Marvel Comics and DC Comics are two sides of the same coin. The two most popular comic book companies have offered up some of the greatest stories ever told in fiction, and we're not just talking about in the pages of comic books. Those stories have transcended their genres to become some of the biggest ever told in cinema and on television. Look no further than the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Marvel Studios franchise has quickly grown into the most successful in Hollywood history. inspiring so many more Hollywood studios to attempt to launch their own shared universes. That includes Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe and its upcoming DC Universe. The former didn't quite get things right and now it looks to do so all again, kicking things off this summer with Superman, directed by James Gunn (who is co-chairman and CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran).
But the best example of a DC shared universe has come on the small screen, as The CW's Arrowverse dominated TV with classic DC storylines across its 11-year run. Now, one of its main stars has joined the MCU in an unexpected role.
Black Lightning star Cress Williams joins MCU in Eyes of Wakanda
Cress Williams has been cast as one of the main characters in Marvel Animation's upcoming animated series Eyes of Wakanda. Set in the MCU, the show will explore the rich history of Wakanda and its people, chronicling various characters throughout time and focusing on their adventures.
Williams is set to voice the character of The Lion. A former Wakandan general, he has become a pirate after stealing the advanced technology that Wakanda is known for and intends on using it to start his own base known as the Lion Kingdom, establishing a tyrannical rule as he does so.
As we mentioned above, Williams is no stranger to a superhero shared universe. A veteran of performing, he is best known for his role as the titular hero in The CW's Black Lightning, which ran for four seasons between 2018 and 2021. Although it initially wasn't considered part of the network's ongoing Arrowverse at the time (which consisted of shows Arrow, The Flash, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Batwoman), the events of Crisis On Infinite Earths - the 2019 - 2020 edition of the annual Arrowverse crossover - retroactively set it on the same Earth as its fellow DC counterparts.
Williams appeared on that crossover and would subsequently return in two episodes of The Flash, appearing after the conclusion of his own show as part of the Armageddon crossover. Fans hoped that he might have returned again, but the end of the Arrowverse franchise after new ownership at both The CW and Warner Bros. prevented that from happening.
Nevertheless, it will be exciting to see a DC legend like Williams make his presence felt in the MCU. That's the beauty of today's Hollywood landscape, as actors known for one movie or TV series franchise can indeed make their presence felt in the other one. And Williams is far from the first DC star to star in a Marvel project. He is, however, one of the first significant Arrowverse stars to appear in the MCU. Here's hoping that he isn't the last either.
Although The Lion sounds worlds away from Black Lightning's Jefferson Pierce, Williams will no doubt give an equally formidable performance in bringing him to life. We can't wait to see - or hear - him do so.