The entry of Black Panther into the Marvel Cinematic Universe turned out to become a great phenomenon. Led by Chadwick Boseman, the 2018 film, Black Panther became the first in the MCU to feature a black superhero. However, many might be surprised to know that Marvel Studios nearly made a movie on another African-American superhero which was written by Edward Ricourt.
The movie was in the ideation process way before the 2018 movie came to the big screen. As to why Boseman’s movie became a phenomenon, its cultural impact further diversified the entertainment industry let alone the superhero genre. However, before this project, Marvel was ready to bring Luke Cage to the screen.
Marvel Made Plans to Bring Writers Onboard to Work on Unused Marvel Comics Superheroes
Marvel Studios often hired talented personalities for their projects for fresh ideas that would elevate their superhero genre. According to the newly released MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, Back in 2009, producer Stephen Broussard was assigned to bring a fresh set of talent of screenwriters.
Due to other studios’ and networks’ fellowship programs, the studio eventually selected a few writers who would then receive a year-long contract with Marvel. During that period, they would have to work on “emergency script polishes”.
Not just that, the franchise also wanted them to pitch for movie ideas that would feature their unused comic superheroes. Given that the studio is known for keeping its content in secrecy, writers had to sign a nonnegotiable 70-page contract which included “a nondisclosure agreement and provisions” that their work was Marvel’s property.
Edward Ricourt was one of the writers selected in the same program. He is highly recognized for co-writing the script for the American heist film, Now You See Me and its sequel. He also worked as a consulting producer in Jessica Jones.
Now You See Me Writer Edward Ricourt Was Associated to Bring Another Superhero to MCU
Eventually, Ricort had a meeting with Broussard and producer Jeremy Latcham, who gave three comic books to him, pointing his attention at Luke Cage aka Power Man. For the unversed, Luke Cage is a wrongly convicted superhero with superhuman strength and near-invulnerability due to his unbreakable skin that was the result of a failed experimental procedure.
While the writer wondered whether he was sidelined due to a Black hero-led project, the execs. were quite serious about bringing it to the MCU. In the book, he explained,
“They said ‘We really want to make this. we really want to make this.”
While the character was unable to make its appearance in the MCU at the time, the character was brought to live-action. Back in 2015, Mike Colter debuted as Luke Cage in the MCU in Netflix’s Jessica Jones. Following his appearance, he even got his standalone series named, Luke Cage which was released on Netflix the next year.
Meanwhile, it was Black Panther who became the first black superhero in the MCU. His real identity is Prince T’Challa who later becomes the king of Wakanda. The character first appeared in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and later starred in his solo movie. Late actor, Chadwick Boseman portrayed the character with the movie gaining widespread acclaim for its cultural significance, storytelling, and representation.
Black Panther is available on Disney+.
