Marvel Considers 'Black Panther' Movie

African warrior may get his own feature film

With Marvel comics continuing their string of box office smashes, rumors are starting to circulate about who will be the next superhero to get some shine. Right now, a lot of signs are pointing to the Black Panther.

Latino Review were the first to speak on the rumor (not sure if they started it themselves) saying that four trusted sources are telling them that the African warrior could be coming to the big screen.

They also say that hints dropped in Iron Man 2 (where his homeland of Wakanda was shown on a map) and Captain America (his shield was made of Vibranium that comes from Wakanda) are indicators that a movie is on the way.

Rumors have been circulating of a Black Panther movie since Marvel reacquired the rights to the character in 2005. At the time Wesley Snipes was said to have been playing the part.

For those of you who aren't up on Black Panther, here's a brief explanation.

The title “Black Panther” is a rank of office, chieftain of the Wakandan Panther Clan. As chieftain, the Panther is entitled to eat a special heart-shaped herb, as well as his mystical connection with the Wakandan Panther god, that grants him superhumanly acute senses and increases his strength, speed, stamina, and agility to the peak of human development. He has since lost this connection and forged a new one with another unknown Panther deity, granting him augmented physical attributes as well as a resistance to magic.

His senses are so powerful that he can pick up a prey’s scent and memorize tens of thousands of individual ones. T’Challa (the Black Panther's birth name) is a rigorously trained gymnast and acrobat, showing mastery in various African martial arts as well as contemporary ones and fighting styles that belong to no known disciplines.

The Black Panther is also responsible for defending his country against intruders seeking to steal its secrets and resources.

No director has been selected, but according to a Twitter feed presumably belonging to The Avengers director Joss Whedon, Spike Lee should do it.

Marvel asked me if I wanted to do a Black Panther movie. I told them to get Spike Lee. I didn't exactly know what they were talking about.

— Josh Weaton (@JoshWeaton) June 5, 2012

To get a glimpse of what a movie has to offer, check out this episode of the animated series.