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Black Panther cast, characters, and actors

We break down the complete Black Panther cast list, from Martin Freeman and Winston Duke to Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright, and their roles in the MCU.

Black Panther cast: Chadwick Boseman,

Who’s in the Black Panther cast? Most of the stars of the exceptional first Black Panther movie returned for Wakanda Forever, which was a superhero movie shot through with a sense of grief, as well as a return to Wakanda and its technological utopia.

The MCU collective has never produced such a vibrant and well-lived world than that of Wakanda. So it’s worth getting to know those who live there. In The Digital Fix’s Black Panther 2 review, our own Charlotte Colombo wrote that the superhero movie was a spell-binding meditation on grief that transcends just any pre-conceived notions you might have.

A highlight when watching the Marvel movies in order, to be sure. Of course, it’s been a few years since we last visited Wakanda, so we thought it might be useful to remind you exactly who’s in the Black Panther cast.

The main Black Panther cast

Here are all the main players in the Black Panther cast:

  • Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther
  • Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger
  • Martin Freeman as Everett Ross
  • Winston Duke as M’Baku
  • Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/Ironheart
  • Angela Bassett as Ramonda
  • Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia
  • Danai Gurira as Okoye
  • Tenoch Huerta as Namor
  • Letitia Wright as Shuri
  • Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi
  • Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue

Black Panther cast: Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther

Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther

T’Challa is the king of Wakanda. The role was passed onto him after the tragic death of his father (as depicted in Captain America: Civil War), where he was forced to take up the mantle and solidify himself as both a ruler and a vigilante. The role of the Black Panther is one of legacy and has been handed down to warriors throughout the years. His abilities come from an extremely high-tech suit that contains vibranium, most commonly found in Wakanda.

Chadwick Boseman’s filmography is sadly rather short as a result of his death at 43 years old. However, he did star in some excellent projects and made it clear that his skills and ability to step into a character was Hollywood worthy. Most notably, he starred in the sports movie 42, the James Brown biopic Get On Up, and the Netflix movie Da 5 Bloods. His final role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom also earned him a posthumous  Oscar nomination.

Black Panther cast: Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger

Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger

When it comes to Killmonger, this villain’s motivation is a family affair. Killmonger, also known as Erik Stevens, is a long-lost cousin of T’Challa. His father was killed by his uncle, the original king of Wakanda. Erik then spent his life and time in the Navy to train himself, preparing to dethrone his cousin and take over the nation of Wakanda. His nickname came from when he joined a black-ops unit, where he had numerous confirmed kills to his name.

Michael B. Jordan is a name you should know, mostly because he’s the man who revived the Rocky franchise. Having starred in his own spin-off movie series, Creed, he also most recently directed Creed III. But the Black Panther movie isn’t his only superhero adventure since he also starred as Johnny Storm in 2015’s Fantastic Four. Aside from this, he’s also guest-starred in plenty of TV series, including The Wire, CSI, and Cold Case.

Black Panther cast: Martin Freeman as Everett Ross

Martin Freeman as Everett Ross

Martin Freeman first appeared in the role of former CIA agent Everett Ross in Civil War, and he would later reprise it in both Black Panther 1 and 2. Black Panther 2. He’s a man definitely out of his element when he’s pulled into a battle for the fate of Wakanda. At first, T’Challa and Ross clearly don’t always see eye-to-eye, but Ross ends up supporting T’Challa when the latter eventually decides to start sharing Wakanda’s wealth and resources with the world.

Freeman is probably best known for his work on the comedy series The Office and for playing John Watson on the BBC Sherlock show. However, he’s also a veteran movie actor starring, and arguably his biggest role to date was playing Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, a prequel to the Lord of the Rings movies. You can see him most recently in the new Marvel series Secret Invasion.

Black Panther cast: Winston Duke as M'Baku

Winston Duke as M’Baku

Winston Duke has played M’Baku, the leader of the proud and imperious Mountain Tribe, across four MCU movies now — including Black Panther, Infinity War, Endgame, and Wakanda Forever.

A relative newcomer to the world of acting, Duke got his start appearing on TV series like Law and Order, Modern Family, and Person of Interest. Outside the MCU, he starred in Jordan Peele’s horror movie Us. Oh, and a fun fact: he also played Batman on the podcast Batman Buried.

Black Panther cast:Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/Ironheart

Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams / Ironheart

The newest inductee to the Marvel Hall of Fame (for now at least), Dominique Thorne, is Riri Williams, a genius MIT student who finds herself dragged into Wakanda’s war against the Talokans. Her first appearance is in Black Panther 2, though we expect to see her plenty in the upcoming Marvel slate.

Thorne’s filmography isn’t exactly a long read (she’s only appeared in two major movies, not including Black Panther 2), but it’s all about quality over quantity. In her brief career, she’s managed to star in not one but two impeccable drama movies, If Beale Street Could Talk and Judas and the Black Messiah. You’ll see Thorne next in her upcoming MCU sci-fi series Ironheart.

Black Panther cast: Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda

Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda

Angela Bassett plays Queen Ramonda, arguably the most powerful in Wakanda and one of our favorite MCU characters. As the mother of T’Challa, Queen Ramonda is supportive and loving but also a force to be reckoned with. She has a leading role in Black Panther 2 following Boseman’s untimely death, and her character struggles with grief while also having to run a country.

A living legend and an icon of the silver screen, Bassett’s career stretched back to the ’80s, but her big break came in 1992 when she starred in Malcolm X, where she played Betty Shabazz, the wife of the titular human rights activist.

She followed this up by playing Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It, which saw her nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. From there, her career’s gone from strength to strength, and she’s worked with everyone from Robert Zemeckis to Eddie Murphy and even Ryan Reynolds. You may also know her as part of Ryan Murphy’s rotating American Horror Story cast, starring in five of the 11 seasons.

Black Panther cast: Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia

Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia

Lupita Nyong’o plays the War Dog Nakia, the love of T’Challa’s life and the person (with a bit of help from Killmonger) who opened the king’s eyes to the dangers of shutting Wakanda away from the world. A magnificent actor, Nyong’o cut her teeth treading the boards, first appearing on Broadway when she was just a teenager. Her performance in Eclipsed even saw her nominated for a Tony Award.

Outside of the MCU, Nyong’o is best known for her debut feature film, 12 Years A Slave, where she played Patsey. Awards clearly follow Nyong’o like puddles follow rain because she won a Best Supporting Actress award for the film. You may also know Nyong’o from the Star Wars movies, where she plays the alien Maz Kanata.

Black Panther cast: Danai Gurira as Okoye

Danai Gurira as Okoye

Okoye, the leader of Wakanda’s most powerful military unit, the Dora Milaje, is brought to life by the spectacular Danai Gurira. When it comes to Okoye, she will serve her king by any means necessary and is able to show off some exemplary combat skills in the field. Loyal and fierce, Okoye is someone you would definitely want on your side.

Gurira’s got a resume a mile long, but arguably, the job that put her on the map was playing Michonne in the horror series The Walking Dead. Aside from the MCU and The Walking Dead, Gurira played Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, in All Eyez on Me. Fun fact: She also wrote the Broadway play Eclipsed that saw Nyong’o nominated for a Tony Award; there’s no jealousy, though. Gurira also got nominated.

Black Panther cast:Tenoch Huerta as Namor

Tenoch Huerta as Namor

The rule of the Talokans and a powerful warrior, Namor, is brought to life by Tenoch Huerta in Black Panther 2. Huerta’s been acting in Spanish-language films since the early 2000s. Still, English-speaking audiences were probably introduced to him when he worked with Cary Joji Fukunaga on the film Sin Nombre.

Since then, his notable credits include the horror fantasy movie Tigers Are Not Afraid, The 33, and The Forever Purge. Huerta also played real-life cartel member “Rafa” Quintero on the Netflix series Narcos: Mexico.

Black Panther cast:Letitia Wright as Shuri

Letitia Wright as Shuri

Letitia Wright captured the hearts of Marvel fans when she appeared in Black Panther as T’Challa’s brilliant and bold sister, Shuri. A young tech wizard, Shuri is responsible for most of the equipment used by Black Panther and is clearly an asset to the nation of Wakanda. In Black Panther 2, she ends up taking on an even larger role following the fictional death of her brother and the real-life passing of Chadwick Boseman.

Like so many young British actors, Wright got her to start appearing on Holby City, but she followed it up with a string of incredible roles on shows like Top Boy, Doctor Who, and most notably, Mangrove, which was part of the BBC’s Small Axe anthology.

Wright broke through into film with Urban Hymn, which saw BAFTA name her one of 2015’s Breakthrough Stars. Outside of the MCU, she’s starred in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One, the animated movie Sing 2, and Death on the Nile.

Black Panther cast:Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi

Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi

W’Kabi was a member of the Border Tribe and one of T’Challa’s closest friends. Unfortunately, when T’Challa failed to capture Klaue, the pair had a falling out, and W’Kabi would ultimately side with Killminger during the Wakandan Civil War. As a result of joining the coup, W’Kabi was banished from court and spent the events of Wakanda Forever with his tribe.

In real life, the inimitable Daniel Kaluuya played W’Kabi in Black Panther, and he would have returned for Wakanda Forever if it wasn’t for a scheduling conflict. Kaluuya got his start in the hit TV series Skins in the UK, but he’s gone on to become a mega-star, most notably appearing in the Jordan Peele movies Get Out and Nope.

Perhaps his most impressive achievement, though is winning the  Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Fred Hampton in the amazing Judas and the Black Messiah. You can see him next (Or hear him at least) when the Beyond the Spider-Verse release date rolls around.

Black Panther cast:Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue

Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue

A gangster and arms dealer, Ulysses Klaue is a long-time enemy of the Wakandan people who constantly tries to plunder their precious vibranium to build super weapons (Like Ultron). Still, Klaue ultimately bit off more than he could chew when he teamed up with Killmonger, who murdered the criminal to gain safe passage into Wakanda.

Serkis got his start acting in the mid-’90s, but his big break came when he was asked to play the filthiest of the Lord of the Rings characters, Gollum. This performance put Serkis on the map, and he’s gone on to play Caesar in the new Planet of the Apes trilogy, King Kong, and the controversial Star Wars villain Snoke. Most recently, Serkis served as the Alfred to Robert Pattinson’s Batman and directed Venom 2.

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Everyone in the Black Panther cast

Here’s everyone in the Black Panther 1 and 2 cast list, from main actors to all the supporting stars:

  • Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther
  • Ashton Tyler plays a young T’Challa
  • Michael B. Jordan as N’Jadaka / Erik “Killmonger” Stevens
  • Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia
  • Danai Gurira as Okoye
  • Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross
  • Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi
  • Letitia Wright as Shuri
  • Winston Duke as M’Baku
  • Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu
  • Angela Bassett as Ramonda
  • Forest Whitaker as Zuri
  • Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue
  • Florence Kasumba as Ayo
  • John Kani as T’Chaka
  • Atandwa Kani as young T’Chaka
  • Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams
  • Michaela Coel as Aneka
  • Mabel Cadena as Namora
  • Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

If you want to know more about the world of Wakanda, check out our guide breaking down who the best Black Panther characters are, or we have an article explaining exactly what Vibranium is. Finally, we’ve had a look at potential new movies and broken down everything we know about the Black Panther 3 release date.

Or, for the next steps in the MCU as part of Marvel’s Phase 5, take a look at the Loki season 2 release date and The Marvels release date. Oh, and the Echo release date and the Captain America 4 release date, too.