I’ve Worked Out The Perfect Deep Cut Marvel Role For Denzel Washington In Black Panther 3

Denzel Washington has confirmed that he will star in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Black Panther 3, and I know which deep-cut character from Marvel Comics would be perfect for the Hollywood legend’s MCU debut. Black Panther 3 hasn’t yet been announced by Marvel Studios, but after the huge success of 2018’s Black Panther and the emotional impact of its 2022 sequel, Wakanda Forever, I always saw a follow-up movie by Ryan Coogler as inevitable. The late Chadwick Boseman previously led the Black Panther franchise as T’Challa, but I want new characters to now be introduced to fill his shoes.

Chadwick Boseman’s sudden passing in 2020 spurred Ryan Coogler to write T’Challa out of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, too, allowing Letitia Wright’s Shuri to evolve into the new Black Panther. We saw Shuri strike a tenuous alliance with Namor and the underwater nation of Talokan in Wakanda Forever, while M’Baku seemed to be crowned King of Wakanda, making me convinced the MCU’s Black Panther 3 would be the biggest story yet. After recent casting news, the first for Black Panther 3, I reckon one Marvel Comics character could debut to shake-up Wakanda in the MCU.

Denzel Washington Has Confirmed His Appearance In Black Panther 3

Denzel Washington’s Black Panther 3 Role Is A Mystery

Speaking on The Today Show in November 2024, Hollywood legend Denzel Washington confirmed that he will appear in Black Panther 3, with director Ryan Coogler apparently writing a part for him in the sequel. Denzel Washington is a remarkable actor with almost five decades of experience, and I particularly loved him in projects including Malcolm X, Fences and The Tragedy of Macbeth, so I’m very excited about his MCU debut. His comments noting Coogler writing a part for him suggest he may be playing an original MCU character, but I think he’d be perfect for an obscure Marvel Comics character.

Denzel Washington’s comments have spurred theories that he could be playing an older variant of T’Challa, bringing the primary Black Panther back to the MCU, or indeed an ancestor of Chadwick Boseman’s MCU hero. This could create the opportunity for the history of Wakanda to be explored in more detail, perhaps even casting Denzel Washington as the nation’s founder, Bashenga. While I would love to see this storyline in Black Panther 3, I actually think there’s a lesser-known character that Denzel Washington would be far better suited for: Changamire.

Who Is Changamire? Denzel Washington’s Perfect MCU Character Explained

Changamire Debuted In Marvel Comics In 2016

I reckon Denzel Washington would be the perfect casting choice for Changamire in the MCU. Changamire is a little-known Wakandan philosopher who made his first Marvel Comics appearance in 2016’s Black Panther (Vol. 6) #2. He was the hand-picked tutor for the royal court of King T’Chaka, T’Challa’s father, during his reign over Wakanda, and became the personal mentor to Queen Ramonda before he was exiled from the Golden City because of his pacifistic, anti-monarchical beliefs, though he continued teaching his gospel in the neighboring Wakandan city of Birnin Azzaria.

Changamire’s beliefs informed the actions of Tetu, who we saw amass a revolutionary army known as the People. I reckon this would be a fantastic group to debut in Black Panther 3, and Denzel Washington has the gravitas and gentle nature of Changamire. Tetu led the People into the Golden City to overthrow King T’Challa, which I could easily see being adapted for the MCU, despite Chadwick Boseman and T’Challa passing on. Changamire tried to warn Ramonda and T’Challa, offering guidance after renouncing Tetu’s violent scheme, and Changamire delivered a speech that helped weaken the People’s efficiency.

As a pacifist, Changamire is a calm and collected character who actively tries to avoid violence and becomes conflicted about his teachings laying waste to an uprising in Wakanda. I think Denzel Washington would be the perfect actor to take on this little-known role, particularly since Changamire will be a hard character to make significant in the MCU. Marvel Studios has often made smaller-scale characters from the comics very important to the MCU, and I would love to see Changamire get this honor in Black Panther 3, which Denzel Washington’s casting would accomplish.

Changamire Would Fit Perfectly Into Black Panther 3 After Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Set Up Huge Storylines For The MCU’s Future

One of the key narratives set up in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever focused on world politics and Wakanda’s place among the other governments of the Earth, and Changamire’s inadvertent incitement of a rebellion against the Wakandan monarchy fits in this storyline perfectly. I, for one, think Winston Duke’s M’Baku would make a great King of Wakanda, but others in the African nation may not feel the same. Changamire’s teachings could spur a revolution against King M’Baku, with Shuri’s Black Panther being caught in the middle, which would be a fantastic, globe-spanning storyline for Black Panther 3.

Beyond this, I would love to see the history of Wakanda developed, and introducing the aged Changamire as a long-time ally, confidant and mentor to T’Chaka and Ramonda would be an excellent way to do this. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever rendered Shuri the last remaining member of the Wakandan royal family, making me think she sorely needs some new allies. I could easily see Shuri reconnecting with some of her family’s past connections, which creates the perfect opportunity for Changamire to debut as a mentor to Shuri, adapting his Marvel Comics story faithfully.

Following the passing of Chadwick Boseman and the removal of Michael B. Jordan, John Kani and Angela Bassett from the Black Panther franchise, Black Panther 3 needs more star power. This makes me very excited about Denzel Washington’s MCU debut in Ryan Coogler’s highly-anticipated sequel. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever acted as a vehicle for the grieving process for us all, but Black Panther 3 can get back to regularly-scheduled programming, marking a strong return for the Black Panther, and the huge development of Wakanda, which I would love to see include Changamire’s introduction to the MCU.

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