When Chadwick Boseman was cast as Black Panther, a lot of people were excited as the character has been one of the most celebrated figures in the Marvel universe. Boseman was also coming off of some impressive performances. The character and Boseman’s performance became one of the main highlights of Captain America: Civil War.
2018’s Black Panther changed the game as the film went on to break barriers and won several Oscars. Boseman became synonymous with the character and fans began to consider him one of the best casting choices for a superhero film. If Boseman hadn’t been cast as the character, two other acting veterans would have perfectly essayed the role with pure conviction.
Will Smith and Jamie Foxx Would Have Been Great for Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman‘s Black Panther has been cemented in the legacy of the MCU as one of the best entries of the franchise. The film became a huge boundary-pushing venture for Marvel and Hollywood regarding Black representation on-screen. The film went on to win 3 Oscars and is one of the prestige titles in the MCU.
Boseman has stated that “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington” (via YouTube). Washington himself has sung praises of the film and what it has done for the Black community. In an interview in 2013, Washington’s frequent collaborator Antoine Fuqua stated that he would definitely cast Washington as the character if he were to direct a Black Panther film.
At the same time, Fuqua also named several other African-American actors who perfectly essay the role. Will Smith and Jamie Foxx were the other two names that he believed would do the role justice. He told The Urban Daily,
“With the right script, absolutely! As for casting, I’d always go straight for Denzel, if you’re talking about a certain type of character. Jamie Foxx, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith – we’ve got a handful of guys who are very powerful actors.”
Smith and Foxx are veterans in the game and are Oscar-winning actors who have shown their versatility in various of their films. If Black Panther was made a little earlier (in the 2000s), Washington would been the clear choice to play the part. If not, Smith and Foxx would absolutely be the perfect alternatives for the role.
Denzel Washington Was Extremely Emotional After Watching Black Panther
2018’s Black Panther shook up the industry and catapulted the Marvel brand into uncharted territory. The film became a serious contender at various award ceremonies including the Oscars. The film led by an African-American ensemble cast led by Chadwick Boseman was an unprecedented moment for Black representation on-screen.
Denzel Washington who has been a torchbearer for the African-American community was extremely pleased with the powerful representation of his community on-screen with Black Panther. He was incredibly proud of Boseman and Ryan Coogler and also reflected on the big change that has happened across history regarding Black actors. He said, (via YouTube)
“Black Panther, I shed a tear. I was sitting in there — I ran into Chad and Ryan before the movie started, it was their premiere, or the screening in New York, and just talking to them and they went into the movie — and the 40 years I’ve been in this game came back to me,”
“I said, ‘Man, look at these young boys, man.’ And I actually — I just started [crying]. I was like, whew. You know, Sidney, to now? And I’m in the gap — me and many others — are in the gap, but it was like, man. I felt like the third leg of the relay race. Like, ‘here, go.’ Now, I ran behind them — I’m still running. But I was like, man, they gone. They’re gone.”
Boseman’s tragic passing has left a void in the MCU and Marvel has chosen not to recast the character, leaving the actor’s legacy intact. While the MCU tried to put more focus on Shuri as her brother’s replacement in the franchise, Boseman’s absence is largely felt and the franchise will never be the same without him.
