Forest Whitaker joins Marvel's Black Panther film

Forest Whitaker is coming to the Marvelverse.

Marvel says the Oscar-winning actor is joining the cast of Black Panther.Whitaker will portray an elder statesman named Zuri from the fictional nation of Wakanda.

Chadwick Boseman was introduced as Wakanda ruler T'Challa earlier this year in Captain America: Civil War.

The character of Zuri in the comics was a loyal ally of T'Challa's father and a fierce warrior.

Other cast members in the stand-alone Black Pantherfilm include Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke and Florence Kasumba.

The Last King of Scotlandand Rootsstar will next be seen Dec. 16 in Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyas Rebel leader Saw Gerrera.

Black Pantheris set for release Feb. 16, 2018.