We’ve known for a while that Marvel was seizing the opportunity that Disney gave them, with a big interest in bringing many of their lesser-known heroes to the forefront of their universe. Yet, very few of those heroes have been brought to the big screen. Now it looks like they are very serious about turning Black Panther, one of the heroes a bit more well-known to the comic community yet mostly unknown to the general public, into one of those properties.
Marvel has officially brought on Mark Bailey to pen the adaptation of the comic; Bailey is most well-known for his work in documentaries such as PANDEMIC: FACING AIDS. It is a little peculiar that Marvel chose someone who hasn’t really proven themselves as a screenwriter for a film like BLACK PANTHER.
But maybe that’s the entire point. Do we really want BLACK PANTHER to be like SPIDER-MAN or IRON MAN? I certainly don’t. BLACK PANTHER is very important culturally, as he was one of the first and most prevalent African American superheros in mainstream American comics. I would love to see them go with a very unique take on the hero.
This could also lead to BLACK PANTHER possibly getting involved with AVENGERS sequels, as the character has been a member for a very long time. Although they might avoid this as an attempt to keep the film from being even more overstuffed than it already is. An interesting possibility, though.
What do you guys think about this news?
John Mulhern Writes 