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Tag: black panther

  • The 10 Best Superhero Movies of All Time

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    A radioactive super-spider must have bitten pop culture, because we’re stuck on superhero media like Spider-Man to a wall. The 21st century is the age of the supe: never have caped crusaders been more relevant, more topical, more inescapable than they are right now. While the modern era may be the heyday of heroes, decades of crimefighting cinema paved the way here. Caped crusaders of the past walked so modern ones could—quite literally—fly.

    These are the ten greatest superhero movies of all time.

    Watchmen (2009)

    The Watchmen team standing together in Watchmen movie.
    (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by Zack Snyder, Watchmen is a shocking deconstruction of superhero identity. Adapted from Alan Moore’s all-time great graphic novel, the film tells the story of a group of washed-up crime fighters dragged back into the public eye after one of their number is murdered. What begins as a dark and dismal whodunnit soon evolves into a sci-fi thriller of globe-spanning proportions. While some of The Watchmen are content to hang up their capes and cowls, others are still looking to bring about the greater good—and decide to do so by the evilest means. Watchmen‘s greatness stems from its darkly human portrayal of superheroes, fallible people blessed with infallible abilities, cursed to make mistakes. No one’s perfect, but the pressure is enough to make any caped crusader crack. Over the course of Watchmen, many caped crusaders will. Except for Rorschach, he was pretty cracked from the get-go.

    Blade (1998)

    wesley snipes as blade in blade (1998)
    (New Line Cinema)

    Directed by Stephen Norrington, Blade is the most underrated superhero movie ever made. Wesley Snipes plays the titular vampire killer, a gunslinging, sword-swinging badass that oozes charisma from every pore. On the hunt for a powerful bloodsucker summoning an evil god, Blade cuts a swath through creatures of the night with bloodstained style. One of the first superhero movies with a dark and sinister tone, Blade ushered in a new era of gritty superhero media, laying the foundations for horror-adjacent hits like Hellboy and The Crow. What truly makes Blade great is its contributions to vampire myth. The blood rave that begins the film? Iconic. Vampire folktales have been around for centuries, but none of them involved dancing to techno while drenched in O negative until this film came along.

    Avengers: Endgame (2019)

    Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Avengers: Endgame
    (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

    The culmination of a decade of superhero films, Avengers: Endgame is the most ambitious “season finale” ever produced. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the film stands at the pinnacle of the Marvel cinematic universe, a multi-million dollar testament to the modern-day popularity of the superhero genre. To take down Thanos once and for all, the Avengers assemble literally everyone—ten years’ worth of caped crusaders show up to a battle for the fate of the universe. The result was goosebump-inducing—a last stand that conjured up laughter, tears, and shouts of victory from movie theater audiences across the world. Avengers: Endgame was the culmination of a pop-culture phenomenon, a lightning-in-a-bottle moment that can never be repeated. Like the fight with Thanos, you just had to be there.

    Black Panther (2018)

    Close-up of Chadwick Boseman in the Black Panther suit
    (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

    Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther is the tale of T’Challa, the king of Wakanda. While serving as his nation’s protector—the Black Panther—T’Challa must take down a rebel Wakandan who wishes to break from the country’s isolationist policies and spark a worldwide revolution. The film was a one-of-a-kind addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an Afro-futurist adventure that became a cultural touchstone. Aside from being a cinematic work of wonder, the film’s soundtrack was an equally landmark contribution to rap and hip hop—featuring collaborations from Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Vince Staples. A glorious chapter in modern superhero mythology, Black Panther was a crystallized moment of history in the making. Wakanda forever.

    Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

    A 3D animated Spider-Man leaping over the hood of a yellow taxi cab on a neon-lighted New York street, in "Into The Spider Verse"
    (Sony Pictures Releasing)

    The Incredibles was arguably the greatest animated superhero film for quite some time, and then along came a spider to challenge it for the title. Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse served as a departure from the Peter Parker norm, putting a younger webslinger into the spotlight. Miles Morales is the Spider-Man for a new generation, and the film follows his coming-of-age quest to become the hero whose deeds will stand the test of time. Part action and part sci-fi, Into The Spider-Verse is a gloriously comic-booky romp through parallel dimensions, each one a triumph of animation. It’s one of the most cinematically beautiful films on this list—brain chemistries were permanently changed watching the upside-down shot of Miles falling upward into the New York City skyline.

    Superman (1978)

    Superman flies into the sky in "Superman"
    (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by Richard Donner, Superman walked so modern superhero movies could fly. Well, technically Superman flew, too—but you get what I mean. The film covers all the Kryptonian bases, beginning with Superman’s escape from his doomed home planet and culminating in a showdown with his archnemesis Lex Luthor. Superman also marked the beginning of Christopher Reeve’s career, one of the most iconic and sincere performances the genre has ever produced. Reeves’ Kent is statuesque, but he’s also gentle, awkward, and deeply human—a Boy Scout with a heart of gold. He doesn’t feel like a god hiding among mortal men, but a man answering the call to become something greater, and the result is all the more compelling. The true star of this film, however, is the special effects—staggering flight sequences filmed without the help of CGI. Despite being made nearly half a century ago, Superman remains as visually impressive as any modern-day superhero movie on this list.

    Spider-Man 2 (2004)

    Spider-Man straining to hold back a subway train from crashing while terrified passengers look on in "Spider-Man 2"
    (Sony)

    Directed by Sami Rami, Spider-Man 2 pulled off the impossible: improved upon its near-perfect predecessor. After surviving the near-death experience that was The Green Goblin, Peter Parker suits up once more to take on a far deadlier foe: Doctor Octopus. Played by Alfred Molina, Doc Ock was part tragic hero and part horror movie monster—brought to life by some of the most astounding puppetry effects in movie history. While Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin was nothing to sneeze at, this tentacled terror was easily Spider-Man’s most challenging villain to date—though that runaway subway train was also one tough customer. While Spider-Man is a superhero story at its core, it borrows from other film genres to create a cosmopolitan whole. Doc Ock’s solar fusion machine feels like peak H.G. Wells sci-fi, while the hospital tentacle attack sequence is a nightmarish callback to Rami’s Evil Dead roots. And of course, Peter Parker and Mary Jane’s romance is the Romeo and Juliet of the superhero genre.

    The Incredibles (2004)

    The Incredibles family flies into action
    (Pixar Animation Studios)

    Directed by Brad Bird, The Incredibles is the story of cinema’s greatest superfamily. A blood-related spin on the Fantastic Four, The Incredibles style themselves after classic heroes from the mid-20th century—an homage to campy superhero flicks of yesteryear. But don’t be fooled by the family-friendly veneer, this film hides darker themes beneath its Eda Mode-tailored exterior. Like a kid-friendly Watchmen, The Incredibles is a tale of superhero disillusionment—its villain twisted by his inability to see heroes as flawed and fallible people. More mature than its marketing campaign suggested, The Incredibles teaches two incredibly important life lessons: 1) even the most well-intentioned heroes can hurt people without meaning to, and 2) never, ever, ever wear a cape—especially near a plane turbine.

    Logan (2017)

    x-23 and logan sitting in a car together
    (20th Century Fox)

    Directed by James Mangold, Logan brought Academy Award levels dramatic weight to a genre known for its lightheartedness. Set in a near-future world where mutants are dying out, the film centers around a Wolverine long past his prime. Struggling to live on after the X-Men have all but bitten the dust, Logan is given a new reason to be after finding a lost little girl with powers like his own. Hunted by mutant killing mercenaries, Logan and Laura bear down upon their foes like twin tornadoes of claws and teeth. A surrogate father/daughter tale of survival, Logan unfolds with all the gruesome gravitas of The Last of Us. Violence in this film isn’t a “biff-pow-thwack” comic book affair; it’s a bloody, desperate struggle with emotionally traumatizing results. Logan is a brutally beautiful elegy for one of the most beloved heroes ever created—until Deadpool dug him up again.

    The Dark Knight (2008)

    Batman (Christian Bale) interrogates the Joker (Heath Ledger) in
    (Warner Bros.)

    Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight is widely considered a top contender for the title of Greatest Superhero Movie Ever Made. Centered around one of the most beloved hero/villain pairs in comic book history, The Dark Knight sets the stage for the ultimate Batman vs. The Joker showdown. The casting is impeccable: Bale’s grim Dark Knight plays perfectly against Heath Ledger’s madcap Crown Prince of Crime, resulting in some of the most palpable on-screen chemistry in movie history. These two actors “complete” each other, just like the Joker suggests. Combine these top-notch performances with mind-boggling action sequences, a hair-raising script, and one of the best scores ever composed, and you’ve got a superfilm on your hands.

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    Sarah Fimm

    Sarah Fimm (they/them) is actually nine choirs of biblically accurate angels crammed into one pair of $10 overalls. They have been writing articles for nerds on the internet for less than a year now. They really like anime. Like… REALLY like it. Like you know those annoying little kids that will only eat hotdogs and chicken fingers? They’re like that… but with anime. It’s starting to get sad.

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    Sarah Fimm

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  • Ryan Coogler’s Original Plan for Chadwick Boseman in ‘Black Panther 2’ Was So Good

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    After the heartbreaking loss of Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever became more than just a film. It became a cathartic celebration of life, allowing everyone who watched it to face pain and grief in their own unique ways. But, according to writer-director Ryan Coogler, the original version of the movie with Boseman at the center would’ve been equally as powerful, just in a whole different way.

    Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler detailed specifically what his original script for Black Panther 2 would’ve been about, and it sounds absolutely incredible. “I loved that script, bro,” Coogler said. “I put so much into that version of the movie because I felt like I had gotten to know Chadwick as a performer.”

    So what was it about exactly? “The big thing about the script was that it was this thing called the Ritual of Eight,” Coogler said. “When a prince is eight years old, he has to go spend eight days in the bush with his father. Amongst those eight days, they have to go into the bush without any tools. And the prince has to listen and do everything that’s asked of him by his father, but the rule is, for those eight days, the prince can ask the father any question. And the father has to answer.”

    “So during the course of those eight days, Namor launches an attack,” Coogler continued. “So that was what the movie was. He had to deal with somebody, and it was a different version of Namor in that script, but he had to deal with someone who was, like, insanely dangerous. But, because of this ritual, his son had to be joined at his hip the whole time. So while he was engaging in negotiations and fights, his son had to be right there, or else they’d have to violate this ritual, which had never been broken.”

    Coogler also revealed that when he finished that version of the script, he sent it to Boseman to read, but he was too sick to do so. He passed sometime after, and for a while some people thought the movie would never happen. That was until Coogler then took the tragic loss of Boseman and put it right at the heart of the new film, making it about how Wakanda and its people dealt with the loss of their king. It went on to be a huge hit, and Coogler is currently working on a third film, expected to be released in 2028. Oh, and he made a small film called Sinners in between.

    But fans will always think about how things would’ve been different if Boseman were still with us, and now, finally, we know Coogler had a completely different, equally brilliant smash on his hands. You can watch Coogler talk about Black Panther 2 in the video below. Rewind a few minutes to hear all of the Black Panther talk, and two movies ahead for more on Black Panther 3.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    Germain Lussier

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  • Chadwick Boseman honored with posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: ‘He was an incredible leader’

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    (CNN) — Friends, family and fans gathered Thursday to honor the late Chadwick Boseman receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

    Thursday was declared “Chadwick Boseman Day” in Hollywood, and his “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” costar Viola Davis, his “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler and Boseman’s widow Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman spoke during the emotional ceremony.

    “I have to believe that Chadwick is still alive,” Davis said. “I can’t use the word ‘gone’ or ‘death’ really when thinking about him.”

    The “Black Panther” actor died in 2020 at the age of 43 after a private battle with colon cancer.

    Davis noted that they worked on their Oscar-winning movie “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” just before he passed, and said Boseman “was always trying to engage me on the set” talking about the “cap of success” and having the types of conversations that she believes people have when they know they “possibly are transitioning.”

    The late actor, she said in her tribute, was a “mighty mighty elixir that sort of stirred up the alchemy that we’re all in search of, which is meaning.”

    “I celebrate him today. And I say to him, I hope all the angels in heaven just sang him to a beautiful rest,” Davis said. “And I thank him for what he left behind in me, which is a burning ember that always guides me to a higher meaning of my work and my purpose.”

    “This star, as beautiful as it is on the Walk of Fame, shines a whole lot less brighter than Chadwick is in heaven,” she concluded her speech.

    Coogler, Boseman’s friend who directed him in the “Black Panther” Marvel film, asked for attendees’ understanding as he emotionally talked about the late star.

    “When I think of Chadwick Boseman I think of three things: leadership, teaching and generosity,” Coogler said. “He was an incredible leader.”

    The famed “Sinners” director said Boseman was “ageless,” and joked he didn’t know his age until he went to one of his birthday parties. He also told a story about Boseman sneaking past stars like Sylvestor Stallone, Michael B. Jordan (who was present at Thursday’s ceremony) and others to get into Coogler’s hotel room during a big press tour for the 2015 film “Creed.”

    Boseman, Coogler said, wanted to meet with him to talk about working together on “Black Panther” and managed to evade even the press that were were present.

    “I was so impressed by that and I asked him how he got past everybody and he smiled and said, ‘That was the Panther,’” Coogler said, chuckling.

    Boseman’s wife was the last to take the podium, and had a heartfelt message for her late husband.

    “Chad, today we recognize a lifetime of artistry. We recognize your skill and your devotion and we cement your legacy as a hero and icon,” she said. “You lived with honor and you walked in truth. You were as brilliant as you were beautiful and as courageous as you were kind. We love you, we miss you and we thank you.”

    She then invited her husband’s brothers, Derrick and Kevin Boseman, to help with the unveiling of the star.

    In addition to portraying T’Challa in “Black Panther” and other Marvel movies as well as his Academy Award-nominated turn in Netflix’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Boseman had a robust film and television career, and portrayed Thurgood Marshall, James Brown and Jackie Robinson on film before his untimely passing.

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    Lisa Respers France and CNN

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  • ‘Black Panther 3’ is Officially Ryan Coogler’s Next Movie

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    We’ll be going back to the world of Wakanda soon enough, as Ryan Coogler has announced Black Panther 3 as his next project.

    During a panel for Sinners at Deadline’s Contenders Film event, the writer/director confirmed the threequel is “the next movie” on his schedule. “If it was anybody but you, I would say, ‘I can neither confirm nor deny.’ But we’re working on it hard.”

    It’s never been a question of if Coogler would go back to Black Panther, but when: Marvel’s got quite a few heroes waiting on their sequels and have been MIA for a minute. Even so, the two Panther movies have done pretty well at the box office, and Shuri, M’Baku, and Namor are locked in for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. A third film was all but a given, especially after last November when Denzel Washington teased Coogler was eyeing him for a mystery role, something the director later confirmed.

    Marvel previously laid some flags for unannounced MCU movies on its incoming schedule spanning the next few years, particularly four movies expected to land in 2028. We’ll see where Black Panther 3 ends up on the slate, and how it’ll be affected by whatever the Wakandans get mixed up in during Doomsday and Secret Wars. Until then, the first two films and the recent Eyes of Wakanda animated miniseries are there to watch over on Disney+. But if you’d like some more Coogler, there’s always Sinners and his upcoming take on The X-Files.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    Justin Carter

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  • Disney Destiny: Representation Matters

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    The first Disney-related character you see upon boarding the Disney Destiny and entering the grand hall is T’Challa, the Black Panther. Black, strong, magnificent in stature, and representative of the hopes and dreams of Black comic book and Marvel fans the world over. the statue speaks to the power of representation. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    PORT EVERGLADES, FL – The first Disney-related character you see upon boarding the Disney Destiny and entering the grand hall of the latest addition to the global entertainment company’s fleet of cruise ships, is Black, strong, magnificent in stature, and representative of the hopes and dreams of Black comic book and Marvel fans the world over. 

    T’Challa, the Black Panther, King of Wakanda. The statue looms large over any other character depictions on the ship. He is standing with his shoulders back, his fist balled up, ready for battle if necessary. At his feet is a panther in mid-stride, equally ready to pounce if that’s what the situation calls for. The statue is beautiful. It is also overwhelmingly brilliant.

    The physical image of the Black Panther as the premier representative on a ship which features heroes and villains says so much more than any words can best describe. Representation matters, and for the children of all races and adults who board the Disney Destiny going forward, the Black Panther will be the representation that they see.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    There are other Disney heroes and villains represented on Destiny as well. Portraits of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Mulan, Hercules, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Frozone, can be found through the ship’s many hallways and stairways. All kinds of representations of heroes live on this ship. 

    On Deck 3, however, there is a set of small paintings that further set the tone of representation. There are six in total, and though colorful, their blackness shines through the brightest of all. The paintings are of African warrior tribes. Some of the warriors carry spears and wear masks. Others have people carrying small children in their arms. All are families bonding generations to one another.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Near the concierge desk is another depiction of the Black Panther. He can be seen several times on the ship, including on the way to the restaurant, World of Marvel. In this landscape painting, the Black Panther stands atop a boulder; to his left and right are the Dora Milaje, the all-female royal corps of warriors. This portrait can be taken directly from the screens of the Black Panther films and pages of the modern comic books. It’s beautiful. 

    The Disney Destiny will provide guests with a top-notch cruise experience, and the quality service that Disney provides at its parks, hotel properties, and on cruise ships. 

    That said, destiny can also be described as destiny fulfilled. The level of representation on this ship speaks louder than any other I have witnessed in five years of covering the brand. It’s loud, proud, and at least in this instance, very Black and beautiful.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Chadwick Boseman Fans Are in Tears After Watching Marvel Zombies

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    Chadwick Boseman’s legacy resurfaced in Marvel Zombies with T’Challa’s on-screen sacrifice. In the animated series, Black Panther battles Zombie Thanos before giving his life to destroy the Infinity Stones. The moment arrives as Marvel continues to expand its animated slate on Disney+.

    T’Challa’s Marvel Zombies sacrifice makes Chadwick Boseman fans sad

    T’Challa’s sacrifice in Marvel Zombies has sparked strong reactions online, with fans of Chadwick Boseman reflecting on the emotional moment. In the animated series, Black Panther fights Zombie Thanos and ultimately gives his life to destroy the Infinity Stones. The episode shows Spider-Man narrating the event, framing it as a heroic farewell to the Wakandan king.

    Viewers on X (formerly Twitter) expressed how deeply the scene resonated. One post read, “This part really got me crying. T’Challa is so fearless, leaping like a real panther… and still just as powerful. #MarvelZombies.” Another fan highlighted the pivotal moment: “Zombie Thanos vs Black Panther HELL YEAH and he sacrificed himself to save the universe, damn it was emotional.”

    The sequence also carried significance for those who tied it back to Boseman’s legacy. One user shared, “[SPOILERS] Witnessing T’Challa in action once more meant everything. As the Wakandan music played, tears clouded my eyes immediately… man, I missed him so much. You’ll always be my favorite superhero and still one of my strongest inspirations.” The comment received over 737,000 views, reflecting the impact of the scene.

    Another post pointed out Marvel’s handling of the character: “Marvel gave Chadwick Boseman a final heroic send-off in #MarvelZombies—Black Panther sacrifices himself to destroy Zombie Thanos and the Infinity Stones… with Spider-Man telling the story. Should Marvel Studios have recast T’Challa’s voice, or is this the perfect farewell?” Alongside the post, images showed Black Panther battling Zombie Thanos in a glowing suit, with a caption overlay reading, “Like he knew that it was the last time.”

    The storyline offered audiences a chance to see T’Challa’s bravery once more, with many fans framing it as a powerful tribute.

    Originally reported by Vritti Johar on SuperHeroHype.

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  • A Marvel-ous Monster Jam!

    A Marvel-ous Monster Jam!

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    HOUSTON, TX — The rumble is back. Monster Jam is returning to Houston’s NRG Stadium! Don’t miss the U.S. debut of the Marvel Monster Trucks, Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and the Amazing Spiderman.

    “I grew up as a little kid watching Monster Jam and I dressed up as Spiderman, so having the two come together is absolutely wild. I’m just a big kid driving a 12,000 pound Monster Truck flying high through the sky,” Monster Truck driver Camden Murphy says with a smile.

    Monster Jam is an edge-of-your-seat experience for both the drivers and the fans. Add in the Marvel Superheroes and it takes the ride to a whole new level!

    “We all grew up watching superheroes, to be behind the wheel of Iron Man is a dream come true,” said Iron Man Monster Truck driver Brandon Arthur. “We are doing stuff in the trucks we shouldn’t be doing. You pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only be using the edge.”

    It’s fun for the entire family, so buckle up for a Monster Jam Marvel weekend spin!

    “If you’ve never been to Monster Jam, you have to come,” said Murphy. “I guarantee you, I promise you, if it’s your first time, it will never be your last.”

    For more information, visit Monster Jam online.

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    CCG

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  • A Marvel-ous Monster Jam!

    A Marvel-ous Monster Jam!

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    HOUSTON, TX — The rumble is back. Monster Jam is returning to Houston’s NRG Stadium. Don’t miss the U.S. debut of the Marvel Monster Trucks, Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and the Amazing Spiderman.

    “I grew up as a little kid watching Monster Jam and I dressed up as Spiderman so having the two come together is absolutely wild. I’m just a big kid driving a 12,000 pound Monster Truck flying high through the sky,” Monster Truck driver Camden Murphy says with a smile.

    Monster Jam is an edge-of-your-seat experience for the drivers and the fans. Add in the Marvel Superheroes and it takes the ride to a whole new level!

    “We all grew up watching superheroes, to be behind the wheel of Iron Man is a dream come true,” said Iron Man Monster Truck driver Brandon Arthur, “We are doing stuff in the trucks we shouldn’t be doing. You pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only be using the edge.”

    It’s fun for the entire family, so buckle up for a Monster Jam Marvel weekend spin!

    “If you’ve never been to Monster Jam, you have to come,” said Murphy. “I guarantee you, I promise you, if it’s your first time, it will never be your last.”

    For more information, visit Monster Jam online.

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  • Who the Hell Is Nelson Peltz, the Billionaire Investor Disney Is Freaking Out About?

    Who the Hell Is Nelson Peltz, the Billionaire Investor Disney Is Freaking Out About?

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    So-called activist investor Nelson Peltz, who’s aiming to win two Disney board seats, has stirred up some controversy by calling out Disney’s recent era of “woke” strategy through diversifying its slate of films at Marvel Studios.

    Andor Episodes 1-3 Review

    The 81-year-old businessman, whose experience is with food companies including Wendy’s and H.J. Heinz as well as having once supported the DeSantis presidential campaign, had a lot to say about The Marvels and Black Panther in an interview with the Financial Times. “Why do I have to have a Marvel [movie] that’s all women?” Peltz asked the publication. “Not that I have anything against women, but why do I have to do that? Why can’t I have Marvels that are both? Why do I need an all-Black cast?” Side note: Peltz happens to be the father of Nicola Peltz, who played Katara in 2010’s infamously very white Last Airbender adaptation.

    He continued, “People go to watch a movie or a show to be entertained. They don’t go to get a message.” Since he also claimed that he doesn’t have experience in media, it’s interesting to note that Peltz’s Trian Partners is pushing for this vote as part of Ike Perlmutter’s hopes for retaliation against Disney CEO Bob Iger, who terminated him from Marvel Entertainment last year. Variety reported that, “Trian controls roughly $3.5 billion worth of Disney stock, 79% of which is owned by Perlmutter.” This goes back to Perlmutter’s feud with Kevin Feige, who pushed for Black Panther and Captain Marvel. Perlmutter fought against diversity in Marvel’s slate until Iger stepped in to force his hand and allow the films to be made.

    Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, starring the late Chadwick Boseman, was a hit with $1.35 billion at the worldwide box office; it kicked off the Academy Award-winning franchise and brought more inclusivity to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Proving Perlmutter wrong publicly while revealing the lengths the forner Marvel exec went to in order to stop diverse superhero toys, merch, and movies being made really propelled Feige into the public’s good graces. Recent misses for the studio including The Marvels have caused some Marvel watchers to wonder if Feige’s position should be called into question. When asked by the Financial Times if it should, Peltz responded, “I’m not ready to say that, but I question his record.”

    Disney board member George Lucas recently stood up against Peltz by releasing a statement (reprinted in Variety and elsewhere) to support Bob Iger in rejecting his bid. “Creating magic is not for amateurs,” Lucas said in a shot right at Peltz, who also admitted to the Financial Times he’s been a bit of a bully. (“What sense is being a billionaire if you’re not a bully?” Peltz has been quoted as saying.) Which is such a strange stance to bring into Disney, standing directly against all it represents.

    Lucas continued, “When I sold Lucasfilm just over a decade ago, I was delighted to become a Disney shareholder because of my longtime admiration for its iconic brand and Bob Iger’s leadership.” He added, “When Bob recently returned to the company during a difficult time, I was relieved. No one knows Disney better. I remain a significant shareholder because I have full faith and confidence in the power of Disney and Bob’s track record of driving long-term value. I have voted all of my shares for Disney’s 12 directors and urge other shareholders to do the same.”

    Peltz aims to add more board seats for his hedge fund firm through his Disney bid and support the agenda that Ike Perlmutter, his silent third party partner, has advocated for during his Disney tenure. The Hollywood Reporter disclosed that Perlmutter had this up his sleeve as soon as he was terminated, as he immediately pledged his stakes in Disney to Peltz. Before Iger came back Peltz had attempted a proxy battle with the company as a result of its losses, but was held off by his return. With this seat bid he hopes for round two in having more direct influence on the company board.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    Sabina Graves

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  • Dressing the Watery Worlds of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Dressing the Watery Worlds of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

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    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney)

    “If you are asked to do a movie and they say there’s water, hang up,” jokes costume designer Ruth E. Carter, who had a steep learning curve for creating the underwater kingdom of Talokan. With the aquatic scenes filmed both on land and underwater, Carter often had to create multiple versions of the sea dwellers’ costumes. Occasionally, the outfits wouldn’t cooperate while wet, but visual effects supervisor Geoffrey Baumann told Carter “not to worry too much about the technicalities, but worry about the beauty of the costume itself.” Though the visual effects team could make changes in post, Carter and her team also used 3D printing, materials like silicone, and weights to make the costumes flow with ethereal grace.

    Mejia by Eli Ade/Marvel Studios. Wakanda Forever Stills Courtesy of Marvel Studios.

    For Namor’s feathered headdress, Carter made a second, rigid version to go underwater, which the VFX team animated for that beautiful underwater movement. One of the most challenging costumes to adapt was M’Baku’s, which is made of fur, leather, and a large grass skirt. Every day was a lesson, says Carter. “As much as you thought you knew about water, there was so much more to learn.”

    Avatar: The Way of Water (20th Century Studios)

    When James Cameron moved the central characters of his long-awaited sequel from the trees to the seas, it meant creating an entirely new look for the Metkayina reef-people clan. Costume designer Deborah L. Scott started in the real world, creating hundreds of looks for what would be entirely digital characters. “Every single costume that you see, every piece of jewelry, every bead in the hair, is all real,” says Scott. Because the Metkayina spend much of their time in the water, she and the VFX team studied how all the clothing would react underwater. They even put costumes on the actors over their performance capture suits, allowing them to feel what their characters were wearing. Says Scott, “It became really obvious to us that the real thing is better than anything you can fabricate.”

    BTS by Mark Fellman. Stills Courtesy of 20th Century Studios. 

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  • Danai Gurira ‘Gently’ Teases ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Series About Her Okoye Character

    Danai Gurira ‘Gently’ Teases ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Series About Her Okoye Character

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    A “Black Panther” spinoff show for Disney+ may be on the horizon.

    Danai Gurira, who stars as Okoye in Marvel’s “Black Panther” franchise, appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Friday where she “gently alluded” to a forthcoming series based on her character.

    When asked if she can confirm reports of a spinoff show featuring the vibranium spear wielding head of the Wakandan armed forces, the actor tiptoed around an official answer.

    Eventually caving in, she told Colbert, “I have been told that I can gently allude to this possibility.”

    “So, I am gently alluding, just gently,” she quipped with a smile.

    Colbert jokingly fired back, “You gently alluding is the Marvel version of a full monty. I can’t believe I got anything out of you.”

    Gurira has been reportedly slated to take on the role of the fiercely loyal protector of Wakanda in the spinoff series since 2021, according to The Hollywood Reporter. However, Disney has not yet confirmed the show or announced a release date.

    Since 2018’s “Black Panther,” Gurira has also appeared as the leader of the Dora Milaje, a royal all-female security team for King T’Challa aka Black Panther, in 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” and 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

    “Wakanda Forever” director Ryan Coogler will also reportedly be at the helm of the forthcoming streaming series, according to Deadline.

    In 2021, Disney announced that the famed filmmaker will develop new television series for the studio as a part of a five-year exclusive television deal with Coogler’s Proximity Media.

    In November, Gurira, 44, gushed to People about feeling proud of filming the record-breaking “Wakanda Forever.” She added that grieving with her castmates following the death of the film’s lead Chadwick Boseman “meant everything” to her.

    “It was not an easy journey. It was the whole journey through making this movie, getting it to the finish line,” she said at the time. “Sometimes it really felt like, are we going to make it? Even grief, you don’t know when it’s going to hit you.”

    She added, “The way that the world expanded beautifully, the right people came in and really understood that we were there to honor this man and we were going through grief as we pursued that goal.”

    “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is set to stream on Disney+ Feb. 1.

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  • The 18 Most Fashionionable TV Shows and Movies of 2022

    The 18 Most Fashionionable TV Shows and Movies of 2022

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    There are few creative mediums that pair as well as fashion and film. The right costumes help advance the story’s plot, while motion captures clothing’s most dramatic displays. This symbiotic relationship has produced some of the most iconic, seared-in-our-brain images over time — and 2022 had a few strong contenders to be added to that list.

    From the flamboyant dresses on “Bridgerton” and the glittery and trend-setting looks from “Euphoria” to the alternate-dimension-defining clothes of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and the powerful, emotional costumes of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” film and television provided us tons of with rich, memorable fashion this year that we know we’ll be revisiting. 

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  • AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Tenoch Huerta, a global hero

    AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Tenoch Huerta, a global hero

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    By BERENICE BAUTISTA

    December 16, 2022 GMT

    MEXICO CITY (AP) — The opening credits of “Wakanda Forever” fittingly say “introducing Tenoch Huerta.”

    What an introduction it’s been.

    Huerta’s role as Namor in the “Black Panther” sequel has wowed audiences, catapulting him onto the global stage and sparking conversations about race and identity, both in his native Mexico and abroad. It’s also led to Huerta being named one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2022, joining the ranks of Sadie Sink, Daryl McCormack and his fellow Marvel standout, Iman Vellani.

    Like many of the Breakthrough Entertainer honorees, Huerta isn’t a newcomer. He’s appeared in numerous films such as “The Forever Purge” and series like “Mozart in the Jungle” and “Narcos: Mexico.” But “Wakanda Forever” has given him a new level of global exposure, which he’s using to advance several causes like inclusivity and social justice.

    Huerta grew up in Ecatepec, a suburban area of Mexico City, infamous for its high levels of delinquency and often referred with prejudice by the people in the capital.

    “It’s not easy to come from there,” said Huerta in a recent interview in Mexico City during the promotion of “Wakanda Forever.” The area is close to the capital, but “you can spend a couple of hours to reach the nearest subway station, there’s violence.”

    Huerta, 41, acknowledged that the fact that he didn’t see “brown skin people” like him on screen or theater, and definitively not in advertisements, made him believe that acting wasn’t a serious possibility. “You can’t dream of something that you can see,” he said.

    He spent many years playing American Football, and it wasn’t until his father prodded him that he considered acting. “When I was 16 my father insisted to me to become an actor, he pushed me to take workshops,” said Huerta. “The workshop was for two or three weeks, and I spent nine months. I liked it a lot but, (it) never was my life plan, it was just a hobby.”

    He kept going to casting calls and was selected to play a gardener who entertains white rich youngsters in Gael García Bernal’s debut feature “Deficit” (2007). That took him to the Cannes Film Festival for the first time, a journey he repeated in 2011 with Everardo Gout’s “Days of Grace,” for which he won the Ariel, the Mexican equivalent to the Oscars, as best actor.

    “Until that moment I assumed, I understood I was an actor, but it takes a long time and a nomination to the Ariel, many awards around the world and in Mexico, and finally in that moment I thought, ‘Ok I’m an actor.’ It was a process,” said Huerta.

    Huerta said he was a fan of Marvel movies and was really pleased when he received a videocall from the director Ryan Coogler who was explaining the plot of “Wakanda Forever.” The story included a shaman and a potion that people drank before jumping into the ocean.

    “The communication was frozen for about five minutes so when he is back, he says ‘So what do you think?’” recalled Huerta. “I never understood clearly what was about this offer and then I told my agents, and they found out that he (Coogler) was offering me Namor. I assumed it was the shaman, but they said, ‘No its Namor.’”

    His character is the leader of Tlalokan, the subaquatic world where Namor lives. It is a vibrant world inspired by pre-Hispanic architecture and culture, created with help from Mayan experts.

    “They grew up in Mayan communities, they are Mayan speakers and they have degrees and all the credentials to work in this movie,” said Huerta. “I just can say that Marvel and Disney they’re making a really great job of inclusion and representation and finally people like us, we’re able to see ourselves in this movie, so proud, so beautiful and so powerful, that’s a gift.”

    Huerta said the second-best part, after the reassurance of collaborating with experts in the film, was to do all the training and battles, learning to hold his breath for minutes underwater and use wires to simulate the flights of Namor.

    “In real life … my knees hurt, my back and everything. I’m a simple human, and I’m getting old by the way,” said Huerta smiling. “But in the movie it’s such a great experience.”

    In Mexico Huerta has become a symbol of the fight for racial justice, winning acclaim but also facing criticism from people who consider him problematic because as a person with dark skin, Huerta denounces prejudice against those who look like him.

    Huerta recently published “Orgullo prieto” (which loosely translates as Dark Skinned Pride) a book in which he recalls his own experiences facing racism and classism in his country.

    “For me this book is a way to say we need to learn, we need to change and then try to have a better society. I specially wrote this book for the kids for the young people,” said the father of two girls. “I try to create, as much as I can, a better place to live for them.”

    Seeing himself as a breakthrough artist brings Huerta hope.

    “I don’t know how my life is gonna be changed from this point on, but I hope this movie affects the people, affects the kids and if the kids are able to look at themselves on the mirror and feel proud,” he said. “If they are able to look at them and feel proud of themselves, for me, that’s perfect.”

    ___

    For more on AP’s 2022 class of Breakthrough Entertainers, please visit: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-breakthrough-entertainers

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  • We Ranked the Best and the Brightest of All the Superheroes

    We Ranked the Best and the Brightest of All the Superheroes

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    STOP TRYING TO SIT WITH US!

    Listen, I get that you’re new here. From what I understand, you transferred out of Anime High because you couldn’t sit with the most popular anime boys and girls of all time. But why did you think Superhero High would be any different? You’re NOT one of the popular superheroes. I don’t even think you’re super at all! HOW DID YOU EVEN GET IN HERE? DID YOU BREAK INTO SCHOOL GROUNDS? HOW DID NO ONE NOTICE?

    Okay, maybe your superpower is that you’re so unpopular you’re basically invisible. Cool. Whatever. Why don’t you go and sit with the other invisible kids. They’re around here somewhere—I think? That could be them over there. Or maybe that table is just empty? Idk. Go sit down. If you sit in Captain Invisible’s, it’ll probably be the most action he’s had all year.

    You’re still HERE? Okay, listen. If I introduce to the popular heroes you will you PROMISE to leave?

    *sigh*

    Okay fine. Let’s go.

    10. Iron Man

    Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War.
    (Marvel Entertainment)

    Okay, see the guy whose lunch box is feeding him with mechanical arms? That’s Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. He’s what we call “new popular”. He wasn’t really all that cool when he first hit the scene. I mean, don’t get me wrong. He was still pretty popular. There was like… a Black Sabbath song about him I think? Idk some Dad music. But he got SUPER popular when he was played by Robert Downey Jr. in 2008. And it’s all been uphill from there.

    9. Thor

    Chris Hemsworth wonders who Thor really is in the trailer for 'Thor: Love and Thunder'
    (Marvel Entertainment)

    Thor is also what we call “new popular”. He wasn’t really all that back when his first comics started. Tbh I thought he looked like kind of a dork with the winged helmet. He debuted in Journey Into Mystery #83 all the way back in the 1960s. But it wasn’t till the Avengers movies took off that he saw his popularity soar. The first Thor movie was okay, but he didn’t hit home with fans. But then the people at Marvel had the bright idea to make him comic relief in movies like Thor: Ragnorok and the fans went wild. And who wouldn’t go wild over Chris Hemsworth, am I right?

    8. The Incredible Hulk

    Bruce Banner as Professor Hulk in Endgame
    (Marvel Entertainment)

    Okay so the Incredible Hulk was always cool, but a lot of people didn’t give him the time of day because his mild-mannered Bruce Banner persona wasn’t as cool as, say Bruce Wayne. I mean Bruce Banner is kind of a nerd, and nerds weren’t really in for a while. Now nerds are so in; basically everyone on Earth is a nerd in some fandom right now. Just wasn’t the case back then. But what’s not to love about a guy who turns huge and green and smashes things when he gets mad? I wish I could do that.

    7. Wolverine

    Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in X2
    (20th Century Fox)

    Wolverine was also always cool, but again, he didn’t get MEGA cool until he a Hollywood makeover. The original Wolverine is kinda ugly. He’s short, stocky, hairy, and looks like he got punched in the face one too many times. He’s not exactly movie-star quality. Then some genius of a casting director decided that Hugh Jackman would be a perfect fit and the rest was history. Besides, he’s got KNIVES IN HIS HANDS. So cool. Yeah he’s cutting up his sandwich with them. Wouldn’t you?

    5. Wonder Woman

    Diana Prince in Justice League
    (Warner Bros.)

    You see that woman with the rippling biceps? That’s Wonder Woman. She’s in the big leagues. She’s been popular forever, and is arguably the most popular female superhero of all time. She’s got it all: brains, beauty, and a hero’s heart. Ugh. I just wanna be her. She grew up in a community of Amazonian warrior women, and is the strongest of them all. She was always a heavy hitter on the popularity front, but her popularity shot up even further now that she’s played by the incredible Gal Godot in the movies.

    6. Captain America

    Steve Rogers meme
    (Marvel Entertainment)

    To be honest, America is kind of a scary place to be right now, but Captain America makes it just a little bit brighter. He was a symbol of American strength and resilience since the 1940s. He has his roots in antifascism, and he was pictured punching Hitler in his debut comic in 1941. He represents all of the best parts of American ideals: courage, optimism, and tolerance of all cultures and beliefs (except for fascism). It also helps that he was played by that hottie Chris Evans and now second hottie Anthony Mackie. Definitely a popularity booster.

    4. Black Panther

    chadwick boseman
    (Matt Kennedy / Marvel Studios)

    WAKANADA FOREVER! Omg sorry I just get really excited whenever I talk about Black Panther. I’m a big fan. His popularity EXPLODED back in 2018 with the release of the first Black Panther film. It was the first Marvel film with a Black director and a predominately Black cast, and was also the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture. Needless to say, it’s a serious touchstone in pop culture. T’Challa was played by the late, great actor Chadwick Boseman. A modern cinema legend.

    3. Superman

    George Reeves in Adventures of Superman
    (Warner Bros.)

    You see those three dudes in the middle of the table? Those are the Big Three. The most popular superheroes of all time. And you see that guy in the red cape who also looks suspiciously similar to a certain mild-mannered journalist at the Daily Planet? Yeah, that’s Superman. He was one of the first superheroes ever conceived. He also has antifascist roots. He was created by two Jewish illustrators named Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938 to beat the shit out of Nazis, and his name, Kal-El, is a Hebrew phrase meaning “God is in everything”. This guy didn’t need Hollywood to make him popular, he had been a legend for DECADES.

    2. Batman

    Christian Bale, flocked by bats, in Batman Begins.
    (Warner Bros)

    See that guy in the dark cape next to Superman? He’s vengeance. He’s the night. He’s totally NOT a billionaire playboy named Bruce Wayne. What gave you that idea? Batman was created by Bob Kane in 1939, and since then he’s aged like the fine wine in Bruce Wayne’s mansion. But again, he’s totally not Bruce Wayne. Batman has it all. He’s got the dark past, the utility belt full of gizmos, and the mind of a master detective, and the body of a black-belt martial artist. He also didn’t need help from Hollywood, but one could argue that The Dark Knight is the greatest superhero movie of all time. Bruce Wayne is even in it! And yes, it is totally a coincidence that he and Batman are never in a scene together.

    1. Spiderman

    (Marvel Entertainment)

    Okay, see the cute kid sitting in between Batman and Superman? The kid who caught that redhead and her lunch tray when she tripped earlier? That’s the most popular superhero of all time: Spiderman. There have been a few Spidermans (a whole Spiderverse of them, actually) but the first and most famous is Peter Parker. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962, and has gone on to sell BILLIONS of dollars worth of comics and movies. Peter Parker is unstoppable, probably because he’s so charming! What’s not to love about a loud-mouthed kid from Queens? I know I love him. I pass notes to him in class all the time. He stopped opening them, but I know if I keep trying he’ll dump that ginger and take me to prom.

    (featured image: Warner Bros)

    —The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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  • Lupita Nyong’o Shares Brutal Underwater Workout For ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Lupita Nyong’o Shares Brutal Underwater Workout For ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

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    Marvel’s fantastical films require a huge amount of visual effects, but not everything can be made out of thin air. For Lupita Nyong’o, returning in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” as warrior spy Nakia required brutal underwater workouts — which she shared Saturday on TikTok.

    “Swimming down to Talokan was not as easy as it looked!” Nyong’o captioned the video, with a reference to the film’s underwater kingdom. “Safely supervised by @XPTLife and #MarkRobertsFitness.”

    The clip starts with Nyong’o submerging herself into a pool with an overlaid caption reading: “How I trained to Swim in Wakanda Forever.” While the footage spans only 54 seconds, the rigorous training on display undoubtedly felt longer in person — and required weights.

    Nyong’o begins by holding a sizable dumbbell to her chest while swimming underwater with only her right arm. She then flutter kicks her way through the pool before moving to the ground with a dumbbell in each hand, which help hold her underwater as she bear crawls along the floor.

    With a swimmer’s cap and scuba goggles in place, Nyong’o also climbed up some underwater stairs in a farmer’s walk with the dumbbells at her sides. She then does so yet again with the aforementioned bear crawl, scaling the steps horizontally — first downward and then back up.

    After farmer’s walking around the bottom of the pool with her weights in hand, Nyong’o leaves them at the bottom and springs back up to the surface. Her exhausted look at the camera with an overlaid caption reading, “I felt like a crawfish,” suggested this was a rather intensive day.

    “Wakanda Forever” became the second biggest box office debut of 2022, but was previously delayed when a failed motorcycle stunt sent Letitia Wright to the hospital. Chadwick Boseman’s death, meanwhile, nearly saw director Ryan Cooler leave Hollywood, entirely.

    With a sprawling cast that includes Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman and Tenoch Huerta, the film grossed $330 worldwide over opening weekend, spurring contentious takes, discussions ― and heartbreaking stories that were revealed during the film’s rollout.

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  • Wakanda Forever: Ruth E. Carter on Dressing for an Underwater Wonderland

    Wakanda Forever: Ruth E. Carter on Dressing for an Underwater Wonderland

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    “If you are asked to do a movie and they say there’s water, hang up,” jokes costume designer Ruth E. Carter when I ask her about her experience on the long-awaited Marvel sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

    Carter won the costume-design Oscar for her work on 2018’s Black Panther, creating vibrant Afrofuturistic designs for inhabitants of the powerful country of Wakanda. So it would seem that no task would be too difficult for Carter in the follow-up. That was until Ryan Coogler came to her in the summer of 2020 and let her know that the sequel would introduce a new community, the Talokanil, a group of underwater-dwellers inspired by Mesoamerican cultures.

    “There were so many beautiful visuals in the aquatic life, with fish fins and coral,” Carter says. “And as we dove into the culture, also there was a plethora of beauty to examine.”

    Carter was deep into research, reading and talking to historians and other experts about Mayan, Aztec, and Guatemalan history, when Chadwick Boseman died in August of 2020. The devastating loss meant the filmmakers had to figure out a way to tell the next chapter of Wakanda’s story without him. “Ryan Coogler became our hero in a sense that it was his decision whether we would continue. It was his decision how this story was going to play out,” says Carter. “And he had to figure this out through his own grief of losing his friend. We all lost a friend.”

    Wakanda Forever, which opened in theaters November 11, is both a tribute to Boseman and an ambitious expansion on the world created in the first movie. This time, we see the kingdom of Wakanda mourning the loss of its leader, but soon needing to gather its strength to defend against threats on their nation, including from Namor (Tenoch Huerta), the mutant leader of the aquatic nation of Talokan.

    With the return of much of the original cast, including Letitia Wright as Shuri, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, and Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda, Wakanda Forever also expands the kingdom of Wakanda, pushing Carter to upgrade and reinvent designs for familiar characters as well. Here, Carter dives in on her approach to Wakanda, Queen Ramonda, and a whole new underwater world.

    Carter on the set of Wakanda Forever

    By Eli Adé/Disney.

    WAKANDA 2.0

    Carter knew early on that the essence of many of the characters’ looks from the original would return, but the designs would be very new and different. “Ryan said like, ‘Whenever I see a Batman film, the suit is different. The suit is new. It’s still Batman, but there’s this fresh new thing that’s being presented,’” she says, adding that a lot of thought had to go into what a new Black Panther suit (worn by a different character) would look like.

    Because many of the battle scenes take place in the water, Wakanda Forever would also introduce Wakanda’s navy. “I was like, ‘Hello! There was no navy in the first film,’” Carter says with a laugh. She not only had to design what the navy’s uniform would look like, but also come up with different ranks and how that would be illustrated in the clothing.

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  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Pounces Toward a Record Weekend

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Pounces Toward a Record Weekend

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    Profit margins forever!

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever surprised no one this weekend when it conquered the box office, bringing in a $180 million domestic tally, the biggest-ever opening for a November release, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Including receipts from international markets, the grand total comes to a whopping $330 million.

    These are, no doubt about it, strong numbers, but they suggest that the sequel will not have the monumental traction of the first Black Panther picture released in 2018. That opened at $202 million domestically, ultimately reaching $700 million, ranking it at number six for an all-time record. Worldwide, the Marvel release is at number 14 with $1.34 billion. The Ryan Coogler film was also the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture Academy Award. (Joker followed suit the following year, and Joaquin Phoenix won the Best Actor prize.)

    The reviews for Wakanda Forever were also a little cooler, with an 84 percent at Rotten Tomatoes versus a 96 for the first film, and a 67 at Metacritic versus an 88. However, Cinemascore, which polls outgoing ticket buyers, awarded the movie an A. (The original, it should be noted, got the ever-rare A+.) V.F.‘s review praised the film, but also called it “scattered” and “a vast expansion with a hole at its center.”

    That the movie exists at all is something of a minor miracle. It faced some incredible hurdles, not the least of which was a complete script overhaul after the surprise passing of then-43-year-old Chadwick Boseman in August 2020. The production also suffered a shutdown when its lead, Letitia Wright, suffered an injury on set. Coogler and company shot around her as much as possible while she recovered, but eventually had to hit pause, ultimately delaying the release date by five months. 

    In addition to Wright, the sequel brings back Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, Isaach de Bankolé, and Florence Kusamba. (And maybe someone else, but we’re not spoiling that.) New to the cast are Michaela Coel, Dominique Thorne, Lake Bell, and Tenoch Huerta as Namor, the principal villain (though, like the first picture’s Killmonger, he kinda has a point.) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who has drifted in and out of Marvel properties before, also pops up. 

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  • Xbox And Marvel Center Careers In STEM With ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Xbox And Marvel Center Careers In STEM With ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

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    The highly anticipated Marvel Studios release Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sees Letitia Wright’s tech genius Shuri take center stage. And as young women and other STEM hopefuls look up to this new role model, Microsoft and Marvel Studios have joined forces to push the power of her example even further.

    On November 3rd, the two companies invited journalists, creators, and community leaders to the Microsoft Experience Center in New York to reflect over Shuri’s example and celebrate the real world efforts of women in tech.

    The evening began with a special video from Letitia Wright herself emphasizing the power of the Black Panther story to inspire. After this, Editor-at-Large at PEOPLE
    PEOPLE
     Janine Rubenstein took the stage and introduced the panelists: Microsoft’s Q Muhaimin, Product Manager for Xbox Experiences and educator Erica Buddington, founder of Langston League and champion for culturally relevant and identity-affirming educational programs.

    Rubenstein guided the panelists through reflections on each of their journeys into the tech world, and the identify-based struggles that involved. The women brought up their successes, their challenges, and the role models that lifted them up throughout, much like Shuri would be able to do, now, for so many.

    Additionally, as Rubenstein called out, Microsoft and Marvel Studios’ efforts around maximizing the impact of the new film would not end here. The layered collaboration also includes community theater buyouts with local content creators in order to bring the film to under-resourced communities, a dazzling drone performance in the night sky, the first ever “Wakandan HBCU Lecture” delivered by Professor Jacoby DuBose at Howard University, and a new, easy to follow coding curriculum teaching youth powerful tech skills via making their very own Black Panther video game.

    But of course, the star of the event sat on its pedestal to the left of Rubenstein: a custom designed Xbox Series X stylized with patterns, controllers, and charging stations all crafted to evoke the iconic Black Panther Wakandan salute. The set itself is both part and exemplary of this entire initiative and the power sitting behind the Black Panther symbol. And so that is why Microsoft and Marvel Studios plan to hand it over to a few lucky winners via a special Twitter giveaway.

    The first Black Panther film met not only critical and commercial success, but set off a cultural wave that reverberates throughout the world still today. And now, the sequel is poised to expand that impact even further, this time shining an even brighter light on women of color who wish to become tech leaders and warriors in their own ways.

    This collaboration then, hopes to just nudge all that along.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now playing in theaters. The film stars Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, and Angela Bassett and is directed by Ryan Coogler.

    Microsoft’s giveaway contest for the custom Black Panther Xbox Series X is now active and ends on December 1st. See here for details on how to submit via Twitter for a chance to win.

    For more on movies and TV shows, follow my page on Forbes. You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

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    Anhar Karim, Contributor

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  • Black Panther Wakanda Forever Box Office Collection Day 1: MCU’s latest film earns Rs 15 cr in India

    Black Panther Wakanda Forever Box Office Collection Day 1: MCU’s latest film earns Rs 15 cr in India

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    Marvel’s latest movie and long-awaited sequel ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ has managed to receive a good response at the box office and collected around Rs 15 crore on the first day of its release, Friday, November 11.

    Black Panther Wakanda Forever, which had created a fair deal of buzz among fans with its intriguing trailer and teaser, memorialises the late actor Chadwick Boseman, who played the role of T’Challa in its prequel movie, Black Panther. The actor died of cancer in 2020.

    According to box office experts, the film has exceeded expectations as they had predicted that the movie would be getting a double-digit start in the range of Rs 10-11 crore in India.

    However, after the movie’s day 1 collection, they are now expecting that this Marvel offering may easily cross 45 crores over the weekend and could also race towards the 100 crores mark in its second weekend.

    Black Panther Wakanda Forever, a superhero movie directed by Ryan Coogler, faced limited competition from Amitabh Bachchan’s Uunchai and the Samantha-led Yashoda as these films cater to a different audience.

    The last movie of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 has been released in India in four languages – English, Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil.

    Black Panther Wakanda Forever’s story takes place after the death of T’Challa. Wakanda Forever features Letitia Wright and Lupita Nyong’o in the lead roles. The cast also features Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Dominique Thorne, and Michaela Coel.

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  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is Finally Here, But What’s Going on with Letitia Wright?

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is Finally Here, But What’s Going on with Letitia Wright?

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    The Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever, is finally here after years of anticipation. Following the life-altering original Black Panther film, the sequel has much to live up to. And after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, who played the titular role, fans were wondering how the film would honor his legacy.

    If you, like me, have been overflowing with pent up excitement as you waited for the sequel, I will not spoil the film. But know that this elegant tribute will meet your expectations — and possibly leave you sobbing on the way home.

    As the press gears up, the unending backstage drama has also been making the headlines. And now the cast can finally spill in interviews — without giving anything away, of course.

    Even before the film had a release date, news of the cast had been swirling about the airwaves. After Boseman’s death, many wondered who’d take the reigns. Many eyes were on Shuri, T’Challa’s sister, played by Letitia Wright. However, the controversy around Letitia only made it completely ambiguous.

    If you missed it, here’s what happened:

    Letitia Wright Vaccination Controversy

    During the pandemic, celebrity bad behavior ran rampant. Ignoring mask mandates, careless vacationing, and nutty opinions about vaccines.

    When Letitia Wright spoke up about her views on the vaccine, it raised eyebrows. It all started when Wright Tweeted out a 69-minute anti-vax YouTube video featuring Light London Church leader Tomi Arayomi. In the video, Arayomi questioned the legitimacy of the Covid-19 vaccine.

    When the Twitterverse erupted with backlash, Wright tweeted: “If you don’t conform to popular opinions. but ask questions and think for yourself….you get cancelled.”

    Many Twitter users were particularly disappointed because of Wright’s status within the Black community. Due to Western practices of medical racism and even experimentation performed on Black communities, there were many concerns about how the vaccination rollout would be presented to Black communities.

    Vaccine skepticism, combined with the statistical realities of Covid’s larger impact on Black communities, made vaccination a delicate subject. So many found Wright’s comments detrimental to vaccination efforts, and her talk point about “thinking for yourself” more harmful than she might have intended.

    So, was she canceled? What would that mean for the film shoot? And would her ambiguous vaccination status put production even further behind?

    But is this controversy unfair?

    Although this question was raised during the press tour, any claims that Wright’s vaccination status cost the production time were shot down.

    Producer, Nate Moore, labeled the controversy unfair, saying no one else’s vaccination status was held under a microscope. With no apparent vaccine mandate, news reports claiming she was vocally anti-vax on set seemed false. “She never talked about her views either way. We read the stories that I would argue were unfair, because I don’t know where they’re coming from.” Moore emphasized Wright’s positive contribution to the set. “She only ever was the utmost professional and a joy to have around.”

    The Black Panther Cast, including Chadwick Boseman

    Letitia Wright’s on-set injury filming Black Panther

    It seems that Wright had larger problems to address, anyway. While there had been whispers of a messy behind-the-scenes experience that caused changes, setbacks, and delays. Wright recently spoke out about the reports that she was injured while they were filming.

    During a bike-chase scene in Boston, the equipment snagged and caused the bike to fall over — with Wright on it. This terrifying accident sent her to the hospital with multiple injuries, including a fractured shoulder and a concussion. Personally, I’ll take this as a sign never to go to Boston (again).

    “I’m still processing it,” Wright told Variety. “I’m still working through it in therapy. It was really traumatic.”

    Others on the set also felt the emotional weight. Showrunner Ryan Coogler said, “I mean, I love these actors. That’s me and Chad’s little sister. Imagine getting that call that your little sister’s hurt. It’s the fucking worst thing in the world.”

    Despite her physical injuries and mental trauma, Wright went back to work as soon as she could. “I had great, great, great medical support, great patience on set,” Wright said. “I’m just extremely proud of myself. I’m extremely proud of Ryan, of the team, for just the resilience — overcoming adversities every step of the way. When I finished filming, I cried like a little baby.”

    What does all this mean for the film?

    Despite the commotion, the show goes on. If you haven’t bought your ticket to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever yet, you better scour Fandango for available seats in your local theater this weekend. Crowds will undoubtedly show in droves, just like they did for the first film.

    And as for Wright, she’s healed physically and is working on her mental health. Jury is still out on her vaccination status and if her so-called “cancellation” will affect her career. But whatever comes, there will always be a place for her in the Black Panther family.

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