There are more superhero movies coming out this year than ever before and that could result in filmgoers growing bored with the genre. Providing the quality remains high, though, that's hard to imagine but Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has some thoughts on how T'Challa's solo adventure will buck the trend and go a long way in ensuring that people find something fresh to enjoy here.
Asked about what exactly Black Panther brings to the table, the Creed director had the following to say:
"There have been a lot of superhero movies made. As a comic book and superhero film fan myself, I feel like we’ve seen a lot at this point. I think that the cultural element of [Black Panther] — and how cultural specificity takes such a big role in the film – that’s what makes it quite unique. I’m excited to see more [superhero movies], but there hasn’t really been a film about a character like T’Challa before. Hopefully we can pull it off, but it has the potential to be something that’s really unique in a lot of different ways. I think that you can’t ignore the idea of representation and also the excitement around Marvel Studios and the work that they’ve been able to pull off when telling original and unique stories. I think that folks are excited to see what the studio is able to cook up."
As for what the Marvel Studios movie will deliver in terms of story, Coogler confirmed that it takes place straight after the events of Captain America: Civil War and reveals how that spending time with Black Panther in his own surroundings will shed new light on the fan-favourite King of Wakanda.
"Well, the film will take place basically immediately after Civil War. In many ways, he's the same guy. What I think is more important, and I was talking to my brother Keenan about it, who works with me, you get to see T'Challa at almost from a ground level. You get to see him and how he is around the people who he loves, how he is when he's comfortable.
"In Civil War, he was outside of Wakanda. He was in a place that he didn't want to be and his father gets killed. The whole film, he's on a mission. He's a man on a mission. He's tortured; he's of few words. I think that that was something that made him appealing in that film. In this film, it's the same guy, but you're seeing all of the layers pulled back. The film's from his perspective and he's surrounded by people who he loves and cares for. It's just a much more personal perspective on him. You see him go through the journey of taking on the greatest responsibility that a person can have, the responsibility of leading a country. You see him go through the full weight of that in the film."
As for whether or not fans should stick around after the credits, Coogler responded: "I think that would be a smart move, yeah." That's hardly a surprise but it will be very interesting finding out whether those post-credits scenes tease Black Panther 2, Avengers: Infinity War, or both! Do you think Black Panther can avoid superhero fatigue? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.