BLACK PANTHER Director Ryan Coogler Thanks Fans For The Immense Support After Record-Breaking Weekend
He came. He saw. He conquered. After an earth-shattering debut at the box office, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has taken to Twitter to thank fans for the immense love his film has received.
Marvel's Black Panther had itself quite the Presidents Day weekend, breaking all kinds of records with a jaw-dropping $242 million four-day opening weekend, which was the second-best four-day opening in history. The film's stellar three-day $202 million opening was the largest opening for a superhero origin story, the second-best in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the second-best superhero movie opening ever (not accounting for inflation), right after The Avengers.
The Ryan Coogler-directed film has become a major cultural phenomenom over the past several days as fans have come out in droves to voice their passionate support for the critically-acclaimed blockbuster and now, as the dust begins to settle ever so slightly, Coogler has taken to social media to share a heartfelt letter, expressing his immense gratitude for all the love.
Read the letter in its entirety below:
I am struggling to find the words to express my gratitude at this moment, but I will try.
Filmmaking is a team sport. And our team was made up [of] amazing people from all over the world who believed in this story. Deep down we all hoped that people would come to see a film about a fictional country on the continent of Africa, made up of a cast of people of African descent.
Never in a million years did we imagine that you all would come out this strong. It still humbles me to think that people care enough to spend their money and time watching our film- But to see people of all backgrounds wearing clothing that celebrates their heritage, taking pictures next to our posters with their friends and family, and sometimes dancing in the lobbies of theaters– often moved me and my wife to tears.
For the people who bought out theaters, who posted on social about how lit the film would be, bragged about our awesome cast, picked out outfits to wear, and who stood in line in theaters all over the world– all before seeing the film…
To the press who wrote about the film for folks who hadn't yet seen it, and encouraged audiences to come out…
And to the young ones, who came out with their parents, with their mentors, and with their friends…
Thank you for giving our team of filmmakers the greatest gift: The opportunity to share this film, that we poured our hearts and souls into, with you.
Sincerely,
Ryan Coogler
P.S. Wakanda Forever
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows 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.
Black Panther features:
Director: Ryan Coogler
Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther
Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger
Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia
Danai Gurira as Okoye
Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross
Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi
Angela Bassett as Ramonda
Forest Whitaker as Zuri
Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue
Florence Kasumba as Ayo
John Kani as T'Chaka
Winston Duke as M'Baku/Man-Ape
Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu
Letitia Wright as Shuri
Isaach De Bankolé in an undisclosed role
Atandwa Kani as Young T'Chaka
Phylicia Rashad in an undisclosed role
Black Panther is out in theaters NOW!