Top 10 black actors who should play Black Panther in a Marvel movie

Click link to play podcast of He said She said-Top 10 actors to play Marvel's Black Panther in a movie.

With the impending release of Guardians of the Galaxy the door opens for more obscure Marvel properties.  I for one can't wait for a big screen adaptation to Marvel's Black Panther. 

Who is the Black Panther?

He is a comic book character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby his alter ego is T'Challa chief tribal leader of the the Panther Tribe of the advanced African nation of Wakanda.  Panther got his powers from the Panther God which grants him superhuman strength speed, stamina reflexes and agility at Olympic levels.  He has genius level intellect a master at hand to hand combat and has retractable vibranium claws (WHICH CAN SLICE THROUGH ANY SUBSTANCE) and has gone toe to toe with Captain America on numerous occasions. 

He would have to be played by a black actor who has screen presence and knows martial arts.  Here are my top 10 choices. 

#10 Ice T

Age 56

The ICE BERG has charisma and is in fabulous shape at his age.  He comes from an extensive military and gymnastic background.  However ICE doesn't have extensive martial arts training but if anyone could pull off Black Panther this light-skinned New Jack brutha could do it. 

#9 Brian White 

Age 39

Brian has the look and the screen presence.  He played a minor role in "Cabin in the Woods" where he played a security officer in this role he played a character with a mysterious background if anyone can add gravitas to the Black Panther its this guy.

#8 Bob Sapp 

Age 40

Bob Sapp doesn't have much on-screen experience but he is a mixed martial arts master with 11 wins and he is a scary man who would bring much needed physicality to the role.  

#7 Kevin Kimbo Slice

Age 40 

Anyone who calls himself Kimbo Slice is someone to be feared.  Rolling stone called him "The King of the Web Brawlers"  Real name Kevin Ferguson has had roles in "The Scorpion king 3" and the "The Circle of Pain" If I was casting I would take a chance on this guy because he knows how to emote for the camera and needs little training because he is an expert MMA fighter by trade. 

#6 Quinton Rampage Jackson  

Age 36

Mixed martial artist Quinton Rampage Jackson has been in Nike commercials, appeared in WWE Monday Night Raw and had a starring role in "The A-Team" reboot he would be a prime choice to play Black Panther because he already has a rabid fan base. 

# 5 Peter Mensah 

Age 54

Who could forget the ill-fated Persian messenger from the "this is Sparta" scene from 300 where his character is pushed into a well---- or the warrior trainer in the "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" and most recently in 2014's 300: Rise of an Empire.  Peter Mensah has an extensive filmography in both motion pictures and series work.  His character "Oenomaus" in "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" can crack the whip like a pro.  For my money I wouldn't mind seeing this talented actor play Black Panther.  

# 4 Morris Chestnut 

Age 45

You wanna talk about star power lets talk about Morris Chestnut believe it or not he has had extensive martial arts training and is in great shape.  This is the man who played Ricky Baker in Boyz n the Hood which was a landmark film about life in the ghetto.  Chestnut has that all too important ability to make us care for a character.  If he played the superhero Black Panther he would bring a debonair quality to the character and surprise us with his expertise in hand to hand action.

#3 Wesly Snipes

Age 51

Long rumored to be up for this role this was almost my number one selection.  Snipes surprised me with his spot on portrayal of Blade the vampire hunter he has skill physicality and can handle a sword like no ones business.  His acting ability is legendary he will appear in 2014's The Expendables alongside a bevy of action stars from the 80's.  At 51 Snipes is mature in his age but he is as sharp as he ever was let's get him into costume now! 

#2 Taimak 

Age 50

Remember this guy?  Sure you do he was in the 1985 martial arts cult film "The Last Dragon" where he played Leroy Green.  Taimak has the look and persona appropriate for Black Panther.  He would be great in this role because he is in remarkable shape and is a face we haven't seen in a while and ripe for a come back.   

#1 Michael Jai White 

Age 46

For my number one I'm going with actor Michael Jai White because hands down he can bring it and he is fun to watch.  I imagine Black Panther to be charismatic and cool but can kick ass like an old master.  He can do comedy well as seen in Tyler Perry's  "Why did I get Married?"  He has the star power to create a Black Panther franchise and I would love to see this actor interact with THE AVENGERS.

The Wolverine 2013 Review B+

The Wolverine is the follow up to the disappointing X-Men Origins movie.  This film takes the elements we like about the character and takes it to the next level.  What we get is a Yukuza action flick which isn't a bad thing.  The action sequences are marvelously staged and the cinematography is above average.  Director James Mangold is at the helm of this sequel spin off.  Mangold's previous work includes 3:10 to Yuma and the forgettable Knight and Day with Tom Cruse and Cameraon Diaz. 

We first see the Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman locked in a cage for some unspecified reason just before the H-Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima.  Wolverine saves a guard from the nuclear blast by using his bodies healing ability to absorb the flames.  Years later Wolverine is living like a nomad presumably still devastated by the events of X-Men 3.  In the previous film  he is forced to kill Jean Grey aka The Phoenix and becomes so traumatized by this event he chooses to live off the grid.  Conflict happens when his only friend a burly grizzly bear is severely injured by a gang of hunters and Wolverine is forced to end the bears suffering. 

Seeking retribution Wolverine tracks down the hunters and lets them now how unhappy he is about the situation.  I had a problem with this scene because it is a bit of a stretch how he randomly runs into a character named Yukio played by Rila Fukushima.  She is a deadly assassin with precognitive mutant abilities.  I would assume she used her psychic abilities to find Wolverine at that particular bar because it isn't explicitly stated in the movie.

 Yukio convinces Logan to fly to Japan to meet an old friend who we find out is the guard he saved from nuclear blast years ago and is currently on his death bed.  He summoned Wolverine because he wants his mutant healing ability.  Logan is unwilling to help him because he believes death is a natural end.

From this point on the story is about everyone trying to rob the Wolverine of his mutant powers.  I get the feeling that this film largely caters to the Asian film market with it subtle and not so subtle nods to Asian culture.  The movie is very much a Yukuza action flick where we see Wolverines use his claws as deadly weapons, slicing and dicing foes explicitly riding the line between PG-13 and R Rated violence.  I enjoyed the creative action sequences particularly one taking place on top of a 300mph bullet train.  The set design is phenomenal and the cinematography is exceptional giving the movie a particularly slick look.  

The pacing doesn't seem to slow down and stays centrally focused on the Wolverine character.  I would have liked some acknowledgment of the bigger events going on in this expanding marvel universe.  I wanted to know what The Avengers and Shield were currently up to.   My only complaint is that the computer graphics are quite obvious in certain scenes and particularly unnecessary in others.  There is one where  Jackman as Wolverine is in the woods walking along side a computer generated bear.  I don't know if it was an insurance issues but the filmmakers could have had a real bear for that shot.  I have to acknowledge the rigorous training regiment Jackman must have endeared to look the way he does on camera.  According to fit magazines Jackman is taking training advice from former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson. 

The Wolverine is quality entertainment and a recommended travel movie.  Stay for the credits as they lead into the next instalment Bryan Singer's Days of Future Past.  See The Wolverine in theaters B+! 

The Avengers movie review

Not knowing much about the film or expecting anything amazing this film reminded me of what a really good movie can be.  The film could have been a mess with all its complicated characters arcs.  One thing that strikes me is how user friendly this film is.  For someone like me who is not familiar with the comic book it introduces the characters in a palatable way.

We begin at S.H.E.L.D. headquarters and quickly establish the crisis and villain then we slowly start calling everyone up and then we get them in a room together.  We watch how they interact and then we get into the action.  Incredible set pieces and pacing.  I don't like the marketing machine behind The Avengers because I don't like being bombarded with merchandise and tie ins before I've even had a chance to see the film alas filmmakers don't make movies studios do.

I love the judicious use of modern gadgetry in this hybrid sci-fi, fantasy, action film

A+