Will Djimon Hounsou Play the Black Panther?

Recently the comic book rumor mill has been speculating on what character Djimon Hounsou will play in an upcoming feature film.

According to IESB, Djimon said he would be playing a dream role as a character in an upcoming comic book trilogy.

Most people are speculating that the character he will play will be none other than Wakandan leader T’Challa, more commonly known as the Black Panther. Of course this would be a great casting choice. Djimon has become an “epic” actor, much like Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe. I remember watching Blood Diamond and seeing the strength of his acting reminded me of Mel Gibson yelling “Give Me Back My Son” in Ransom - only with a Benin accent. Now although Ransom pales in comparison to Blood Diamond, Gibson’s acting just gave the movie an epic feel, just like Djimon gave Blood Diamond an epic flare. Let’s face it without Djimon, DiCaprio would have been hanging without a lifeline.

Now, back to the subject of Djimon as the Black Panther. With a third Fantastic Four movie on the way, this becomes the obvious guess. Why? Because there are no really big roles for black actors in comic books. Outside of the Black Panther, most black characters lack any real depth. DC Comics’ Mr. Terrific is lackluster, albeit being the third smartest man in the world. Marvel Comics’ Luke Cage is just a jock with an attitude. And, Storm… well I doubt Djimon will be playing her.

Could Hounsou play a non-black role? Sure. He’d be great. But remember what happened the last time a black actor was cast in a non-black comic role. The nerd community raged all hell. When Michael Clarke Duncan was cast as Kingpin Wilson Fisk in Daredevil, everyone raised arms. “Wilson Fisk isn’t black,” fan geeks screemed. Well Wilson Fisk doesn’t exist. And outside of skin color, the body types matched. Fisk was always a racketball playing muscleman that only appeared to be obese.

Regardless, Daredevil was a bad movie that shouldn’t have been made. And if anything, Ben Affleck was the poor casting choice. The problem was the script. It smelled something worthy of Pepé Le Pew, just like every Fantastic Four movie to date.

Maybe the question isn’t whether Djimon will play the Black Panther, but should he?

Should Djimon take the role of the Black Panther in Fantastic Four Part 3? My answer is no. If anything he should wait for Black Panther to get his own film. In general trilogies are terrible. So why sign on or get excited for a part 3. Spider-Man 3 was a let down, even after the success of Spider-Man 2. But, the Fantastic Four line has been damned since the onset.

Personally, I’d rather not see a great actor like Hounsou have his reputation tarnished with bad scripting. But who knows. The Fantastic Four role is still just speculation. Maybe he’ll be in the Avengers, or the Black Panther could get his own trilogy?

Only time will tell.