During the American Film Institute’s (AFI) 47th Life Achievement Award ceremony in 2019, the late Chadwick Boseman honored Denzel Washington, who had funded Boseman’s tuition to attend the prestigious British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England. During his speech, Boseman acknowledged that without Washington’s support, his career might not have taken off, and by extension, the success of 2018’s Black Panther might not have been possible. “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington,” said Boseman. And now Denzel is slated to appear in Black Panther 3.
Now, nearly six years later, Denzel Washington’s casting in the upcoming Black Panther 3 has been confirmed, leading to many speculations about his role, with five potential Marvel Comics characters in the mix. Some have even theorized that the actor could portray an older or a completely new version of Black Panther himself. In truth, Washington’s star power could benefit the MCU greatly and provide the recently-criticized franchise with the reputation boost it needs.
Following a string of pretty lousy-performing releases, the MCU seems to be getting back on its feet. With successful releases such as Deadpool & Wolverine and Agatha All Along, the franchise’s future is looking brighter, and Washington’s addition to the casting is definitely a sign of continued growth. Unfortunately, there’s still no indication whether The Equalizer star is playing a hero or a villain. There are, however, ample possibilities as to which Marvel Comics character he might play.
Jakarra
Jakarra was King T’Chaka’s illegitimate son, making him T’Challa’s half-brother. He was raised abroad and was later given the command of the Wakandan army following the reveal of his heritage. However, he was power-hungry and led a coup against T’Challa. That didn’t end well, and he later mutated into an energy-absorbing monster due to prolonged and severe Vibranium exposure.
While Jakarra is a notable character, his story is too similar to that of Killmonger, whom we’ve seen in the original film. Additionally, given the actor’s plans for retirement, there’s very little doubt that his role would be that of a villain who ends up becoming a CGI monster — that would be a waste of Washington’s acting talent.
S’Yan
Son of King Azzari the Wise and a brother to King T’Chaka, S’Yan was a man who was both a great thinker and a great fighter, matching his brother in both speed and strength. Following T’Chaka’s assassination by Ulysses Klaw in the comics, S’Yan ascended to the throne and became the next Black Panther.
However, it was never his ambition or intention to become king, as he always hoped for T’Chaka to rule. Nonetheless, he was a worthy replacement in the time of crisis. Following the tournament to decide the next Panther to rule Wakanda, T’Challa defeated S’Yan in combat, and the latter happily stepped down from the throne, allowing T’Challa to assume the mantle of Wakanda’s King.
Achebe
Denzel Washington is best known for his charismatic leading portrayals; his villain roles are few and far apart. Nonetheless, even though he only played six true villains in his career (at least to date), his talent and acting range gave birth to some of the most notorious bad guys in the history of cinematography.
So, why not have him play the villainous Achebe? Achebe is a complex and manipulative villain and a brilliant but deranged antagonist. He was driven to madness by sheer hatred after the very people he had helped stabbed him 32 times and left him for dead. Washington’s ability to portray multifaceted and complex characters would make Achebe a memorable and formidable foe for Black Panther.
Changamire
Changamire was first introduced in Black Panther Vol. 6 #2 as a Wakandan philosopher and the handpicked tutor for King T’Chaka’s royal court, as well as the personal mentor of Queen Ramonda. However, due to his anti-monarchical beliefs, he was eventually exiled from the Golden City.
His teachings did cause a small revolution, but he refused to join the revolutionaries, opposing their violent methods. The role of a mentor whose teachings accidentally caused a revolution would fit Denzel Washington well.
Black Panther
Washington’s ability to portray wisdom and authority makes him perfect as a guiding figure who provides critical counsel to the current generation. This makes him perfect for portraying an elder Wakandan statesman or even a former Black Panther who served before T’Chaka.
Additionally, he could appear as Bashenga, the first Black Panther, in either flashbacks or as a spiritual guide to Shuri or another Black Panther, offering insight into Wakanda’s lesser-known history and how its rulers navigated earlier crises. There’s perhaps no better actor suited for this, considering that his influence was pivotal in allowing the Black hero to be brought into live-action.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Marvel is still to officially announce the third Black Panther movie, and audiences have long been looking forward to the Black Panther 3 installment that explores the history and origins of the Black Panther within the MCU. Actors such as Denzel Washington, who is one of Hollywood’s most popular, talented, and successful actors, are probably the best choice to deliver Bashenga or some other version of Black Panther.