War Machine, Black Panther Movies in Progress

Even though Marvel is busy developing the Avengers related franchises, sooner or later they're going to need some new heroes.  But there is still a massive library of characters waiting to be unleashed on our fragile world, and Marvel has started planning some new projects.  I've always thought that the three most qualified Marvel heroes for the big screen are Iron Fist, Dr. Strange, and Black Panther, and now Marvel has hired a scribe to start work on the Wakandan prince. All I can find about Mark Bailey is that he wrote and directed a documentary about AIDS, which has about as much in common with superheroes as Don Draper does with marital fidelity, but a writer's a writer, right?

Keep in mind, this isn't the first time someone has attempted to make a Black Panther movie.  Columbia pictures tried and failed to get a project running in the 90's, and there have been a few floundering scripts floating around here and there.  However, I have alot more confidence with Marvel doing it themselves, especially with their huge resources and willingness to stay loyal to the comics.  Still, I'm not sure just what kind of story should be told in the movie.  Superhero movies these days need something to separate themselves from the pack, and worst mistake Marvel can make is to tell a generic tale.  I've never followed the Black Panther until recent issues where he's taken over custodianship of Hell's Kitchen, so I'm not sure what they should do with it.  The Panther doesn't really have an iconic villain or storyline (other than the Christopher Priest run, which BP fans rave about), which means the writers have alot of work on their hands.  But the most important part of the movie the portrayal of Wakanda, and how critically important T'Challa's homeland is to the entire Marvel Universe.  I think his country is the most unique aspect of his character, and a Black Panther story is just as easily as story of Wakanda as well.

In other news, we also heard from Don Cheadle about the future of War Machine.  First off, his character will NOT be part of the Avengers.  In some ways, Rhodey is a much better candidate for a government program than Tony, since he's less narcicistic and much more willing to take orders.  But Iron Man is obviously too big a part of the team to leave out for obvious reason, and the roster is crowded enough as it is.  We don't need to see two armored characters, and I think that adding Rhodey would make it harder to show the emerging friendship between Tony Stark and the rest of the team.  Everyone should walk on to the Avengers as strangers, and then become a family by the end of the movie.  That development doesn't have the same power if two of the characters are best buds to begin with.

We also have a confirmation that a War Machine spin off, much like for the Black Widow, is well in the works.  I think this movie has some potential.  I like the idea of Iron Man being just this really fun movie, no matter how deep or emotional the story might be.  That's just part of Tony Stark, especially Robert Downey Jr.'s take on him.  But War Machine?  I would love to see a very down to earth, realistic approach.  Have War Machine fight terrorists and threats to national security in real war zones rather costumed super villains.  Put War Machine in the brutality and intensity of actual war.  If they go for something ordinary, it will seen as milking the Iron Man franchise rather than something new and unique.