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Michael Jai White Says His Black Panther Movie "Would make You Forget About Batman"

Frequently fan cast in the role, White reveals in an interview that he would like to not only play Black Panther, but direct the movie too. And he says his version would change the genre..

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By Mark "RorMachine" Cassidy - 3/20/2011
In a great, in depth interview with Scott Tre over at his blog, the martial artist and actor Michael Jai White reveals that he is every bit as passionate about Black Panther as the many fans of his that would love nothing more than to see him in the role..



Scott Tre: If a major studio were to give you two hundred million dollars to make a movie and gave you complete creative control, what kind of movie would you make? What would be the ultimate Michael Jai White star vehicle?

Michael Jai White: If I had two hundred million I’d make like ten movies out of that (laughs). I would definitely make the Paul Robeson story. That would be my drama. I’d make Black Panther. I would do something with Black Panther that would make you forget about Batman. I guarantee you, if I got a chance to do Black Panther, everything would change. The genre would change.


Ok, I'm sold. Someone give this man his money! But seriously, I do think White could be great as T'Challa. We know marvel have commissioned a script and will be moving on the movie at some point but nothing has been heard or even rumored in the way of a director or star. White is only one of many actors to throw their hat in the ring too. Wesley Snipes has been campaigning for the role for years, and both Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Djimon Hounsou have also expressed interest.

White has played a comic book character before in Spawn and appeared in The Dark Knight as Gambol. You can see him next as Jax in the Mortal Kombat web series.

Source: Scott Tre Blog
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avenger89 - 3/20/2011, 9:03 PM
he did play spawn and he was on the dark knight
longbowhunter - 3/20/2011, 9:07 PM
I cant wrap my head around the reason there isnt already a Black Panther movie.
Cross - 3/20/2011, 9:10 PM
I want a new Spawn movie too.
Marikina - 3/20/2011, 9:15 PM
Christopher Priest's run would make for a good espionage/political thriller. Plus you could link it to Shane Black's Iron Man, which would be of the same vein.
Batman15 - 3/20/2011, 9:16 PM
He just mad cause he got killed by Joker haha
TorturedXGenius - 3/20/2011, 9:17 PM
now is the time for a Black Panther movie...it should be on the fast track for Post-Avengers release something in 2013 or 2014 cuz it is the time of the Panther.... you want a big star? Denzel Washington for T'Chaka...have someone relatively young for T'Challa

i would rather see Jai White as Luke Cage if anyone in the MARVEL universe
Reasonnnn - 3/20/2011, 9:22 PM
I wonder if Marvel Studios has him on their radar.
Hellkat1979 - 3/20/2011, 9:24 PM
I like Michael. He always plays a growly badass, so i didnt really know him or care about him as an actor, but after seeing Black Dynamite i really got a sense of who he is creatively. Really smart guy, super calm, takes care of himself mentally and physically. Guys got like ten black belts in various martial arts. Crazy.
MaddMonkk - 3/20/2011, 9:26 PM
Please Please. I hope this happens sooo bad, He is a very good actor and has the skill to pull off a lot of stunts.Please Please.
DBeck - 3/20/2011, 9:29 PM
Anyone watch Lights Out? Eamonn Walker is one of the most intense actors out there. I'd love to see him in BP
Sortis - 3/20/2011, 9:31 PM
I say give him a shot
Ranger14 - 3/20/2011, 9:31 PM
I would have liked him as Black Panther about 10-15 years ago. T'Challa shouldn't be in his 40's, at least not if it is going to be an origin type of movie, which you think they would need to do first.
spideyboy - 3/20/2011, 9:34 PM
He would be a great Black Panther, but I don't think he be a good director.
supertrackmonkey - 3/20/2011, 9:34 PM
I like him as an actor, but not as a leading actor. He is much better in supporting roles.
ckal - 3/20/2011, 9:42 PM
Michael Jai White is the man. The guy is just awesome. Even though he is a bit older he is in unbelievable shape, plus he is a master in some martial arts which is perfect for the Black Panther role.


I'd like to see a new Spawn movie, but not one with this retarded vision Todd McFarlane has.
BLADE4040 - 3/20/2011, 9:48 PM
All of the leading blk male actors are well into their
40's and not a good choice for the PANTHER in my opinion.

I say go with a up and comer 21-30yrs old for the Panther,
but go w/Hounson for T'Chaka and White as Blade or Cage.
kookevin3 - 3/20/2011, 9:53 PM
He should be Blade or Luke Cage instead of Black Panther.
NeoBaggins - 3/20/2011, 9:55 PM
I like Michael Jai. He has a certain charisma about himself. Unfortunately, I can't ignore the fact that he can't act for shit. He over acts in everything he's in and the only time his acting worked was in Black Dynamite- Because it was a comedy and he pretty much just acts as he normally does. It's only natural that he talk shit about producing a great BP film, but we all know that that is absurd.

He would make a laughable Black Panther with his overly dramatic and unintentionally comedic delivery.
patriautism - 3/20/2011, 10:00 PM
I'm for Chiwetel Ejiofor as T'challa. White would be a much better Luke Cage IMO.
CapistheMan - 3/20/2011, 10:03 PM
I don't mind him trying his hand at directing BP, he sounds like he's definitely got the passion and drive to do it justice. But I just don't see him as T'Challa. I see him more as Luke Cage. And @TorturedXGenius, great point! Having Denzel as T'Chaka is a great idea. Great actor and he would give it some big name star appeal to help the movie interest the general audience.
ScottTre - 3/20/2011, 10:13 PM
This is Scott Tre. Thanks for taking the time to read the interview. Micheal is a talented and down to earth guy. He was a joy to interview. Believe me when I say he is very much capable of fulfilling his ambitions. I expect him to star in an action vehicle that will take the mainstream by storm in the next few years.

I urge anyone who has not seen "Blood and Bone" or "Black Dynamite" already to do so immediately. You will not be dissapointed!
LoudLon - 3/20/2011, 10:17 PM
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje or White, either would be fantastic in my book. Both are very capable actors just waiting for their big, star-making role. Adewale was fantastic on Oz, and if you haven't seen White's movie Black Dynamite, you're missing out on one of the best satires of 70s blaxploitation.

Either one of them. Bring it on.
Rodimus9 - 3/20/2011, 10:39 PM
OMG he's a horrible actor!! How does he still get work? Spawn and TDK are the only movies I recall seeing him in and He was shit in both.
ISeeStupidPeople - 3/20/2011, 10:57 PM
Ooh, I'd completely forgotten about Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity!), yeah, he'd be an okay choice too, but I'm definitely hoping for Djimon Hounsou.

White should probably aim for Cage (although his abilities as a martial artist would suit him better for Black Panther admittedly).
NiteSoul69 - 3/20/2011, 11:39 PM
i dont know alot about black panther, but the little i do know makes me wanna see a black panther movie, his story seems very interesting and with the connections to the avengers and capts shield material etc., it would fit nicely. dont know if MJW would be right, give him an audition and any others that are interested and lets get this movie made:)
Jer3miah - 3/20/2011, 11:42 PM
I'd give him the money, myself, if I had it, lol.
CyborgNinja - 3/21/2011, 12:04 AM
What he hell, am I the only one that thinks this guy can't freakin act? Yeah, you know all the movie's he was in. He was the suck ass actor. Spawn= clown was the only redeemable character in that movie. Universal Soldier The Return-Sorry, he sucked as a cyborg super comp, Dark Knight-He had 4 mins of screen time and I couldn't wait for him to go! And yeah, saw him as Jax and groaned... Yeah, I hate that hollywood even continues to cast this guy.

Damn right the genre will change. It will be forever scarred and deformed by the horrible dribble bound to come from this guy!

Djimon or other such for the win...not that I care to see a black panther movie anyway...
CyborgNinja - 3/21/2011, 12:13 AM
@ScottTre

Sorry dude, but if he had the talent and acting chops, he would have already starred in serious action movies. Notice how he hasn't? I'm sure he's a cool dude and all, but I just don't dig his acting.
albieg25 - 3/21/2011, 12:46 AM
^^^ @CyborgNinja as a true Michael Jai fan i seen all of his movies but one or two and loved them but he gets work cuz he directs and produces most of his own movies, on shitty budgets that why he said he could make 10 movies on 200 Mil.
LP4 - 3/21/2011, 12:57 AM
@Michael Jai White- Tell that to WB ;P

@BLADE4040- You mean...'T-Chala' ...right? Not 'T-Chaka'

0_o
BatLantern - 3/21/2011, 1:04 AM
@RODIMUS9 I know your trollin' it but gosh you couldent be more wrong ...nolan picks shitty actors ??or was he just pandering to the spawn fans?!?F-ing Dik .lose much? (oh god here I go)get beat up much, to bad its not for somthing worth it like CB's eh Optopuss ...
TruePunishment - 3/21/2011, 1:18 AM
@LP4 T'Chaka is T'Chala's faather. He's talking about who will play his dad.
Rodimus9 - 3/21/2011, 1:19 AM
Batlantern@ no where in there did you make any sense.
JohnTom88 - 3/21/2011, 1:21 AM
Chiwetel Ejiofor is better as T'Challa. He is not a show off like Michael Jai White and T'Challa is not a show off.

Please... people who are still hoping Djimon as T'Challa , today is not 2005 anymore. Djimon is too old to be T'Challa.

Rodimus9 - 3/21/2011, 1:30 AM
Ralph @ they have Obama...giggle giggle


FYM! ;-)
ThePublicMessages - 3/21/2011, 2:19 AM
NO HE SUCKS HARD!!! Would rather have Tyler Perry direct this film instead....



The14thAvenger - 3/21/2011, 2:28 AM
THIS GUYS NEEEEEEEEDS TO BE LUKE CAGE!!!!

HAQ - 3/21/2011, 3:06 AM
I believe him.
tracydavis001 - 3/21/2011, 3:30 AM
No way , he can't act good enough !!
Coldblood6 - 3/21/2011, 3:45 AM
Whilst MJW is not known for his great acting, he is not that bad and a great director is able to bring good acting out of mediocre actors.


The issue with the Black Panther movie is simply this. Movies with black actors as the main star/character do not achieve blockbuster status in America. Only DW movies cross the 100 million BO mark and only rarely. Even the Blade movies never crossed 100 million.

Thus choosing the correct budget for this film is critical. Fifty million is probably the most a studio will be willing to risk and these days how much good VFX are you going to get with that.

It would probably make more sense to introduce the character in Avengers II. Make him really impressive, i.e., a physical match to CA and an intellectual match to Tony Stark. If the character catches on with the general public then make a solo movie spin-off where a 70 - 100 million budget can be risked.
Godzillafart - 3/21/2011, 3:54 AM
Great pick, except although he is in great shape, he is 44. Could he keep that shape up for sequels?
marvel72 - 3/21/2011, 4:17 AM
i ain't got a problem with him playing the black panther,but directing it is a no no.
Watcher - 3/21/2011, 4:36 AM
Who is Batman?
98speedboy - 3/21/2011, 4:38 AM
how the heck are you going to beat batman with an african man
SageMode - 3/21/2011, 4:48 AM
I could definitely see Michael Jai White as Black Panther.

Id rather see Henry Simmons as Luke Cage.
IncredibleRulk - 3/21/2011, 5:34 AM
Black Panther is not realy a big comic book character. I mean neither where Thor and Iron Man but look how they have turned out.

However I do not see a Black Panther movie having the same reaction. I would say stick in him the Avengers movie.
MrSuperheromoviefan - 3/21/2011, 6:03 AM
Forget Batman? Seriously?
StrangerX - 3/21/2011, 6:22 AM
I don't see him as Black Panther, but he could def be Luke Cage with Garrett Hedlund as Iron Fist.
BIGBMH - 3/21/2011, 6:40 AM
I seriously laughed out loud.
DoodPool - 3/21/2011, 6:41 AM
He would be a great Black Panther, or any other role you wanna stick him in to be honest. He could probably make THE FALCON look cool. he was the first spawn! also black dynamite lol
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