News on the upcoming Marvel movie "Black Panther" has been popping out, exciting fans on how good the movie will be. Now rumors on "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" star Forest Whitaker joining the cast of "Black Panther" has been confirmed.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Whitaker will take the role of Zuri. Now basing it on the "Black Panther" comics, the character is an elder statesman of fictional and highly advanced African nation of Wakanda. He is also one of Prince T'Challa's (Black Panther) closest friends and advisors, who made his appearance in the comic series in 1998. We won't know what Zuri's exact role will be besides that from the comics, but we'll just have to wait and see when the movie comes out.
"Black Panther" is directed by Ryan Coogler, whom Whitaker worked with in the director's breakout film "Fruitvale Station." It was actually the "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" star who actually helped Coogler produce the film.
In other news, Hitfix also reports that joining in the cast also straight from the "Star Wars" saga will be Lupita Nyong'o (who played Maz Kanata in "The Force Awakens), whose role will be Nakai. Florence Kasumba will be returning as Ayo, the bodyguard of T'Challa, while Daniel Kaluuya ("Sicario" and "Black Mirror") plays W'Kabi, the Prince's confidant. Michael B. Jordan will play the role as Erik Killmonger, while Winston Duke will be the villain M'Baku, otherwise known as Man-Ape.
Chadwick Boseman will be returning in the screen as the titular "Black Panther," and we'll be seeing him in action in the theater on Feb. 16, 2018.