Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Black Panther Wakanda Forever

  • Kevin Feige Discusses Future Plans for Namor

    Kevin Feige Discusses Future Plans for Namor

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been a multi-faceted success for Marvel Studios as they close the fourth phase of projects. Ryan Coogler and company have been lauded by audiences for their ability to memorialize Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of T’Challa and continue the enriching narrative of Wakanda. Though one new element from the sequel that’s been met with the same level of praise is the introduction of Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s portrayal of Namor.

    The classic Marvel Comics character made his silver screen debut that came with a highly applauded new origin to boot. Huerta Mejía’s portrayal quickly joined the ranks of the best Marvel Cinematic Universe villains and has left audiences excited about a potential return for the character in the future. And according to Kevin Feige, the wait might not be too long before Namor and the rest of Talokan re-emerge in a future project.

    You know, people who read the comics know that there’s 80 years of stories with Namor that we can tap into. So, where and when, we’ll keep to ourselves for now. But, we think that this is an incredibly iconic character that’s being introduced. Probably, to most people, most movie-goers for the first time. And we expect them to want to see more.

    Kevin Feige

    The events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever provides ample room for Namor to be a major player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Projects such as Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts have long been rumored to further the global-political turmoil existing in this universe. The events of these two 2024 projects can easily provide the impetus for Namor to wage war on the surface war as he threatened in Wakanda Forever, something that has occurred previously in the Marvel comic lore.

    To lean further into Feige’s quote about Namor’s comic history, there are even more exciting territories Namor can explore in the future. Namely, it wouldn’t now be a surprise to see Namor continue his anti-heroic tendencies as a foil for the Fantastic Four. His long-standing feud with Reed Richards could further culminate in the two joining an Earth-616 iteration of the Illuminati, a concept introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and something that would make sense with Avengers: Secret Wars coming in the near future. And beyond that, Kevin Feige placing Namor as a figure in the X-Men corner of the universe is a tantalizing possibility.

    Though regardless of where Namor shows up next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, audiences should be excited to have more of Tenoch Huerta Mejía portrayal in the near future.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • Angela Bassett Wins Golden Globe Award for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Role

    Angela Bassett Wins Golden Globe Award for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Role

    Angela Bassett has won a Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Gloden Globe for her role of Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This is her second Golden Globe victory after winning the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It. Other nominees in the category this year included:

    • Kerry Condon in The Banshees of Inisherin
    • Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once
    • Dolly de Leon in Triangle of Sadness
    • Carey Mulligan in She Said

    Ultimately, this is a massive victory for Marvel Studios and Bassett. A victory of this caliber continues to establish the prestige of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the world of Hollywood. Bassett‘s win is the first major acting award achieved for a performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This victory also continues to highlight the importance of the Black Panther franchise following the original film’s nomination for Best Picture at the 91st Academy Awards.

    Bassett’s performance in Wakanda Forever revolves around Ramonda’s plight following the death of her son, leading the nation of Wakanda, and maintaining her relationship with her daughter Shuri (played by Letitia Wright). Ramonda’s aim is to help Shuri grieve her brother’s death while also struggling to protect her during dangerous field missions in the United States. Bassett provides a tour-de-force performance in her limited screen time that is worthy of award consideration from the Hollywood Foreign Press.

    Marvel Studios provided congratulations to Bassett via Twitter.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still playing in movie theaters globally. The film will release digitally and on Disney+ on February 1.

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Digital Release Date, Bonus Features Confirmed

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Digital Release Date, Bonus Features Confirmed

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever served as a strong tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and successfully continued the story of Wakanda on the big screen. Marvel Studios’ most recent theatrical release was also a massive success as a theatrical release in earning over $827 million at the box office. Though now, the film is moving to its next release window with its upcoming arrival to digital platforms and Blu-ray.

    February 1 will be the official launch of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on digital platforms. This is the same day as the release of the film on the Disney+ streaming platform. Meanwhile, the physical home media versions of Wakanda Forever will be available on February 7.

    In terms of bonus material, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is full of interesting new pieces for fans to dissect. A full-film commentary track done by director Ryan Coogler, writer Joe Robert Cole, and cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw will be available. In addition, a gag reel and two featurettes covering the aesthetic design of Wakanda alongside one about the themes of legacy will be included.

    Though the main event of the bonus features will be the four deleted scenes. Information about what they entail are below:

    Outside The Scope – Okoye has a shocking standoff with Ayo and the Dora Milaje. Aneka makes a challenging decision.

    The Upstairs Toilet – Ross infiltrates the NSA in disguise in an attempt to uncover information.

    Daughter of the Border – After a conversation with her Uncle, Okoye is faced with a daunting choice.

    Anytime, Anywhere – In Haiti, Shuri and Okoye share a bittersweet moment.

    These deleted scenes predominately follow further developments for Danai Gurira’s Okoye and her fallout from being removed as leader of the Dora Milaje. It appears these new scenes will likely add deeper context to her character and transition into the role of a Midnight Angel. Ultimately though with the extensive runtime of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in its original cut, it’s logical to see why her arc was more abbreviated in the actual film.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was directed by Ryan Coogler and was written by both Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. The film stars Leitita Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Dominique Throne, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, and Angela Bassett.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • New ‘Wakanda Forever’ Concept Art Reveals Alternative Namor Designs

    New ‘Wakanda Forever’ Concept Art Reveals Alternative Namor Designs

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has made a big splash in theaters with the introduction of Talocan and its ruler, Namor. While the film was mainly exploring grief, it also explored the parallels between Wakanda and Talcon. It created a very grounded and emotional story with a complex antagonist that has the potential to do good and also more bad.

    Tenoch Huerta famously takes on the role in the film with a surprisingly comic accurate design. While they add many elements that reflect the characters Mayan roots, we still got his feet wings and the iconic green shorts. Yet, it seems they have played around with some alternative designs as revealed by concept artist Wesley Burt.

    You can already see the cultural inspirations in these early designs, and it seems like director Ryan Coogler knew exactly how he wanted to tackle the character of Namor. The fifth design actually showcases one that seems quite close to an armor he wore in the comics. So, they definitely also used his various runs as an inspiration but they ended up going with his more classic design.

    Namor feels like a major character that we can definitely expect to see sooner rather than later, but sadly there’s still no news on a potential spinoff. Recent reports did hint that they can’t actually produce a film due to the film rights still being with Universal; an issue he shares with Hulk. So, perhaps there’s a different project that might see Huerta return to the iconic role once again with perhaps a new design inspired by these earlier concepts.

    Source: Instagram

  • [SPOILER] Was Always Part of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Script

    [SPOILER] Was Always Part of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Script

    In case you haven’t had a chance to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever yet, here’s a spoiler warning for one of the biggest moments in the film.

    Watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been quite an emotional experience, as you can feel that this film acts as a way for the cast and crew to digest the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. At the end of the film, not only does Shuri finally find a way to digest her grief but also uses it as a way to move on as Wakanda’s new Black Panther. Yet, that wasn’t the only big moment when the credit rolled and we were introduced to Nakia and T’Challa’s son, Prince T’Challa.

    This moment felt like something that pays tribute to their late friend while also building up the feeling that T’Challa lives on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; perhaps just not in the direct recasting way that some usually expect. Still, it was a powerful moment that definitely will stick with many after the final credits have rolled. Surprisingly, it does seem like this wasn’t something added after Boseman‘s passing but has been part of the script but the way he was revealed has changed according to film’s co-writer, Joe Robert Cole.

    T’Challa had a child in a previous iteration of the script prior to Chad’s passing. Him having a child was always in the DNA of what we wanted to do. We just weren’t sure, after he passed, about the best way to incorporate him. So there were various iterations of his son being in our new story. And we finally landed on the reveal at the end. There was a point where I think when Ramonda [Angela Bassett] goes to Haiti, we had talked about potentially having him be revealed there. So we knew we wanted him to be a part of the movie in some way, and landed, I think, on the best possible version.

    Joe Robert Cole

    It’s really interesting to find out that he’s always been part of the film’s script but there never was a clear point when they wanted to introduce him. The fact that they kept him for th ened was the most fitting, especially with how emotional it makes the reveal once we see for the first time. It was especially fitting that he carries on his father’s name which may be something they added later on potentially. Still, T’Challa lives on in more ways than one.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Shuri Wasn’t Always the Next Black Panther in ‘Wakanda Forever’

    Shuri Wasn’t Always the Next Black Panther in ‘Wakanda Forever’

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever made a big deal out of who would take over the mantle moving forward, as director Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole decided to honor their friend Chadwick Boseman by having his character T’Challa face a similar fate. The film has become a way for many to cope with the events that happened and the film became a beautiful tribute to grief and having memories of loved ones live on in our minds.

    Of course, there’s the challenge of finding who would carry on the mantle, and the film would eventually settle on Letitia Wright‘s Shuri. It makes sense given that she’s the next one in line for the throne, and is the only one that can recreate the herb that gives the mantle its powers. Still, it seems that according to Cole, they have played around with some others taking on the mantle, such s Winston Duke‘s M’Baku.

    We would kick around the ideas, and try to extrapolate where the story goes and what’s the most impactful choice — what’s the best journey? And where do you go after the film in terms of those characters. M’Baku certainly was someone that got kicked around a little bit. I think you’re correct because in the comics, Shuri is Black Panther and there’s a natural organicness, I guess is the best way to say it, to her becoming Panther. But you kick the tires on all sorts of ideas. And you just want to make the best decision and do what’s best for the story.

    Joe Robert Cole

    He does highlight that they also have considered passing the mantle to Lupita N‘yongo‘s character Nakia but settled on the more fitting decision to have the Black Panther remain in the family. They went through quite a few ideas early on, but the film also keeps the door open for someone else that can take it on in the future. And who knows what the future has in store, as we’re still in the Multiverse Saga that might feature some others wearing the mantle.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Marvel Studios Can’t Produce a ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Focused on Namor

    Marvel Studios Can’t Produce a ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Focused on Namor

    There’s been a lot of hype around Tenoch Huerta‘s incredible performance as Namor, the leader of Talocan and antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Many have hoped that this performance would kick off interest from Marvel Studios to get this character his own solo project, but sadly it seems that rights are still an issue for some of the Marvel characters.

    According to The Wrap, the rights are still not fully with Marvel Studios and are something from the pre-Disney era. When Marvel Comics was about to go bankrupt, they sold the rights to their characters to studios that would work on films. That’s how Sony and Fox originally got access to the pantheon of popular characters long before Marvel Studios was even a thought.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore has confirmed to The Wrap that the character can definitely return in a future project, but Disney is not able to produce a standalone project based around the character. It seems the rights are still with Universal, who also holds the rights to Hulk and was the reason that character never got a sequel since the Edward Norton film back in 2008.

    Sadly, this means we shouldn’t expect any further exploration of Talocan in a solo outing in cinemas or even Disney+. Perhaps they’ll find a way to bring the characters back as part of another project where he isn’t the main character but still has a major role. Of course, there’s also the chance that Disney sees the potential and is open to repurchasing the rights to the character; though that may be more difficult with a potentially higher price given his newly found popularity.

    Source: The Wrap

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Eyeing Strong $72M+ Second Weekend

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Eyeing Strong $72M+ Second Weekend

    There’s been a lot of debate on the success of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at the box office, mostly due to it ending up lower than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Many believed this might be the sign that Marvel won’t have a billion hit this year, but the box office is quite fiscal and there are many more elements at play. All eyes are currently on its second weekend to see how the film holds with a $181M opening weekend, especially after the previous two Marvel Studios releases have hit some sharp drops.

    As of now, it seems that predictions have the film opening to $72M with upwards of $80M also a possibility. Any drop between 55% to 60% would be seen as a major win and a great showcase of that A CinemaScore the film scored in comparison to other Marvel titles of the year. The pandemic hasn’t been kind to most releases and with only a few exceptions really catapulting beyond expectations, mostly Top Gun: Maverick, Marvel has been the most dominant sure-fire opening scorer at the box office.

    The film did end up going lower on Monday than even Thor: Love and Thunder as it pulled in $11M but did tick up to $12.6M on Tuesday. Yet, the film also isn’t a summer release like the previous two Marvel films which makes a world of difference when it comes to its performance during the week. Plus, it’s a much longer film than previous entries which also means fewer available screenings per day playing a key factor in its performance. So, it’s still hard to say how the weekend goes but predictions have been difficult even s the pandemic slowed down, as we’re seeing more variation in how films perform. Even with that, it’s likely to reach $400M worldwide in no time.

    The original Black Panther had a very impressive 44.7% decline and it’s unclear to say this film could do the same. It doesn’t have the coveted A+ CinemaScore its previous iteration had and it also had a smaller opening, not too surprising given the challenges this film had to face and the new release slot. It’s only the seventh film to pass $200M domestically and that is definitely a good sign for Marvel Studios, as it pushed Disney passed $3B total gross for the year, beating last year. With little competition until Avatar: The Way of Water in mid-December, the film could have a chance at proving its legs to at least close in on a billion. If predictions are right, it has a decent chance but anything can change once the weekend rolls around.

    Source: Variety, Deadline, The Numbers (Wakanda Forever), The Numbers (Thor)

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Pulls in 10th Highest Opening Day at the Box Office

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Pulls in 10th Highest Opening Day at the Box Office

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is pulling in some strong numbers domestically, as it has now reached $84M in its Friday opening, which includes the $28M from Thursday previews. That would put it on a course to potentially pull in around $184M domestically over the weekend but Veteran’s Day is making an exact calculation somewhat difficult. It does seem hard to say if it’ll pass the first Black Panther‘s opening of $202M, it should not be downplayed how big this opening is considering a November release.

    This opening is the tenth-highest opening day ever for a film in the domestic market. Of course, Veteran’s Day could either be a boosting factor to push it beyond its regular intake but Saturday could be a deciding factor on how it performs. It should also be noted that without previews, the film made more than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which was at $54.7M while it pulled in $56M.It also might pull in the biggest November opening day for November on IMAX screens. Either way, it’s likely to take the record of the highest-grossing weekend in November, beating out The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at $148M.

    It should also be pointed out that the first Black Panther opened to $75.9M on a Friday, which had an A+ CinemaScore pulling it through the weekend. So, Wakanda Forever could still pull through with a slightly higher opening and a slightly lower A CinemaScore, which still holds well for its legs. As of now, the film is going to open around $325M+ worldwide. The Korean market isn’t as powerful an opening this time around, but that could be due to two key factors: the first film heavily featured South Korea as a location and the country is currently mourning a recent tragedy.

    For those believing it failed if it doesn’t pass Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ $187.4M opening, it should be considered that the first 2022 Marvel film was sold as an Avenger-sized blockbuster and opened in the summer. It was heavily frontloaded and with a B+ CinemaScore, likely due to its horror influences, it faced a harsh drop in its second weekend. That’ll be the most interesting test going out this weekend for Wakanda Forever. Plus, the film faces the unique challenge of losing its lead in Chadwick Boseman, which was a heavy focus of the film.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Box Office Mojo

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Breaks Marvel Studios’ B CinemaScore Streak

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Breaks Marvel Studios’ B CinemaScore Streak

    Marvel Studios has been doing quite well at the box office, but still faced some hurdles in its more experimental phase. Phase 4 has seen quite a few more distinct projects than in the past, which also meant that fan reception wasn’t always on board. Since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel Studios’ productions have been getting B CinemaScores rather than the usual A they’ve built up over the years. Eternals being the lowest they’ve had in a long time with a B while Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ended up with a B+ score.

    The only one that was able to break that streak was the co-developed Spider-Man: No Way Home which also had a strong nostalgia effect at play but also was technically published by Sony. Luckily, it seems that the B CinemaScore streak has come to an end as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has received an A grade from audiences.

    https://twitter.com/CinemaScore/status/1591326356927045634

    Early indicators hint that it may have been close to getting an A+ rating as it received five stars from 83% of audiences according to PostTrack, which is not too far from No Way Home‘s 89%. It’s a great sign that audiences are still enjoying Marvel films at the moment, as the latest phase rolls out. Plus, it bodes well for the film’s legs in the long run even if A+ could’ve pushed it even further. It’s not surprising though that after an event film like Avengers: Endgame, people would feel a bit of a sophomore slump like with any long-running series, but Marvel is playing the long game by testing out new waters throughout this phase.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter (Post-Track)