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The forthcoming Black Panther series from Marvel Studios has recruited an actor who was well-known from his work within DC’s Arrowverse. Over time, many notable actors have appeared for both the red and blue brands, a trend that has become more common as both companies have grown in popularity, particularly during their recent surge.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about Marvel Studios tapping Cress Williams to lend his voice to the character of the Lion in the upcoming animated series, Eyes of Wakanda, streaming on Disney+. Though Williams is new to the Marvel Universe, he’s no stranger to the world of superheroes, having starred as the titular hero in Black Lightning. Initially standing apart from the Arrowverse, Black Lightning‘s universe would eventually intersect with the realms of shows like The Flash and Batwoman during the 2019 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” television event.

Williams featured prominently in four seasons of his standalone series, guest-starred on The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and reappeared within the Arrowverse following the termination of Black Lightning during the “Armageddon” cross-over event.

According to Entertainment Weekly, it’s been announced that Williams will star in the upcoming animated Black Panther spin-off series, and they also revealed Winnie Harlow’s character, Noni. In addition, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, and Zeke Alton have been cast in other roles for this project.

From my perspective as a die-hard movie enthusiast, at this moment, there’s no specific information available regarding Williams’ new Marvel character. But judging by the character’s appearance, it seems he might embody one of the ancient Wakandan warriors, a figure whose tales will resonate across the globe.

Titled as a four-part animated anthology series, “The Eyes of Wakanda” is set to premiere on Disney+ on August 6th, drawing inspiration from the universe of Black Panther for an original tale. This series will showcase warriors hailing from the secretive nation of Wakanda across various eras of history. As they traverse the globe, their mission is to retrieve missing vibranium artifacts that have been stolen and bring them back home to Wakanda.

History of Actors Working for Both DC and Marvel

Glancing at the annals of comic book film history, Cress Williams is not the sole performer who has explored roles in both Marvel and DC.

In the wake of James Gunn’s recent elevation to co-CEO at DC Studios, having previously directed for Marvel Studios for nine years, a notable group of over a dozen Marvel actors have joined his new DC Universe. Among the most prominent figures are David Harbour, who will play Red Guardian/Eric Frankenstein, Frank Grillo taking on Crossbones/Rick Flag Sr., Nicholas Hoult assuming the roles of Beast and Lex Luthor, and Nathan Fillion stepping into Guy Gardner’s shoes.

Ryan Reynolds had a notable role as Green Lantern in DC comics before he became famous for Deadpool in the Marvel universe. Similarly, other established actors like Michael Keaton (Batman/Vulture), Tommy Lee Jones (Two-Face and Colonel Phillips), and Ben Affleck (Daredevil and Batman) have also played characters from both DC and Marvel.

For Cress Williams, the key concern lies in determining the scope of his future involvement with Marvel, following numerous years of portraying a prominent DC superhero on television for The CW.

It remains unclear if, and when, the characters from “Eyes of Wakanda” might make their live-action debut, or if Williams could potentially portray another Marvel hero down the line. In the meantime, fans eagerly anticipate his voice acting performance as we await the return of Wakanda in the Marvel narrative.

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2025-06-10 06:33