Marvel Comics took a couple of big steps towards diversifying its blockbuster superhero roster. On Tuesday, Marvel announced that it will release a feature-length film about its superhero Black Panther with Chadwick Boseman in the lead role. They also announced that they will release a film centered around female superhero Carol Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel.
Black Panther was the first Black superhero to ever appear in a mainstream comic book franchise. Created by legendary comic book writer and editor Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the superhero made his debut in a 1966 Marvel comic. Black Panther is the leader of the African nation Wakanda and has a variety of super powers, including superhuman speed, agility, and super-developed senses. Also known as T’Challa, he is a brilliant scientist and technology genius with a PhD in physics from Oxford University.
Boseman, who has received acclaim for playing soul icon James Brown and legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, will appear in the next installment of the Captain America franchise (Captain America: Civil War) before the Black Panther film is released on November 3, 2017.
Marvel has prominently featured its female Black Widow character, portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, in a few of its franchise films, but the Captain Marvel film would be the first time a woman superhero would anchor a film. What’s even more interesting is that the character is arguably more powerful than any of the male Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. Carol Danvers was a former Air Force pilot whose powers include, superhuman strength, endurance, stamina and stability, flight, precognition, and energy absorption and redirection, which allow for powerful photonic blasts from her fists and superior hand-to-hand combat skills and marksmanship.
The part has not yet been cast, but Marvel studio president Kevin Feige is confident they will find the right actress well in advance of the film’s scheduled 2018 release.
The studio also announced that they will be adding their Dr. Strange character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016.