Michael B. Jordan‘s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe does not have to be as Killmonger, all thanks to Captain America: Brave New World having set up a way for him to play his dream Marvel role. Jordan was part of two of the MCU’s best movies, playing a major role in 2018’s Black Panther as Killmonger, the film’s main villain, and returning as the character for a cameo in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Jordan made Erik Killmonger one of the franchise’s most nuanced villains, bringing his compelling backstory and motivations to life effectively.

However, Killmonger died at the end of the first Black Panther movie. The sequel only featured him in a small role as Shuri talked with the villain on the Ancestral Plane. Since the MCU’s slate of projects still has a few to go before the end of the Multiverse Saga, it is possible that Jordan could return as a Killmonger variant. However, the first of the MCU’s 2025 movies has teased the arrival of some mysterious characters, and a new Marvel theory explains how that could translate to Jordan ditching Killmonger for his dream MCU role.

Michael B Jordan’s Marvel Dream Role Is Black Panther

The Actor Could Remain Part Of His Marvel Franchise

While Jordan entered the MCU as Killmonger in 2018’s Black Panther, the actor would rather have played the film’s lead role. That is due to how Black Panther is Michael B. Jordan’s childhood dream Marvel hero. In Marvel’s Black Panther: The Official Movie Special Book (via Bleeding Cool), the actor opened up about his connection to the character Chadwick Boseman gave life to in the MCU. From an early age, Jordan was already a Black Panther fan. According to the actor, Black Panther was the Marvel character he dreamed of playing when he was a kid.

In the MCU, Jordan’s Killmonger had a story focused on taking over T’Challa’s place. He wanted to become the king of Wakanda and usher in a new era for the country. Alongside that, Killmonger took Heart-Shaped Herb, which gave Black Panther his powers, as well as donning his own Black Panther-like suit. Instead of playing a pretender, Jordan’s most desired Marvel role is that of T’Challa himself. The character died in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever due to Boseman’s tragic death in real life. Years later, the MCU could be setting up a way for a new T’Challa to appear.

Captain America: Brave New World Set Up A Possible Multiverse Black Panther

The Hero Could Be Part Of A New MCU Team

Captain America: Brave New World‘s post-credits scene teased the arrival of a new MCU team. Well, a new version of a team that previously showed up in the 2022 movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In the scene, Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader warned Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson that Earth’s heroes would not be ready to face the “others” when different universes began to collide. While that tease could have meant quite a few characters and teams, director Julius Onah indirectly confirmed that it was related to the arrival of a new Illuminati.

The first iteration of the MCU’s Illuminati came from Earth-838, with that universe’s heroes being killed by Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. Based on the Leader’s ominous tease, the new version of the team might be somewhat villainous or ᴅᴇᴀᴅly. Jordan’s childhood dream of playing Black Panther could come through the Illuminati. For once, T’Challa is a prominent member of the team in the comics. Adding to that, Black Panther will reportedly be recast through the multiverse for future MCU movies. With an Illuminati team set to debut in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars, a T’challa variant could be in it.

Why A Multiverse Black Panther Is Perfect For The MCU & Michael B Jordan

The Character Could Have An Engaging Arc

By having a multiverse version of T’Challa instead of resurrecting Boseman’s character and recasting the role, Marvel Studios would be both honoring the late actor and continuing the story of one of Marvel’s biggest heroes. The new T’Challa would be completely separate from Boseman’s, leaving his version of Black Panther untouched. If Michael B. Jordan were to play a Black Panther who begins as a villain in the Illuminati and then turns a hero, staying in the MCU, the star would surely deliver a fantastic performance. After all, he made Killmonger an extremely sympathetic character despite being a villain.

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This would allow T’Challa to be part of a fresh story that Marvel has yet to explore with the character on the big screen. As for Jordan, while Killmonger only returned for a cameo in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the character’s multiverse variants were played out in the animated What If…? series. Due to that, having the actor return to the franchise as a Killmonger variant in the Multiverse Saga is unlikely. However, through a return as an antagonistic Black Panther that becomes good later, Michael B. Jordan‘s childhood dream role would be realized in a fresh way.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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