters. He's also small-time enough that would take a small supporting part like this without overshadowing the relative newcomer Mackie. He also generally just plays off other people very well.
T'Chaka, King of Wakanda - Laurence Fishburne
Why He's Perfect:
There are others one might think of putting here, from Denzel Washington to Djimon Honsou, but none of them scream badarse as loudly without speaking as Fishburne doing his Morpheus thing, carrying about his regal presence and giving immortal Othello-like dying words to his son, much less showing up in flashbacks to give one of his heavy speeches from any number of films he's been in. Its hard to hit harder than Fishburne in five minutes, and those who can don't show up in movies for five minutes only.
S'Yan, Regent Panther - Morgan Freeman
Why He's Perfect:
S'yan is a contemporary of T'Chaka, he is T'Challa's uncle, and the regent after T'Chaka's death. He guides and teaches T'Challa, giving him vital information and encouragement, before he is removed from the story. If that sounds like every Morgan Freeman character ever, well, it is. Add to this the fact that S'Yan can still fight while masked, and you've got a great S'Yan, one that you can advertise as an Academy Award Winner.
Shuri, Princess of Wakanda - China Anne McClain
Why She's Perfect:
Shuri is one of those characters not everyone likes. Here as we have a young T'Challa, we have an even younger little sister for her, mostly as a background character to represent his effect on Wakanda, and Wakanda starting to believe in him. At first she wants to kick him out, by the end, she's bowing to her new king. China Anne McClain is still a TV actress, but she has proven to be as outspoken and rebellious as anyone could hope for, but still young enough to have that cute "I'm inspired/in awe" look in spades.
Ramonda, Queen Mother - Angela Bassett
Why She's Perfect:
Angela Bassett has played strong wise mothers since, well since forever. Not beyond an impassioned speech to her children in everything from Tyler Perry movies to Akeelah and the Bee to the Jacksons. She would also get the 'Academy Award nominee' mentioned in front of her name in advertisements.
Okoye, Wise Dora Milaje - Kerry Washington
Why she's Perfect:
Okoye is the wise calm leader of the Dora Milaje, she is also the one most loyal to T'Challa and serves as a calming counterpart to the eccentric and violent Nakia. Kerry has already got her African accent down pat in Ladies Number 1 Detective Agency (and voicing Shuri in the cartoons). As a beautiful woman, it's not hard to guess why someone might want to marry her.
Nakia, Violent Dora Milaje - Meagan Goode
Why She's Perfect:
Meagan Goode has long been able to play bad girls. This particular bit of sharp tongued mayhem, with a movie deal to return as one of Killmonger's henchwomen, is one of the most ruthless, though in love with T'Challa.
Other Dora Milaje - Gabrielle Union, Kelly Rowland, Bianca Lawson & Annie Ilonzeh
Why they're perfect:
The rest of the Dora Milaje are supporting cast, beautiful and each has a small role to play. This will probably be the largest stretch for many of them, since the role involves some combat and action, however, they're talented folk, I suspect they're up to this unique opportunity, plus, it never hurts to have more beautiful women in a film.
Batroc the Leaper, Right hand Mercenary - Cyril Raffaelli
Why He's Perfect:
You basically need a glorified stuntman to bounce off of things and give T'Challa a great mini-boss battle. This is basically all Cyril Raffaelli does, and since he did well on the Incredible Hulk as a parkour coordinator, why not bring him back here for this one.
Young T'Challa, Prince of Wakanda - Jaden Smith
Why He's Perfect:
Because there's no one else on the planet his size and color who can do fight and dialogue scenes. It's just that simple.
Monica Lynne, American Girlfriend - Alicia Keys
Why She's perfect:
Alicia is an actual singer, first off, and a good actress with great presence. She would be great as a sort of music intro and person for T'Challa to exposition to early on in the film, a nice strong cameo, basically, which from Smoking Aces to Secret Life of Bees.
N'Gassi, Tribal Advisor - Joe Morton
Why He's Perfect:
One of the strongest character actors in the business, it's not a stretch for Joe Morton has played many leaders and tacticians and old bureaucrats in his time. Like Shuri, N'Gassi represents the other part of Wakanda that T'Challa must win over, once again calling on Morton to play a prickly guy who eventually warms up to the hero.
Bast, The Panther Goddess - CCH Pounder
Why She's Perfect:
Bast is the Panther goddess that must test the hero.
Nick Fury, Director of Shield - Samuel L. Jackson
Why He's perfect:
Because he's reprising the role, of course! A nice After Credits scene is much needed. Imagine T'Challa coming out of the shadows suddenly in SHIELD. "Director Fury, I'd like to talk to you about this Avenger Initiative."
The Conclusion
So, that's the whole thing, lots of people, a veritable who's who of black Hollywood. Let me know what you think, but I had to get it off my chest. Even in retrospect, I'd love to get someone more spot-on for Everett Ross and for the Dora Milaje, but for now, that'll have to be it. Perhaps next time I'll cast Black Panther 2.