'Black Panther' Taps 'Person of Interest' Actor Winston Duke to Play Villain M'Baku

M’Baku vs. Black Panther (Courtesy of Marvel Comics)

By Justin Kroll, Variety

Person of Interest actor Winston Duke has landed the key role of the villain M’Baku — aka Man-Ape — in Marvel’s upcoming Black Panther film starring Chadwick Boseman.

Marvel declined to comment.

The film, directed by Creed helmer Ryan Coogler, also stars Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyong’o. Boseman will play T’Challa, the prince of the African nation of Wakanda, who must take over the mantel after his father’s murder. Marvel unveiled the character in Captain America: Civil War before the standalone film bows on Feb. 16, 2018.

In the comics, M’Baku was one of Wakanda’s most powerful warriors and one of T’Challa’s biggest rivals.

Joe Robert Cole is co-penning the script with Coogler. Kevin Feige is producing the movie.

Marvel had been testing several actors for the role over the past week, including The Get Down actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, before casting Duke. Duke is relatively new to the industry, having recently graduated from the Yale School of Drama. He had recurring roles on several TV shows, including Major Crimes” The Messengers, and Person of Interest.

He is repped by Abrams Artists Agency, Wenzel Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richard, Rush & Kaller.