Ernie Hudson wanted to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as T'Challa's father in Black Panther, and he's now revealed why he didn't get the role. Throughout the history of the MCU, several older stars from classic movies have joined the ranks in important roles. Jeff Bridges played Obadiah Stane in Iron Man, Robert Redford joined in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Michael Keaton played Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming. When it came to assembling the cast for Black Panther, Marvel Studios gathered one of their best casts to date.

Black Panther starred Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa but also included rising stars like Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyong'o, as well as accomplished veterans like Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett. All of these cast members helped fill out Wakanda, but it was John Kani as King T'Chaka, who debuted alongside Boseman in Captain America: Civil War. However, during the development of the film, it was reported that former Ghostbusters star Ernie Hudson was circling the role.

Related: Why Black Panther 2's Release Date Is The Same (Despite Phase 4 Delays)

During a recent interview with Comicbook, Hudson discussed his desire to join the MCU in some capacity, teasing that he's in constant communication with Marvel Studios co-president Louis D'Esposito about the possibilities. But, Hudson also confirmed that he was lobbying to get a role in Black Panther and play the titular character's father. Instead of casting him in that role, though, Hudson reveals that Marvel thought T'Chaka was too small a part for him to play.

"First it was the dad in Black Panther. So I kind of hinted [at it] — I went a little beyond hinting. The fans started to pick it up. So I called and I said, 'Well, you know there's the part of the dad.' He said, 'Well, that part is too small for you.'"

Ernie-Hudson-as-Winston-in-Ghostbusters

The role of T'Chaka would indeed be a limited role for Hudson in the MCU. Although Kani has played the former Wakandan king twice, his screentime is minimal, even if what was shown has been impactful on the story. T'Chaka's death in Captain America: Civil War was part of the inciting incident for the entire film, while his role in Black Panther showed how he killed Killmonger's father and then spoke to T'Challa in the Ancestral Plane.

As intriguing of a fit as Hudson is as T'Chaka, Marvel Studios' decision to not cast him in Black Panther appears to be tied to the hope that they can find a more significant role for him in the future. With Phase 4 just nearing the start and multiple projects in development as movies or Disney+ shows, there are endless possibilities for Hudson to join the MCU. He could play an older hero like Adam Brashear aka Blue Marvel, as part of the MCU's continued expansion of the cosmos, or maybe return to a supernatural franchise with a role in Blade. Plus, there's the chance he could join the cast of Black Panther 2 in some capacity potentially. In any case, Hudson and fans will just have to wait and see if he gets a role in the MCU down the road.

MORE: Black Panther 2: Every Character Returning For The MCU Sequel

Source: Comicbook

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