Why it's time to Recast Black Panther and my thoughts on Denzel Washington in the next film.

 

Why It's Time to Recast Black Panther and my thoughts on Denzel Washington in the next film.

In my past blogs, I've written articles about recasting T'Challa, aka Black Panther, after Boseman died.  Now, it's been four years since Chadwick died. I believe it is time to recast the character, and as I wrote before, Chadwick's family has even said that the character should have been recast, and they said Chadwick would have wanted that. To see the character's story continue, I have shown three great actors who would be great T'Challa, and I wrote ideas on how they could bring back T'Challa. However, from what I've seen from Marvel Studios, they won't do it unless they are planning to secretly recast the character for either Doomsday or Secret Wars because Secret Wars will be a reset film, so we could get a fresh reboot of the franchise with T'Challa as the primary focus moving forward. We all want T'Challa back because many fans wish for T'Challa to return to the MCU even after Wakanda Forever killed him off. What's worse, we're noticing that Marvel is erasing the character. A good example is X-Men 97.

In 97 this Black Panther is T'Chaka, but it was established back in the 90s that it was T'Challa, and the old Fantastic 4 show, which was in the same continuity as X-Men and Spider-Man, animated that Black Panther was T'Challa. It was explained to Beau DeMayo that at the time, Marvel was still grieving over Chadwick's death, and they told him to replace T'Challa, which I understand, but at the same time, I'm like, guys, they have already established who Black Panther was in this before the MCU. Also, they are doing the same with two Marvel games with Black Panther, but it's not about T'Challa. 

I remember Nate Moore once said that Chadwick would have wanted us to continue Wakanda's story, but the thing is, T'Challa is the heart and soul of Wakanda, and taking it out doesn't work. The excuses of its mantle we're like Nate, T'Challa is the definitive Black Panther just like Bruce Wayne is to Batman because it doesn't matter if it's Dick Grayson, Terry McGinnis, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Jace Fox, or even Jim Gordon. The definitive Batman is Bruce Wayne and always will be. 

This is what is frustrating: William Hurt has been with the MCU since Phase One, and five months after he died, they recast him with Harrison Ford for Captain America: Brave New World. It's double strands if you think about it. 

I know they give the character of T'Challa a son, and he's named after him, but I find it sad that he doesn't have a father in his life. One thing I learned about Chadwick Boseman was that he didn't like the absent father troupe. 

This kid should still have a father figure in his life—a father figure who isn't dead but alive and inspires him to grow into a fine young man. 

So, I believe they should get a variant of T'Challa who becomes a father to this son he never had, just like how X-23 was reunited with Wolverine at the end of Deadpool and Wolverine because she got her dad back, and he got a daughter and a family in return. They should do that with the T'Challa variant, who has lost everything but regains a new life and family in the MCU. 

I don't get why Marvel is so determined to keep this character gone. I know Chadwick Boseman was a great guy, and he was my first choice to play Black Panther, but I know he would have wanted to see this character live on. As one of their friends said, he wanted people to see the character, not him. He saw the importance of Black Panther. We've had tons of Supermen, Batmen, Spider-Men, Hulks, Captain Americas, and even Wolverines (If you count Henry Cavil's cameo.) Why can't we get the same with T'Challa? It is time to recast the character with a new actor, and again, I think Doomsday or Secret Wars is the right way to bring back to T'Challa. Kevin Feige has also said that he is now open to recasting certain characters, so let's hope he will say we are going to recast T'Challa. Ultimately, they will recast everyone once the MCU is rebooted and reset. It will happen whether you like it or not.

Like I said it's time to bring the character back and if it has to variant I'm cool with that as would everyone else. If you've seen my past blogs you already know what type of T'Challa I would interduce. 

Now I know Ryan Cooger is working on the next film. If Kevin Feige decided to bring back the character, they would convince him and the cast because I know Lupita Nyong'o doesn't want a recast, but if they explain that it's a variant and it's not Chadwick's, it might convince them. Depending on how the story is, like Deadpool and Wolverine, they didn't change Logan's story. They just brought in a variant, and they even did Henry Cavil play a Wolverine, and now we want Henry as the MCU Wolverine. Do something like that. I would love to see John David Washington or Aldis Hodge play Black Panther. They would be great. 

That's why I believe it is time to bring T'Challa the Black Panther because he is the definitive Black Panther. It's not a mantle. I don't care what Nate Moore says; it doesn't matter how many Black Panthers there have been. T'Challa always comes to mind when you think of Black Panther. 

It's been four years, and it is time to recast the character. I hope they will announce something like maybe Doomsday or Secret Wars will bring back the character. This is a character that should have lived on even though losing Chadwick Boseman was devasting to all of us, and I lost an uncle to the same cancer he had. So it hit me on personal note when I learned what type of cancer Chadwick had.

I know Marvel was doing what they thought was best, and yes, many people and I didn't like the idea of killing T'Challa out of respect because we believe that Boseman would have wanted the role to live on and his brother confirmed this. There is no wrong side to this argument. Even on the anniversary of Boseman's death, fans still talk and discuss why they want a recast of T'Challa. 

It is time to bring back the character and get a new actor to play the role. 

I believe it is time to recast Black Panther with a new actor. 

What do you think? Do you like how they are going, or do you want the character to be recast and return in the next Avengers and Black Panther films?

Let me know.

If you haven't heard, Denzel Washington will be in the next Black Panther film. I love Denzel, and he's one of the best actors out there. I have always said his son John would be a great Black Panther. I would love to see that happen. Now, as some of you know or don't Denzel is the reason that Chadwick went to acting school, as he helped him. As Chadwick said, there would be no Black Panther without Denzel. Denzel Washington is a fantastic actor and in great shape at his age. 

Here are two characters I can see Denzel playing in the third film.

One is Changamire, the Vladimir Lenin of Wakanda, who wanted socialism and the removal of the monarchy. I can see him playing this character, and he might be the main villain of the third film. Denzel can play great villains, so he would be suitable for this role. 

He is playing a T'Challa variant who is older and wiser, but I don't want to see that. I want a young T'Challa but don't want the character to get the broken old man treatment like Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker. If Marvel decides to bring back T'Challa, but they reveal Denzel is going to play him, but it's an old man version of the character who fought RDJ's Dr. Doom, sure, but I don't want that variant to be old even if he's a Gandalf type character. It's like the Lanterns casting an old actor for Hal Jordan. I want a young variant of T'Challa not an old man. 

Those are my thoughts on who Denzel Washington might be playing, but we must wait and see. I can't wait for Gladiator 2, so I think Denzel joining the next Black Panther film is a great choice. What are your thoughts on that? Let me know. 

Unbroken Review

 

Unbroken Review 

For Remembrance Day, I'm reviewing Unbroken, a great WW2 film about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic distance runner. Who was captured by the Japanese during World War 2 and where he was tortured and beaten at the war camps. Despite that, Louis remains unbroken and doesn't give up on himself. He keeps fighting, and even when he's offered to be let go for being an Olympic runner, he refuses to leave his friends and comrades. The film is directed by Angelina Jolie and stars Jack O'Connell, Garrett Hedlund, Finn Wittrock, Domhnall Gleeson, and Miyavi. The film has an inspiring story, and one scene I love is the planning scene, which is above you, and Bird, played by Miyavi, tells him to hold that plank or he will be shot. Louis is on the verge of dropping it but lifts it up despite the pain, which shocks and angers Bird. Despite all the torture and war crimes Bird committed, he could not break Louis's spirit. I love this film. It's a great war film, and I highly recommend it. I give this film an 8 out of 10

Lest We Forget.

DCU Nightwing Fan Cast and Ideas

 

DCU Nightwing TV Series 

Fan Cast and Ideas

So with more of the DCU projects on the way, and as I wrote on one of my last blogs, I'm hoping for a Nightwing movie or tv series. Nightwing is my second favorite DC character, and I want to see this character get his own movie or show. We've had Titans, but I wasn't a big fan of that show.

Now Nightwing would work either as film or tv series.

I previously did a Nightwing movie on the blog, but this time I think the show would work better for the character.

Look at Daredevil, the show was a huge success, and I think they could make Nightwing the Daredevil of the DCU. I would be down for a movie about Nightwing if they go that direction because the character will be in Brave and the Bold. Also, director Chris McKay wants to make a film because he's been trying to make a Nightwing film for a long time. Sadly it got cancelled but maybe he can be involved in Nightwing in the DCU.

The first season is influenced by a Knight for Bludhaven. 

So here is my fan cast for DCU Nightwing TV Series. 

Jamie Flatters as Dick Grayson/Nightwing 

I would cast an actor in his early 20s to mid-20s for the role of Nightwing. The film is about Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who now goes by Nightwing and wants to step out of Batman's shadow and become a hero in his own right. So following the events of Brave and the Bold, Nightwing decides to move to Bludhaven to become its protector, but he is warned by Batman that Bludhaven is much worse than Gotham. Dick, however, considers it a challenge and was taught by Bruce that he can do it. We would see Nightwing adjust to his new city, and Bludhaven does not like vigilantes. Also, Dick gets a job as a cop, and his reason is to find out which cops are corrupt and working for Blockbuster. Nightwing's first big foe is a crime lord named Blockbuster, who uses a special drug to make him a monster. Nightwing is a coming-of-age story focusing on Dick Grayson becoming his hero and making his own legacy. 

Sophia Lills as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl 

Barbara would be in the show not as a co-lead but as a supporting character who would appear in three episodes. Barbara learns about Nightwing leaving Gotham, and she doesn't want him to leave but understands at the same time why he's leaving. Barbara keeps in touch with Dick, and they are in a relationship. Barbara currently goes by Batgirl in the show. In the last two episodes, she comes to Bludhaven and learns something happened to Nightwing, which makes her just beat the crap of Tarantula. 

Alan Ritchson as Bruce Wayne/Batman

Batman only appears in two episodes, and he advises Dick on going to Bludhaven. He tells Dick that Bludhaven is more corrupted than Gotham, but Dick tells him he's up for the challenge. If Bruce can change Gotham, so can he for Bludhaven. Batman has concern for Dick going out on his own, but he sees that Dick is his own man, and he understands his reasons for wanting to protect his own city. Batman would appear in season two but only flashbacks to Dick's origin and the death of the Haley family and would appear when Nightwing tells him of the Court of Owls. 

Stephen Dillane as Alfred Pennyworth

Alfred appears for one episode, and he encourages Dick to go to Bludhaven. He believes that Dick will do a good job protecting Bludhaven and tells him Bruce struggled too with Gotham. He also gives Dick advice "Everyone's waiting for the hero to take the stage." quote is from the Batman and Robin comics. 

 Nathan Jones as Roland Desmond/Blockbuster 

Blockbuster is the main villain of the first season and would return in season three. Roland Desmond is the leader of the crime families in Bludhaven and one of the most dangerous criminals. Roland had a brother named Mark Desmond, who invented Blockbuster, a serum that increased strength and intelligence. Mark used the serum first. However, Mark didn't use it properly and died gruesomely from the serum. Roland then used it, but he learned from his brother's mistake this time. Using his new powers, he took over Bludhaven's criminal operations and became the crime lord of Bludhaven. Blockbuster will be Nightwing's first major foe to fight, and Blockbuster will be a real challenge for Nightwing as Blockbuster controls Bludhaven. Blockbuster is a good villain to start out with, Nightwing, as he is considered one of Nightwing's arch-enemies, along with Deathstroke and Talon, during the last fight between Nightwing and Blockbuster. Blockbuster mocks Nightwing, telling him he's not Batman and will always be a sidekick. Nightwing responds with this.

"You're right. I'm no Batman. But I'm close enough to shut you down." Nightwing Vol 2 7.

Luisa Rubino as Catalina Flores/Taratula 

Catalina Flores is a former FBI agent gone bad and goes by Tarantula. She works for Blockbuster as one of his top assassins and kills anyone who tries to stop him. Catalina is actually trying to kill Blockbuster because he killed her brother. Nightwing and Tarantula meet each other, and Nightwing doesn't like her killing people, but also he learns that she's also killing cops. The cops she's killed are corrupt and working for Blockbuster, but that doesn't justify killing them. Nightwing and Tarantula do have a one-night stand but let's just say it's not consensual because she forces it on Nightwing. That panel was one of the most infamous moments in comics and the worst thing to happen to Nightwing. Now if this show were being made, I don't know if they would adapt that scene because it's messed up and will likely upset viewers. But I would include Batgirl in the show, and she beats the shit out of Tarantula for what she did to Dick. 

Ditch Davey as Dudley Soames/Torque

Torque is Blockbuster's right hand and one of the worst cops in Bludhaven as he fed details to Blockbuster. However, Dudley wants to take over Bludhaven by getting rid of Blockbuster. Dudley wears mirror glasses after his neck got twisted by Roland's brother, and how he survived, he had his doctor give him a micro drug that healed him, but he could never move his neck in the right way again. 

Laurie Holden as Elise Svoboda 

Elise is a Lt in Bludhaven and one of the few good cops. She hates superheroes because she thinks they can do whatever they want for free instead of working hard. Elise is a good a woman but she's very tough and she doesn't like Nightwing. However, she agrees to work with him to finally stop Blockbuster once and for all. 

Emma Watson as Officer Amy Rohrbach 

Officer Amy Rohrbach is one of the few good officers in Bludhaven and she wants to help her city get better. Dick meets her and she admires Dick for his work as a cop and when Nightwing comes she is likes the idea of Bludhaven getting a hero. She is a married woman with three kids and her husband is a fireman. 

Marylon Wayne as Phil Addard 

Phil is a police officer in Bludhaven and one of the few good cops. He's been trying to take down Blockbuster for a longtime and he wants to save the police force from itself. In the end of the first season he takes over as Chief of Police and promises to end corruption in the Bludhaven the Police Department. 

Ross Lynch as Gannon Mallory 

Gannon is a friend of Dick Grayson and one of the few good cops in Bludheaven. 

Marcel Spears as Wallace Ebersol 

He works at the office at the Bludheaven Police Department. He is one of the few good cops but gets bullied by the other cops. 

Desmond Harrington as Detective Daniel Turpin

Daniel Turpin is a detective at Bludheaven Police Department unlike most cops he doesn't hate superheroes. He respects Nightwing and wants to get rid of the corruption of Bludheaven. 

Happy Anderson as Delmore Redhordn  

He is the chief of the police department in Bludheaven and is a corrupted man. He is secretly working with Blockbuster. 

Spencer Boldman as Mac Arnot 

Mac is a cop who joined the Bludheaven Police with Dick Grayson at first he seem liked a good cop but he's working for Blockbuster and is a total scumbag.

 Katherine Riordan as Erin Kellyman/Hella  

Erin Kellyman is a cop who is working for Blockbuster as one of his top assassins named Hella. She is be one of the foes Nightwing will fight and she wants to kill certain cops whom she blames for her family's death.

Jensen Ackles as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke 

Deathstroke would appear in the show but not until season three. He would be the main villain of the third season of Nightwing. He plans to kill Dick Grayson as they have a long history with each other. Deathstroke comes to Bludheaven to basically destroy it. He worked with Blockbuster and Nightwing would have huge epic fight against Deathstroke. 

Joey King as Starfire

Starfire would appear in season two and three of Nightwing and would be a love interest for Nightwing. She would appear in three episodes of season 2 and would be in season 3 helping Nightwing battle Deathstroke. I've always been more of a fan of Starfire and Nightwing romance than the Batgirl. Starfire loves Nightwing and we see their relationship start to grow and there would be no love triangle with her and Barbara over Dick because they don't want bad blood and Starfire knows about what happen to Nightwing and she respects Barbara for what she did to Tarantula for she would have done the same. She would be there for Dick after Haley dies and would help him fight Deathstroke in season three. 

Stephen Root as Mr. C.C Haley 

Mr. Haley would appear in the second season and he was a long time family friend of the Graysons. Dick Grayson saw him as a grandfather in his life. Haley comes to Bludheaven and he planned to tell Dick Grayson something until he was murdered by Saiko. Nightwing vowed avenge Haley and he learns that Haley left the circus to Nightwing. Nightwing would learn dark secrets about Haley Circus and their connection with the Court of Owls. However, Haley wouldn't give Dick to Talon and the Owls because he wanted Dick Grayson to live a better life with Bruce after his parents died.

Hank Azaria as Tony Zucco 

Tony Zucco is the man who killed Dick's parents out of anger towards Mr. Haley for not protecting him and his wife from the mob. So in return he sabatoage The Flying Graysons performance getting both John and Mary Grayson. Tony would appear in the second season as Dick learns he's still alive and that he is a married again and has two children. Talon offers the chance for Nightwing to kill him but Nightwing won't because he won't break that code that Batman taught him. 

Emily Carery as Raya  

Raya was an old childhood friend of Dick Grayson during his time at the Haley Circus. She plans to kill Dick Grayson and take over Haley Circus. 

Firass Dirani as Raptor 

Raptor would appear in season 2 of Nightwing as one of the villains. However, he would try to save Nightwing after learning he is Mary Grayson's son. Raptor and Mary were in love at one point but grew apart but he made a promise he watch over Dick Grayson as he was the last thing he had to remember Mary by. He became a member of the Owls and later left and became Raptor. He would learn Nightwing is Dick Grayson and he would turn against Talon and die saving Nightwing from Talon. 

Abigail Cowen as Double Dare 

Double Dare would appear in season two of Nightwing but only two episodes. They are basically going to be Leaper was in Captain America Winter Soldier. The appear in episode one robbing a bank and fight Nightwing the twins flirt with him and try to seduce him but Nightwing blocks it out and takes them out and arrests them. I would have both characters played by one actor just use special effects because the two of them are twins after all. 

Barrett Carnahan as Raymond McCreary/Saiko  

Raymond was a friend of Dick Grayson as a childhood friend until he was supposedly died. He was turned into a Talon and took the name Saiko. He and Raya both seek to kill Dick Grayson and take over Haley Circus. 

Taylor Kitsch as Talon 

Talon would be in the second season as the main villain of season two. Talon is revealed to be Dick's great great grandfather and he planned to train Dick to become a Talon. He even a deal with Haley Circus to make Dick into a Talon however, that never happened Bruce Wayne adopted Dick and Mr. Haley couldn't bring himself to hand over Dick to Talon. 

Now here are my ideas for a Nightwing show. 

11. Nightwing stepping out of Batman's Shadow

Nightwing has always been a fan favorite in the Bat family, and he's become one of DC's most important characters. Nightwing will likely be in Brave and the Bold and play a supporting role. Making a show about the character would further explore the character. Nightwing wants to be a hero in his own right and not be in Batman's shadow. Dick Grayson does love Bruce like a father, and I don't see any bad blood between the two. When Nightwing goes to Bludheaven, he tells Bruce he wants to be a hero in his own right, and Batman supports that. It shows how good of a relationship these two have as father and son.  

10. Nightwing becoming a mentor to Damian Wayne aka the new Robin.

That is something we should see besides Batman being a mentor to his son Damian. We see Dick Grayson as an older brother figure to Damian. I would have Robin in the third season as Damian helps Nightwing battle Deathstroke, and I can see Nightwing having Robin join the Teen Titans. 

9. Let's see Nightwing with his best friend Wally West aka The Flash

Unlike Batman, Nightwing is more up to smiling and has a funny side. I want scenes where he interacts with other DC characters like Wally West, his best friend in the comics. It would be great to see these two together on screen as they both become heroes in their own right. 

8. Nightwing and Batgirl's relationship in the show and with Starfire

Nightwing has a long romantic history, and the big two are with Batgirl and Starfire. I'm more of a fan of the Starfire romance and would include that in future stories like Teen Titans. Batgirl would appear in the first season, and I wrote her story, and Starfire would be in the second season as Nightwing starts to rekindle his romance with her. 

7. A Coming of Age series and Nightwing like Batman should be an important character in the DCU.

Nightwing should be an important character in the DCU, and Gunn will make him that. Nightwing project is a good idea because it can be a coming-of-age story. We are getting Dick Grayson and Jason Todd's original film called Dynamic Duo, which explains both origins of the characters as Robin. This is kind of interesting, but moving forward, I think a Nightwing project would show Dick becoming a hero in his own right. The series would be 10 episodes long and an hour each. 

6. Showing the corruption of Bludheaven 

Bludheaven is considered one of the worst cities in DC comics, like Winnipeg, which is safer by comparison. We would see Nightwing struggling to protect this corrupt city that hates superheroes. 

5. We would see Haley Circus in season two and we would see Dick Grayson learn about his past. 

Season two would explore more of Dick Grayson's life at Haley Circus as well. We would see him reunite with his family, but in a twist, he learns dark secrets about Haley Circus. He would also face off against Tony Zucco, the man who killed his parents, and we would see Nightwing at one point wanting to kill Zucco but remembering Batman's lessons of no killing. Nightwing would fight his great great grandfather Talon and defeat him. 

4. Season Three would he face off against Deathstroke 

Deathstroke is one of Nightwing's arch-enemies, and the two must fight. So, in season three, I would make Deathstroke the main villain and plan to kill Nightwing by destroying Bludheaven and everything he's working on to fix the city. They have been enemies for a long time since Nightwing was the leader of the Teen Titans. So they have a long, bloody history with each other. As well Deathstroke would get help from Blockbuster, Tarantula, and Raptor. 

3. Season Two would have Talon as the main villain and setting up the Court of Owls

Season Two would adopt the Court of Owls arc in which Nightwing learns that Talon is his great-great-grandfather and wants to make Nightwing a Talon like him. Nightwing doesn't like that, but Talon won't take no for an answer, so he plans to work with people in Haley Circus to kill Nightwing. Talon was the one who killed Haley out of anger for sending him away from him. Season 2 could set up a sequel Brave and the Bold movie based on The Court of Owls. I would love to see that happen. 

2. Nightwing show could set up Teen Titans film and Titans

As I said, a Teen Titans film is in the works, and I can see them setting it up with Nightwing or having him as a team member. They could have him mentor the new team along with Starfire and make a Titans film with the older team now grown up, like Nightwing, Flash (Wally West), Donna Troy, Red Arrow, Tempest, and Bumblebee. 

1. Set up Nightwing to become the new Batman in the DCU.

Now this one thing I do want to see in the DCU is setting up Dick Grayson as the new Batman of the DCU, depending on how far they get with the phases. At the end of phase three of the DCU, I can see them killing off Bruce Wayne, but he dies a hero, and you, the Bat-family, mourn his death. They decide what should become of the Batman. A good film to adapt would be Battle for the Cowl. Unless they choose to skip that at the end of Justice League 3 or 4, we see Dick Grayson decide to continue Bruce's work as Batman. 

I would love to see this scene adapted on screen because Batman is an idea, and Dick won't replace Bruce because if he's Batman, he will do it his way. Batman is an idea that when you put on the cowl, you choose to be what Batman represents to so many. I can see a scene where Nightwing and the Bat-family mourn Bruce, but then Alfred tells Nightwing that he can't let them have a funeral for Bruce because it destroys the idea of Batman. He tells Dick that Gotham needs Batman no matter who it is. To which Dick says, "You're Right, I shouldn't be here."

This scene would be a perfect ending to Batman, in which Dick goes to stop a crime as the new Batman.

Dick Grayson becomes the new Batman, with Damian as his Robin. It would be cool to make a Batman film with Dick Grayson or someone as the new Batman. Then Brave and the Bold 4 can be based on the Batman and Robin comic by Grant Morrison, and we get a new trilogy with a new Batman and Robin. 

That's my fan cast and ideas for a Nightwing DCU project I hope get one in the future.