Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Black Panther captivated audiences worldwide with its compelling story and remarkable cast. Starring the late Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the superhero masterpiece introduced MCU fans to a vibrant and technologically advanced nation hidden from the world. However, what many might not know is that the project was conceived years ago in the 1990s with Wesley Snipes set to play the lead.
It wasn’t until 2018 that the long-awaited Black Panther project came to fruition, setting new standards with its diverse creative team and predominantly Black cast. And in an interview with Collider, Wesley Snipes revealed the initial objectives of the film.
Wesley Snipes on why he could not become the Black Panther
Released in 2018, Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther recorded a worldwide collection of $1 billion. Moreover, the movie was also nominated in the Best Picture category at the Oscars. Hence, losing out on such a successful project cannot be easy for anyone. Then, how did Wesley Snipes not make it to the screens as Black Panther?
Answering the rumors surrounding Snipes being originally considered for the lead in Black Panther, the Blade actor said,
“That is absolutely true, and we had three scripts, three versions of scripts written when we held the rights to Black Panther. That was in the early ’90s. Maybe ’92, ’93, ’94, in that area somewhere.”
Moreover, he went on to explain why exactly the project did not come to fruition.
Wesley Snipes explains why Black Panther was ‘hard to make’ back then
Explaining how the nineties Hollywood did not boast the same technology that it has today, Snipes explained that the name Black Panther itself proved to be a hurdle in the materialization of the concept. He said,
“We didn’t have the technology we have now. Pixar didn’t exist. None of the things, the CGI capabilities that we have now existed, and you know, people… Even the thought of the name Black Panther in the zeitgeist of Hollywood had a reference to the national revolutionary group versus the comic book. So it was hard to make. Long story long, we didn’t end up making it, the rights went back, converted back, and then Blade came along. [I] rocked with that.”
Moreover, he added that even though he did not get the chance to be a part of the project, he believes that it can be a catalyst for change. Snipes continued,
“Even though I am not a part of this particular project, I support it 1,000%, and I am absolutely convinced that it will be a catalyst for change and open other doors and other opportunities.”
There is no doubt that Chadwick Boseman left an indelible mark with his performance in the 2018 Black Panther. However, it is interesting to think what the franchise might have been if the project starring Wesley Snipes might have actually succeeded.
Source: Collider
