The Black Panther movie took Hollywood and the world by storm when it shattered box-office records on its way to becoming one of the most successful Marvel franchise movies ever. But the phenomenon extended far beyond ticket sales. It inspired a whole new generation of Black moviegoers by seeing a world on screen that they had not seen before. Led by director Ryan Coogler's bold vision, Black Panther leapt off its comic book origins and transformed into a technologically-advanced world with deep African roots, and spawned a highly-anticipated sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
BLACK PANTHER
The Incredible Journey of a VISIONARY BLOCKBUSTER • The breathtaking, critically hailed movie version of Black Panther stunned Hollywood by becoming a billion-dollar box office juggernaut. As its sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever looks to captivate moviegoers again, the new movie and cast forged on without its charismatic late star Chadwick Boseman
The origin storY • The backdrop of political and social unrest and the rise of the civil rights movement gave Marvel comic book writers Stan Lee and Jack Kirby the impetus to create a superhero the world had never seen before
A UNIQUE Marvel Character • For anyone new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it would seem as though Black Panther first pounced on the big screen in the 2018 smash hit. But devoted fans knew that the tale of T’Challa occupied a strategic place in the intricate storylines of the MCU
One Man’s BOLD INSPIRATION • While Black Panther already existed as a formidable character in Marvel comic books, it took the extraordinary vision of director Ryan Coogler and a deeply personal trip to Africa to help him create the breathtaking movie world of Wakanda
BLACK PANTHER BEATS • Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar enlisted his hip-hop warriors and laid down the tracks for the movie’s African-inspired soundtrack
Creating WAKANDA • The jaw-dropping sets of Black Panther and the Afrocentric costumes played an essential role in the storytelling and the performances on screen
DRESSED IN AFRICAN PRIDE • The movie’s costume design team paid homage to various tribes of the continent and gave them a “hipper” edge
SHATTERING Perceptions • Long overdue, Black Panther crushed any preconceived notions about whether a Black superhero movie could become a blockbuster. But it also brought issues of race and representation to a global audience hungry to see the MCU in bold new ways
T'Challa’s NEMESIS • His good looks may have made him a sex symbol but Michael B. Jordan always sought out deep, complex roles. He found the one that also made him a star, playing archvillain Erik Killmonger, doing battle onscreen in Black Panther with his actor-in-arms and friend Chadwick Boseman
A Real-Life SUPER HERO • Chadwick Boseman was tagged as “difficult” for not taking roles he thought demeaned him and Black men. His perseverance led him to hold out for more profound roles like T’Challa, but his private battle with cancer cut short a proud and noble life
The Rise of the DORA MILAJE • The women warriors represent strength, ingenuity and compassion, which just happen to be attributes of the actresses who play them
The NEXT CHAPTER • Faced with the sad, daunting task of making a sequel without their beloved star, Ryan Coogler looked to his strong female cast for support and inspiration
Black Panther
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