Chadwick Boseman cast as superhero Black Panther

Actor Chadwick Boseman has been tasked with the job of bringing comic book superhero Black Panther to life on the big screen.

The Get On Up star will portray the long-serving Avengers member and his alter ego T'Challa, the head of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, in the upcoming movie adaptation, which is slated for release in November, 2017.

The character will be introduced in the third Captain America movie, Captain America: Civil War, in 2016.

Black Panther became the first black superhero in mainstream comics upon its debut in a Fantastic Four story in 1966.

The role will make Boseman, 37, the first solo lead actor of colour for Marvel Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter.