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Delve into the World of Wakanda – Watch Black Panther!
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.
The first reason to see Black Panther might be obvious, but I have to list it:
Mainly All Black Cast- Black Superheroes Matter!
How often do you see a superhero that isn’t a strong, handsome white guy? Having a mainly all-black cast highlights how whitewashed comics and Hollywood in general have been in the past. Rarely are superheroes and their sidekicks anything but Caucasian.
It also ensures that audiences will have their eyes opened to an embarrassingly underrepresented culture, as Coogler has done intensive research to take inspiration from cultures of South Africa, the Basotho people of Lesotho, and the Dogon people of Mali, to make the film as authentic as possible.
The powerful women in Wakanda
An important part of the Black Panther lore incorporated into the film is the Dora Milaje, the cadre of strong fierce women who serve as the personal security force to the King and royal family. These tall, statuesque, bald-headed warrior women, who move as one, command attention wherever they go.
LUPITA NYONG’O [NAKIA] says “I love the way Black Panther represents women. Each and every one of us [in the movie] is an individual. We all have our own sense of power and we hold our own space without being pitted against each other. I think that’s a very, very powerful message to send to children – both male and female.
Okoye says: “Wakanda survived for so long by only fighting when absolutely necessary.”
Warrior Falls- another one of Marvel’s Stunning Visuals!
Here are some fun facts about this miraculous set:
- The Warrior Falls set was 120’ x 75’ in size. The set was 36’ tall, with the pool being six feet above ground level. That made the cliff faces 30’ tall. Construction took about four months from start to finish.
- The entire cliff wall of the Warrior Falls, including the CG and practically built set, is 100 feet high.
- Over 25,000 cubic feet of foam was used in the Warrior Falls set, which was sculpted to match the rocks in Oribi Gorge in South Africa.
- The bottom of the Warrior Falls’ Challenge Pool was padded for the stunt team, but still looked like rock. The production crew also had to formulate a surface that was rough enough to not be too slippery in bare feet, but not so rough that it hurt to land on it.
- On the Warrior Falls set, the stunt team had to rig all of the cliff faces with mountain climbing gear to safely secure all of the extras on the cliff faces.
Amazing Mythical World of Wakanda is a Technology Genius!
Within Marvel mythology, the seemingly impoverished African nation of Wakanda is, in fact, the cradle of the impervious metal vibranium. With it comes a bevy of technology, knowledge, wealth and power. It far surpasses anything the modern world could ever imagine and establishes Wakanda as a technological, albeit reclusive, giant. Shuri is the techie genius of Wakanda! “Shuri is someone who’s very innovative. She takes care of the technology side of everything that’s going on in Wakanda. She designs exciting, cool things that we see in the film.Her brain is always working, and she’s always thinking of solutions to help her country and building gadgets and things like better armor.
Michael B Jordan (Erik Killmonger) as the villain:
Erik Killmonger is a new foe to Wakanda with designs on the throne. Equipped with deadly tactical skills and knowledge of Wakanda, he is a formidable enemy for our heroes. To see Jordan go from a strong, empowering roll in Creed to a villian in Black Panther, makes him a star to watch.
When the director proposed the idea of Jordan flexing a different acting muscle and consider taking on the role of Killmonger, a darker, more unconventional turn for the actor, Jordan agreed without hesitation. You won’t want to miss him!
As a bonus, check out this video of costume designer Ruth E. Carter uncovering her inspirations behind the iconic outfits of Black Panther!
Be sure to keep up with Black Panther on Social Media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere on May 8 and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on May 15.