Ever since the first trailer for ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ dropped, fans have been wondering who Andy Serkis would be playing in Joss Whedon’s highly-anticipated follow up to his 2012 smash hit. We knew for sure that the motion capture master would have a hand in creating the Hulk and Ultron behind the scenes, but his onscreen character was still shrouded in mystery. Though there has been some speculation that he’ll play villain Ulysses Klaw, a new report seems to confirm those theories.

According to SchmoesKnow, sources say that Serkis will indeed play the classic Avengers and Fantastic Four adversary Klaw. However, this version will likely be an amalgamation of the sound wave-wielding physicist and his father Fritz Klaue, who has a connection to Baron Von Strucker (who will be played in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by Thomas Kretschmann) and the Howling Commandos.

Another Marvel hero that Klaw has connections to is the Black Panther, who will be played by Chadwick Boseman in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and his own solo Phase Three film in 2017. In the villain’s origin story, he looked to steal vibranium from the African nation of Wakanda to create a sonic transducer to convert sound waves into physical mass. He finds conflict when the ruler T’Chaka objects to his schemes, so he murders the leader in cold blood and leaves his adolescent son T’Challa to rule as the new Panther. Could Klaw’s appearance in ‘Age of Ultron’ be setting up for a bigger role as the main antagonist in ‘Black Panther’? I’d say that it’s pretty likely considering that Phase Three is just around the corner and the seeds need to be planted sooner rather than later.

What do you think about Andy Serkis playing Ulysses Klaw in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’? Based on his appearance in the trailer of the film, do you think that he’ll have a big part in Joss Whedon’s upcoming summer blockbuster? And after all is said and done with Ultron, do you think Klaw will resurface in ‘Black Panther’? Let us know your thoughts and theories in the comment section.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ assembles in theaters on May 1, 2015.