'Black Panther': Martin Freeman discusses Everett Ross's MCU future (exclusive)

Watch: Martin Freeman discusses the future of Everett Ross in the MCU

Martin Freeman says it's 'a real pleasure' to get to play Everett Ross in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and said he enjoys being part of the studio's ensemble.

Freeman joined the MCU for 2016 sequel Captain America: Civil War and subsequently appeared in Black Panther, with his third outing coming in this week's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

"I'm always very delighted if Marvel call. I get to just come in and have a little holiday and visit, then go back to my other life," Freeman told Yahoo UK.

Read more: Freeman says Chadwick Boseman's death made film more poignant

The 51-year-old added: "So for me it's a really enjoyable way of doing it. This is my third time as Everett in films and it's a real pleasure.

"I like playing him. If they wanted me again, great, but if they didn't, no hard feelings. I'd love to come along somewhere else for the ride."

When asked about the prospect of Ross getting his own film or TV show given the widening of the MCU on Disney+, Freeman said 'of course I'd be keen' but said he's just as happy in a supporting role.

Read more: Ryan Coogler reveals Black Panther 2 ideas before Boseman's death

Ross will next be seen in the TV series Secret Invasion, which also sees the return of Samuel L. Jackson as Avengers Initiative boss Nick Fury.

Freeman added: "I enjoy being a part of the ensemble. I like being a lead in other things but, in this context, I quite like being where I am."

The actor confessed that he's only able to keep up with 'some' of the Marvel output given the sheer scale of the studio's storytelling — this year alone, there have been three Marvel movies and three TV series.

He said: "It's a lot to keep up with all of it. For me, I need to keep up with what I need to keep up with."

Read more: Every upcoming MCU movie and TV show

Freeman also spoke about the jokey moniker "Tolkien white guys" that he and fellow Middle-Earth alumnus Andy Serkis were given when they were the only major white characters in the first Black Panther movie.

He said: "We only really heard it when me and Andy did the press for the first one. We were doing our press together and we were known as the 'Tolkien white guys'.

"I understand that some people didn't quite understand that it was Tolkien and thought they were just calling us the token white guys. Obviously that's the play on words, but that would be a bit on the nose if it wasn't for the Tolkien bit.

"I don't hear it often, but thank you for reminding me. It is a good line."

Read more: Black Panther cast visited Chadwick Boseman's grave before shooting

Wakanda Forever sees the people of Wakanda dealing with the aftermath of T'Challa's death, as well as the threat of the long dormant ocean-dweller Namor (Tenoch Huerta).

The cast includes Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Danai Gurira and Winston Duke.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is out in UK cinemas and IMAX from 11 November.

Watch: Trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever