As of late, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been expanding at truly impressive rates. With us now knee deep into Phase Three, the MCU will finally begin focusing on more diverse stories. Women will come to the forefront of the MCU through Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and the Wasp, younger and ethnically inclusive stories will be told through Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Black Panther will feature an outstanding cast of black actors that only grows more impressive with each casting announcement. Every few weeks we are shown another actor who will be joining Black Panther's cast, and now This is Us actor Sterling K. Brown has revealed yet another fantastic black actress who will be joining the ensemble.
Sterling K. Brown recently sat down to chat with the folks over at The Undefeated about his career, and various acting projects. When asked about how he felt about joining the cast of Black Panther, Brown revealed that he's thrilled to be in the company of such fantastic actors. Unfortunately he also let slip that Phylicia Rashad was involved, as well.
I just worked with Chad on a film called Marshall, about Thurgood Marshall. He's such a talented human being and a deep soul. He's the perfect personality to fully inhabit T'Challa. So, to rejoin him, and to work with Academy Award winners ... to be with Michael B. Jordan after the incredible work he's done in Creed. Danai Gurira, Phylicia Rashad, Forest Whitaker --- like, it's embarrassing.
Uh oh. Phylicia Rashad hasn't been officially announced as a Black Panther cast member, but Sterling K. Jones totally let the cat out of the bag. I wonder if that's a bad way to start a working relationship with Marvel Studios.
Phylicia Rashad will be joining a cast of absolutely outstanding African-American actors in Black Panther. Leading the charge is Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther/T'Challa, who was introduced in Captain America: Civil War. Joining Boseman is The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira, American Horror Story's Angela Bassett, Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong'o, Creed's Michael B. Jordan, Forest Whitaker, Sterling K. Jones, and now Phylicia Rashad.
Phylicia Rashad is a well established TV, film, and theater actress. Many audiences known Rashad best from playing Clair Huxtable on long-running sitcom The Cosby Show, as well as her roles in Creed, For Colored Girls, and Good Deeds. Rashad has the distinction of being the first black woman to ever win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in A Raisin in the Sun. So while the cast of Black Panther might be universally respected, Rashad is similarly celebrated.
Black Panther will hit theaters on February 16th, 2018.
