There Are Actually a Lot of Black Panther Characters You've Already Met — You Just Don't Remember

Updated on Feb 23, 2018 at 11:00 AM

Black Panther has exploded onto the scene with such aplomb that you may not even remember that it's a Marvel movie within the Avengers franchise. The character of Black Panther, aka T'Challa, was introduced in Captain America: Civil War, after all, and before his own standalone movie this year, he was merely a flashy addition to the superhero lineup . . . with claws. One reason you might forget that this movie fits right in to the MCU is that there aren't other Avengers in Wakanda, but there are other supporting characters from Avengers movies that you've seen before (not counting Stan Lee, who always shows up somewhere!). To refresh your memory about when and how you met some of these characters, we've pulled together all of the Black Panther characters you've met before.

This is your first and final spoiler warning!

Black Panther/T'Challa

OK, duh, of course you have seen Black Panther before, but in case you need a reminder of the other Avengers movies T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) has been in, it's just one so far: Captain America: Civil War, in which he's introduced.

King T'Chaka

Likewise, King T'Chaka is also memorably in Captain America: Civil War — tragically, he's killed in it when Helmut Zemo bombs a conference in Vienna, Austria. T'Challa witnesses his murder but can't save him, informing his emotions when Black Panther begins. Interestingly, John Kani reprises his role as T'Chaka in Black Panther, and his son Atandwa Kani also plays him in the film as a younger man.

Ayo

Florence Kasumba's first outing as Ayo was actually also in Captain America: Civil War; she shows up in the latter half of the film as T'Challa's security.

Ulysses Klaue

The tough vibranium-stealing arms dealer is played by Andy Serkis in the flesh, but Black Panther isn't his debut. He first appears in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Everett K. Ross

The American state department employee played by Martin Freeman also has a supporting role in Captain America: Civil War.

Bucky Barnes

Bucky Barnes, Cap's right-hand man, briefly turned nemesis, isn't in the main part of the film, but in the final end credits scene. Shuri also references him earlier in the film.