This story is actually a couple of days old, but has kind of slipped under the radar (mine at least). Academy Award-nominated actor and former Anthony Heald fire axe depository, Djimon Hounsou, is set to voice the Black Panther for the new Marvel / BET animated series. The toon is set to be adapted from the 2005 comics run which was penned by director (House Party), producer, writer and current BET president Reginald Hudlin. Hudlin’s run on the character included the 2006 storyline, “Bride of the Panther”, where the Wakandan chief bagged Storm of the X-Men as his missus.
Black Panther marks Marvel Studios’ first foray into primetime animation. Said Hounsou of the character, “It’s a blessing for African Americans and minorities to have a superhero they can identify with.” The character was created in 1966 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in a Fantastic Four issue. Hounsou has most recently been seen in Ed Zwick’s Blood Diamond, Eragon and Never Back Down (although I’m sure he’s trying to put that behind him). He’s next slated to appear in Paul McGuigan’s Push and Julie Taymor’s The Tempest as Caliban.
No word if any of the other Morlocks will be appearing in that one.