With “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” still a few months off from cinemas, Disney and Marvel Studios are also making preparations for new stuff added to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the television front. While ABC’s “Agents of SHIELD” will air the final third of its season 4 in April and “Iron Fist” on Netflix earlier in March, pre-production has begun for “The Inhumans”, centering on another of Marvel Comic’s varied races of super-humans other than the mutants from “X-Men”. Already introduced in “Agents of SHIELD”, these empowered people are center stage in the upcoming series, focusing on the hidden Inhuman civilization and its royal family.
With filming to start March, casting is underway and the lead character has finally gotten an actor.
Long live the king
Despite wide rumors that the role could be a perfect fit for Vin Diesel, in the end actor Anson Mount was cast by Marvel Television to play Blackagar Boltagon, better known as Black Bolt. His character is king of the Inhuman race whose frightening power is harnessing electrons into powerful energy waves tied to his voice, necessitating him to be a silent ruler. Mount has racked up roles on both film and TV, from “City by the Sea” (2002) and “Straw Dogs” (2011), to “CSI: Miami” and “Smallville”.
Scott Buck, the “Inhumans” show-runner, described Black Bolt as a character that needs to convey deep complexity while keeping quiet.
For his part Marvel Television boss Jeph Loeb speaks of Mount as loving the challenge of a character that does mostly silent communication. “His enthusiasm mixed with his imposing almost regal persona made it easy to see why he is our Black Bolt,” he added.
‘Game of Thrones’, Marvel-style?
Already cast before Anson Mount was Welsh actor Iwan Rheon, formerly Ramsay Bolton of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” as the possible main antagonist: Black Bolt’s brother Maximus Boltagon, or Maximus the Mad.
“The Inhumans” has a unique premiere schedule; due to IMAX involvement the pilot will premiere on IMAX theaters on September 1, running for two weeks before starting on ABC September 26. Eight episodes are planned for the first season. There’s no word as of yet from Marvel for other performers cast, in particular Medusa, wife and spokeswoman of Black Bolt and Queen of the Inhumans.
