Yesterday, Marvel announced that Sherlock star Martin Freeman has joined Captain America: Civil War. Unfortunately for fans, they were unwilling to disclose who he will play, leading to much speculation regarding this mystery player’s identity (our primary guess was Norman Osborn). However, only a day later, this mystery may already have been solved, and if this rumor is legitimate, Freeman won’t be a hero or a villain, but rather a government employee.
According to Latino-Review, Freeman will play an interrogator in Captain America: Civil War, and he will reprise this role in Black Panther. If all of this is true, this would make Freeman the second actor known to be appearing in Black Panther aside from Chadwick Boseman as the titular character. Although the name of Freeman’s character isn’t known, it’s speculated he might be Everett Ross, a U.S. government agent assigned to Wakanda. While the name might not sound familiar to most, Ross is actually a character from the comics who works for the U.S. ambassador to Wakanda and is one of the United States’ leading experts on the African country, not to mention friends with its king, T’Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther.
Captain America: Civil War will see heroes from around the MCU battle each other over the passing of the Superhuman Registration Act. Needless to say this will involve a big government presence, possibly more than in any other Marvel film thus far, so Freeman playing an interrogator certainly makes sense. If various powered people are captured (in the U.S. at least) for not registering with the government, Freeman would be the one who interrogates them and maybe even determines how much of a threat they are. Perhaps this character could succeed Phil Coulson (who is currently starring in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as the everyman agent who deals with extraordinary individuals, but portrayed in a slightly more antagonistic light.
As for the possible Black Panther connection, since the superhero is also making his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, having Freeman be connected to him would serve as a good way to set up 2018’s Black Panther. It’s been reported that T’Challa will have his own agenda separate from the two factions of heroes in the film, so whatever the African king has planned, it may result in Freeman’s Ross (or whoever the character is) following him to the solo film, where their relationship will be further fleshed out.
You can see Freeman alongside the rest of Captain America: Civil War’s gigantic cast when the film hits theaters on May 6, 2016.
