The announcement that Denzel Washington had joined the cast of Black Panther 3 prompted intense speculation. The two-time Academy Award winner could certainly play almost any character one might name. However, there is no indication whether Washington is playing a hero or a villain. Regardless, there are ample possibilities as to which Marvel Comics characters he might play.
Mephisto
A high-ranking demon, the hidden influence of Mephisto on the MCU has been proposed by many fan theories over the past decade. However, Mephisto was name-dropped in earnest in Agatha All Along. This has prompted speculation that he may finally be getting ready to make his big-screen debut.
While Denzel Washington is certainly capable of playing the dramatic demon, such a role seems too small for a one-time appearance. Given Washington’s plans for retirement after Black Panther 3, it seems unlikely he’d sign on for the multiple movies Mephisto would require. Additionally, apart from his empowering the Black Panther villain Reverend Achebe, there is not much connection between Mephisto and Wakanda.
Jakarra
Created by Jack Kirby, Jakarra was an illegitimate son of King T’Chaka and half-brother of T’Challa. Raised abroad, he became a general in the Wakanda army after his heritage was made clear. This was not enough for him, however, and he led a coup against his half-brother. He was later mutated into an energy-absorbing monster after being exposed to too much Vibranium.
While Jakarra is a notable villain, he has two strikes against him as a possible role for Denzel Washington, The first is that his background is too similar to that of the MCU Killmonger. Additionally, while there is pathos to be found in his story, it would be a waste of Denzel Washington to cast him as a villain that ultimately transforms into a CGI monster.
S’Yan
In the comics, S’Yan the Swift was the brother of King T’Chaka. He briefly took on the Black Panther role after his brother’s death but abdicated in favor of his nephew, T’Challa. He later died a hero’s death, defending Wakanda from Doctor Doom.
In the MCU, however, S’Yan was a different character who briefly appeared in the Black Panther Prelude comic tying into the first film. There, he was a scientist and head of the Wakandan Design Group. He later retired and was replaced by Shuri. While neither version of S’Yan has appeared on-screen, either one would be a suitable mentor character for Denzel Washington to play in Black Panther 3.
Changamire
First introduced during the 2016 Black Panther series, Changmire was a Wakandan philosopher. He was a mentor to Queen Ramonda and was appointed as the official tutor of the royal family. However, his anti-monarchical beliefs ultimately caused him to be exiled from Wakanda.
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His teachings later inspired a violent revolt against King T’Challa, which he attempted to help stop. Later, Changmire bonded with a symbiote, which overrode his mind and sought to take over Wakanda. While this later storyline is unlikely to be utilized in Black Panther 3, the story of a mentor accidentally starting a revolution is the sort of role Denzel Washington would excel in.
Tetu
Conversely, Denzel Washington might play the villain Tetu. A student of Changmire, Tetu abandoned his studies to research the mystic arts. He became a shaman, a master of nature magic, and co-leader of the violent revolutionaries known as The People.
Thematically, Tetu seems to be a perfect villain for Black Panther 3. He is a strict anti-monarchist who sees himself as a hero freeing Wakanda from an unjust government. He is also a magician, which would pose an interesting challenge to the science-minded Shuri. His ideals would also easily tap into the same questions posed by Killmonger in the first film. It should be noted, however, that Tetu was ultimately more interested in punishing his perceived enemies than helping the oppressed.
