‘Black Panther’ Courts Lupita Nyong’o; Which Love Interest From The Marvel Comics Could She Play?

Lupita Nyong’o might be leaving Broadway for Wakanda. The actress, recently nominated for a Tony Award for her lead in the stage production “Eclipsed,” is reportedly in talks to join Marvel’s 2018 superhero flick “Black Panther.”

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the “Star Wars” actress is in negotiations to be in the film, which will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler. The film’s titular character, also known as T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), was introduced in “Captain America: Civil War,” but it isn’t clear exactly who Nyong’o is considering playing. However, she would be a love interest.

That gives “Black Panther” fans a few theories about who Nyong’o could be portraying. Since Twentieth Century Fox has the rights to Storm from “X-Men,” we can pretty much cross her off the list. However, the Marvel comics also give fans a few other options.

Monica Lynne — In the source material, Monica is not a superhero but a jazz musician, according to Marvel Database. Like so many human girlfriends of superheroes, T’Challa decides to break up with her when he thinks he can’t provide the kind of future she deserves.

Nakia — In this case, it might seem the term "love interest" is being used loosely. Nakia was raised as one of the wives-in-training for the King of Wakanda. When T’Challa gets engaged to the American Monica Lynne, Nakia is consumed by jealousy. Nakia threw Monica out of a plane and told T’Challa that his fiancée was dead. Her plan went south when Monica turned out to be alive.

Monica Rambeau — Granted, she was more of a close friendship than a romance. However, Monica Rambeau seems like a more reasonable option since the “12 Years a Slave” actress probably isn’t going to play just a damsel in distress (sorry, Monica Lynne). This Monica is a superhero who has gone by the aliases Captain Marvel, Photon, Pulsar and Spectrum. Her powers involve energy. She can absorb, manipulate and generate energy, according to Marvel, and she can transform herself into any type of energy.

Bonus fun fact: Monica is friends with Carol Danvers, the Captain Marvel titleholder who will get her own movie in 2019. Seems like a great opportunity for a crossover!

Original Character — The “Black Panther” comics don’t offer too many options for T’Challa’s love interest. Coogler could very well decide to develop a new character to fall in love with the King of Wakanda.

“Black Panther” is scheduled to start filming in early 2017, but it won’t hit theaters until Feb. 2, 2018.