Michael B. Jordan may return for Black Panther 2, reprising the role of the villainous Killmonger, aka N’Jadaka aka Erik Stevens.
If you haven’t seen Black Panther yet don’t read this article as it will contain spoilers.
At the end of Black Panther, our hero T’Challa returned to Wakanda to fight Killmonger as he prepared to distribute weapons to operatives around the world.
During the fight, T’Challa stabs Killmonger who refuses to be healed using Wakanda’s advanced technology, wishing instead to die as a free man.
Killmonger tells T’Challa:
Why? So you can just lock me up? Nah. Just bury me in the ocean, with my ancestors that jumped from ships… Because they knew death was better than bondage.
Removing the weapon from his body, Killmonger then slumps over and dies after taking one last look at the glorious Wakandan sunset.
Although that appeared to be the end of Killmonger, actor Courtney B. Vance, husband of Black Panther star Angela Bassett, might have just let slip the character will be back for the sequel.
At the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards last weekend (January 27), Entertainment Tonight asked Bassett, who plays T’Challa and Shuri’s mother, the Queen Mother of Wakanda, if ‘everybody’ would be back for the sequel.
While Bassett replied with ‘I would assume so’, her husband Vance cut in, adding:
Yes, just go ahead and say it, yes! Everyone will be there, including Michael B.
Bassett then noted ‘[We didn’t technically see him] go into the ocean, no’, seemingly confirming Vance’s comment.
Black Panther is a Marvel film after all so bringing a character back from the dead isn’t too far fetched, especially with Wakanda’s advanced technology.
Vance also said he would love to be cast in the sequel himself, an idea Bassett supported adding ‘yeah, he could come into Wakanda’.
Commenting on the first film, Vance said:
I just like the way it changed society. It was all about Wakanda Forever. And those kind of films, when they come around you’ve got to lift them up… For me, that movie changed society, so give it what it’s due.
Black Panther really did break so many boundaries, including recently becoming the first comicbook film to get a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.
This isn’t the first time it has been suggested Jordan will be back for the highly anticipated sequel.
Last year it was revealed Jordan and Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, are reportedly in talks for Black Panther 2.
A source told Metro:
Ryan Coogler is currently mapping out Black Panther’s sequel and has written in a number of new characters that movie-goers will be introduced to when it premieres. One of those characters, if he gets his wish, will be played by Childish Gambino. Nothing is set in stone but ‘informal talks’ [are happening] between Ryan, Gambino and reps from Marvel and Disney to see if they can make it happen.
They’re still yet to decide if Michael B. Jordan will return in some capacity but if he doesn’t it’s likely Gambino may play some kind of villain.
There is currently no production date for Black Panther 2 but it is likely to be 2020 or 2021 as Avengers: Endgame wraps up ‘Phase 3’ of the Marvel Cinematic Universe this April.
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