Chadwick Boseman made one hell of a debut as Black Panther in this summer’s Captain America: Civil War. As T’Challa, the new King of the African nation of Wakanda, Boseman gave a terrific and intense performance, both as the angry diplomat (and grieving son) and the tough-as-nails superhero. And when your nails are made out of unbreakable vibranium, that means you’re pretty damn tough.

From Civil War, Boseman will get his own Black Panther movie to headline, but he’s going to need a supporting cast, and The Hollywood Reporter says it’s already shaping up to be a good one. THR reports that Oscar winner (and Maz Kanata herself) Lupita Nyong’o is in talks to join Boseman in the Marvel film. “N’yongo’s character,” they write, “has not been revealed although she will be the Panther’s love interest.”

That means she wouldn’t play Shuri, T’Challa’s sister who became a Black Panther in her own right in recent years (and would be an awesome role for some actress down the line). Whoever Nyong’o plays, her part will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler, the man behind Fruitvale Station and Creed. With the trio of him, Boseman, and Nyong’o at the top of the marquee, Black Panther instantly becomes one of the most interesting Marvel projects to date. That threesome making any movie is intriguing; that trio making Black Panther is straight up awesome.

Black Panther is scheduled to open in theaters on July 6, 2018.

 

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