Journalism of Courage
Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is hitting theaters on February 16. And the fanfare around this superhero flick is at its peak. Easily the most awaited standalone comic book movie of 2018, Black Panther was first introduced in Captain America: Civil War but he has been a Marvel Comics mainstay since 1966. Headlined by Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther also stars Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Here is an interesting insight into each one of the characters introduced in Black Panther.
Black Panther
The best thing about Black Panther probably is that its hero is from Africa. Playing T'Challa or Black Panther in the film is Civil War's Chadwick Boseman. Last seen in the film Marshall, Boseman looks the perfect cast for the role in the clips we have seen till now. Boseman plays the king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, the world's most technologically advanced and secretive country. And considering his track record which has been full of trailblazing roles like this one, we are sure he is going to do a splendid job.
Erik Killmonger
Played by Michael B Jordan, Erik Killmonger has been a regular Marvel comic book supervillain. And extensive training has made him an expert fighter and a physical match for his nemesis the Black Panther. Talking about the character, Jordan says, Killmonger is "very strategic, thoughtful. He's very patient. Very well skilled, trained to a T. He works very hard, and he feels what he's doing is right." Seen in the TV show The Wire and film Creed, Jordan looks compelling in the trailer.
Everett Ross
Essaying the role of the ex-CIA agent Everett Ross is Martin Freeman, popular for his roles in TV series The Office, Sherlock and Fargo and the Hobbit film series. Freeman had made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Captain America: Civil War as bureaucrat Everett Ross, a guy who really seemed to have it in for Bucky Barnes.
M'Baku
The iconic Wakanda tribe leader M'Baku is being played by Winston Duke. Duke is best known for playing for playing Dominc on Person of Interest, and was recently seen on Major Crimes and The Messengers. Also known as the Man-Ape, M'Baku was intentionally moved away from the gorilla image by the producers in the film considering the implications of a black man dressing up as an ape.
Nakia
Played by Lupita Nyong'o on the silver screen, Nakia is a member of T'Challa's personal guard. Lupita's breakthrough performance came with the Oscar winning 12 Years A Slave. Nyong'o also co-starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In the comics, Nakia became an ally of Erik Killmonger after he rescued her from an enemy of Black Panther.
Okoye
We have seen Danai Gurira be a badass before, but this time, she is coming in the role of Okaye, the head of an all-female special forces group. After seeing Gurira in The Walking Dead and All Eyez On Me, we know that she specialises in doing intense scenes and her energy will be fun to watch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe now.
Shuri
Essaying the role of Black Panther's sister Shuri is Letitia Wright. She is known for her breakout hit Urban Hymn (2016). For 2018, she also has Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One. Talking about Shuri to Vogue, Wright says, "She is strong and she can kick butt. She is intelligent. She loves Wakanda and she loves creating technology to protect her people."
