With less than three weeks to go before the release of Marvel’s Black Panther, the hype is really starting to ramp up. The film has already surpassed expectations in terms of advanced ticket sales, and with each new trailer, teaser and TV spot, the excitement gets amped up even more.
The King of Wakanda made a splashy entrance in Captain America: Civil War, intriguing many fans who had never heard of the character before. Chadwick Boseman brought both intrigue and charm to the character, and the movie’s eye-popping action sequences only helped make Black Panther a new fan favourite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, the excitement behind the film goes beyond the character’s introduction in Civil War. Similar to what happened with Wonder Woman over the summer, the buzz surrounding Black Panther is not just because of fans who've never seen their favourite hero on the big screen before. Superhero movies have not generally given leading roles to black actors, but Black Panther will change this in a big way.
While Blade was adapted into a pretty successful film in 1998, its R-rating and darker subject matter kept it from becoming as big of a hit as Black Panther is projected to be. Also, Black Panther’s ties to African culture are essential to his character, and the film's cast is mostly black. Much like Wonder Woman, this is a hero whose culture and identity are what make him stand out from the crowd of countless other superheroes.
The trailers promise to immerse the audience in the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda, a country we only got a glimpse of in Civil War. The aesthetic has a sci-fi quality to it that could differentiate the film from others in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel clearly has high hopes for this movie, with studio executives telling director Ryan Coogler that they wanted Black Panther to become their version of James Bond. This could be true not just in terms of globe-trotting spy action, but also in terms of its franchise potential. Given his slick black suit, enormous wealth and wide array of gadgets, some Batman comparisons are warranted as well.
Black Panther certainly has a lot going for it, but there are still some things about the movie that might not land. The film’s final trailer gave us a look at Erik Killmonger in the Golden Jaguar suit, and while it looks undeniably cool, it’s a pretty familiar trope. Marvel movies have often pitted heroes against villains with near identical powers, particularly in the hero’s first standalone film.
While this plot element could end up feeling stale, the trailers for this two hour and twenty minute-long epic have been careful not to reveal a lot. It’s possible that film’s real climax is being kept under wraps until the premiere. As is the case with every movie, we won’t be able to fairly judge it until its release.
Black Panther promises to be a refreshing entry in the MCU that not only sets up a potential massive franchise but also gets audiences primed for Avengers: Infinity War as well. If Coogler’s film reaches its potential, Marvel Studios will be in uncharted territory as a dominant Hollywood force.