It all comes down to this.
On the eve of Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel is battening down the hatches in anticipation of Black Panther, the Ryan Coogler-directed spinoff that cordially invites viewers into Wakanda.
If you’re not at all familiar with T’Challa’s backyard, Wakanda is the Marvel equivalent of a high-tech utopia, one rich in the fictional metal of vibranium. It’s the lifeblood of Captain America’s famous shield, not to mention the Black Panther suit, which itself is due for a major upgrade next year.
And now that Coogler’s standalone pic has been named as one of 2018’s most-anticipated films, the excitement for T’Challa’s solo adventure is beginning to reach a fever pitch. It’ll largely revolve around a big, operatic family drama, while we now have another sneak peek at Chadwick Boseman’s would-be king, thanks to Premiere Magazine (via CBM).
Embedded above, it’s more of an understated cover than Empire’s (also included in the gallery), which drew attention to the inevitable upgrades and the film’s supposed lack of female stereotypes.
Make no mistake, Black Panther is packed to the rafters when it comes to A-list talent, but according to The Last Jedi‘s Lupita Nyong’o, the 2018 offshoot won’t bow to hackneyed tropes. Instead, the leading ladies of Wakanda “hold their own space” and aren’t “pitted against each other.”
That’s a relief, too, otherwise Black Panther‘s female cast would’ve been totally wasted, which almost doesn’t bear thinking about given it includes Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Sydelle Noel and Phylicia Rashad.
Expect those characters to light up the big screen on February 16th, 2018, and only then will we be able to gauge Black Panther‘s chances of success. It’s said to be targeting a huge opening weekend though, which is really becoming par of the course for the folks at Marvel Studios.