No Black Panther movie has been announced yet, but it seems Denzel Washington just unofficially confirmed that a third installment is on the horizon.
While going through his roadmap to retirement in an interview with Australia’s Today Show, Washington revealed that Ryan Coogler is writing a part for him in the next Black Panther movie.
At the moment, there’s been no announcement of a third Black Panther movie from Marvel. However, the animated show, Eyes of Wakanda, is set to debut on August 6, 2025.
Who will Denzel Washington play in the movie?
There are a few routes Coogler could take.
He could create a new character for Washington in this movie. Maybe something like an ancestral figure who we haven’t heard of prior. But, this seems unlikely.
Coogler could take a lesser-known Marvel bit player that emerges as a key figure in the movie rather than a key piece in the larger Marvel Cinematic universe.
Washington could be cast as a significant hero who may appear in future films but does not necessarily need to return. This feels like the most likely path — especially when you consider a character that Washington has been fancast as at some frequency.
Blue Marvel
This guy has super strength, super speed and super intelligence. But, his powers can be taxing. That may be how Coogler explains why this guy wasn’t involved in the big battle vs. Thanos. (Although, Blue Marvel is also brilliant, so he still could’ve helped out a bit.)
In addition to having ties to Black Panther himself, Blue Marvel is also linked to Mr. Fantastic and Monica Rambeau.
Blue Marvel is a character who technically existed in the past, and, at the time of his Marvel Comics debut, he hadn’t been heard from since 1961. However, the character’s first appearance in the comics came in 2008. Confusing, but this means there’s at least precedent for the character being added to the mix late.
While a lot of things add up with this potential casting, this is solely speculation at this juncture.
What’s the next Marvel movie coming out?
The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World, which hits theaters on February 14, 2025.
What’s the next Denzel Washington movie coming out?
Fans of Washington don’t have to wait long for his next film. He will star in the upcoming Gladiator II, which hits theaters on November 22, 2024.
