Is it any wonder the Black Panther cast reacted with pure, infectious joy upon seeing the first footage at SDCC 2017?
Four months later, and following this morning’s big reveal, Ryan Coogler’s spinoff continues to be one of the most exciting and fresh films on Marvel’s calling card. Largely situated in Wakanda, a beautiful utopia teeming with Vibranium and wonderfully eccentric costumes, this looks to be among the studio’s most self-contained efforts to date, which is no mean feat given it’s arriving just before the super-sized Avengers: Infinity War.
Much of that comes down to Coogler’s direction, who reteams with Fruitvale Station cinematographer Rachel Morrison – not to mention Michael B. Jordan as the villainous Killmonger, but more on that later – to bring Wakanda to life. And if you’re searching far and wide for a play-by-play breakdown, we’ve got you covered, as Collider has posted a string of high-res screenshots unveiling old friends and new enemies, while there’s also a shot of Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaue, who can be seen with a new and presumably weaponized prosthetic. Remember, Serkis’ character had his arm ripped off by Ultron in Joss Whedon’s Avengers sequel.
Story-wise, Black Panther has previously been described as a “big, operatic family drama,” with T’Challa at its core. Having assumed the throne in lieu of his fallen father, it’s fair to say that Chadwick Boseman’s reign gets off to a rocky start, with the official synopsis teeing up a vicious power struggle within Wakanda.
Per Marvel:
T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.
Expect Marvel to unleash Black Panther upon North America on February 16th, exactly one week after its initial release in the UK.
