'Black Panther' release date, updates and news: Ryan Coogler talks about casting 'Walking Dead' actress Danai Gurira

Danai Gurira is probably best recognized for her role as the katana-wielding Michonne in AMC's "The Walking Dead," but the African actress has also been cast in Marvel Studios' upcoming film, "Black Panther." Gurira comments on getting the role and reveals that she wasn't hired because of her work on "The Walking Dead."

In an interview with ComicBook.com, Gurira says, "[The director] Ryan Coogler had never watched 'The Walking Dead.' He'd watched me in something completely different. It's quite amazing to hear, but these are African women roles. He'd watched me in an independent film, 'Mother of George.' He's never seen 'The Walking Dead.'"

Gurira has been cast as Okoye in the movie, who is reported to be the leader of the Dora Milaje, a group of highly skilled women who are in charge of protecting the king of Wakanda and are the personal bodyguards of the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman).

Since both characters are women who are great with dealing damage to enemies, Gurira was asked to compare Okoye and Michonne, and she says that the two are very different, but her work on Michonne has helped her in training for Okoye.

It's possible though for Michonne to be more gruff in the way she fights. On the other hand. Okoye may be more disciplined in a fighting form that the Dora Milaje specializes in.

Though the Black Panther aka T'Challa was introduced in "Captain America: Civil War," his solo movie will bring audiences to the highly secluded and technologically advanced Wakanda. Aside from Gurira and Boseman, the movie will also star Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Winston Duke as M'Baku and Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger.

"Black Panther" is set to hit theaters on Feb. 16, 2018.