Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Black Panther

  • Ryan Coogler on Bringing Namor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    Ryan Coogler on Bringing Namor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    One of Marvel Comics’ oldest characters is making his MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Namor, the Sub-Mariner first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1939 and has remained present as a hero, anti-hero and even outright villain over the years. From the footage seen over the course of two trailers, Namor certainly looks like the antagonist of the Black Panther sequel and while his origins have been greatly changed from the comics, director Ryan Coogler made sure that some of his trademark features remained.

    In an interview with EW, Coogler explained that while developing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, he wanted to “lean into” the character’s comic book origins even while creating a new take on Namor. Now the emperor of the hidden kingdom of Talocon-as opposed to Atlantis-the MCU’s Namor is steeped in new mythology while staying true to his iconic look from the comics.

    I think with making these types of movies, you’ve got to lean into the weird stuff, or you risk missing what makes it fun. He’s got really unique features and things that don’t necessarily go together. He can breathe underwater, obviously, but he’s got these little wings on his ankles. He’s got pointy ears and walks around in his underwear. It’s all fun, man.

    Ryan Coogler

    The latest trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever certainly leans into that weird stuff as it shows Namor taking to the air to attack the Queen’s location and to avoid projectiles from a Wakandan ship. Given the character’s comic book history with Wakanda and the looks of the trailer, it appears that Coogler has stayed true to the character’s nature as well, making him an incredible threat to the nation.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters November 11th.

    Source: EW

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Trailer Teases an Ancient, Evil Artifact

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Trailer Teases an Ancient, Evil Artifact

    As is often the case with Marvel Studios, the second trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gave audiences a little more insight into the plot of the upcoming film. The new trailer featured quite a bit more dialogue, giving audiences an idea of what Wakanda is up against in the film as the hidden kingdom of Talocan, led by Namor, comes into conflict with them. One bit of dialogue spoken by M’Baku, however, stood out as particularly interesting as it opens the possibility of one of Marvel Comics’ most dangerous artifacts making its mark on the MCU.

    Speaking to a group of Wakandans, M’Baku explains that the people of Talocan don’t refer to Namor as either king or general, but rather “K’uk’ulkan, the feather serpent god.” While Ryan Coogler went to great lengths to create a new origin for Namor, one that strayed away from the comic books’ Atlantean heritage, Namor’s title calls to mind an artifact that has ties to an Elder god and has caused quite a bit of chaos over the years.

    Before the Great Cataclysm drove their kingdom below the sea, ancient Atlanteans created the Serpent Crown. The crown served as a vessel for the power of the Elder god, Set, who created an entire race of Serpent-Men to do his evil bidding in ancient times. The Serpent Crown has popped up in the comics on several occasions and, needless to say nothing good comes of it. It’s found its way back to Atlantis several times, including recently when Namor wore it in the event Atlantis Attacks.

    Could the helmet seen on the MCU’s Namor be the Serpent Crown? And if so, is it just an Easter egg or could it become the same type of cursed artifact it’s become in the comics? It’s an interesting thought but one that we’ll have to wait to flesh out as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever doesn’t hit theaters for another 5 weeks.

  • Early Projections Predict ‘Wakanda Forever’ to Outgross ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Domestically

    Early Projections Predict ‘Wakanda Forever’ to Outgross ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Domestically

    There’s still some time until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever releases in theaters later in November. Yet, that isn’t stopping form early projections from hitting the web. The sequel has some heavy weight upon its back, as it not only has to compensate for the loss of its main star Chadwick Boseman but also faced quite a few production troubles along the way. After a powerful first trailer though, it definitely seemed safe to say that Wakanda Forever will still leave its mark in theaters while paying tribute to the actor that made T’Challa a household name.

    According to Variety’s early projections based on Cinelytics, the film is likely to make around $423M domestically. Many will look at these numbers and point out that it’s a far cry from the first entry’s massive $700M domestic release. It’s still very early to say how it will truly perform as the marketing has yet to kick into high gear but there is some concern about the passing of Boseman negatively affecting the film’s main draw. Plus, the first entry was quite the cultural release that went way past expectations.

    While many like to callback to Tom Cruise‘s star power for the box office success of Top Gun: Maverick, it’s just as much lightning in the bottle scenario that it had the staying power it did. It became Cruise’s highest-grossing film ever by a wide margin. Sometimes elements just come together at the right time to give films a massive boost, which we saw in the past with Avatar, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and The Force Awakens. The question is rather if people’s curiosity about the sequel and how it pays tribute to the actor.

    It could just as well end up surprising many. Plus, Marvel Studios’ main goal is for it to cover the production costs and pull in a profit. If it manages to accomplish that, it’s still a success in their eyes even if it wouldn’t really break any massive records or come near the first release. For now, it still looks like it could likely become 2022’s highest-grossing Marvel Studios release and that might be enough to push the project forward. Who knows if we have another No Way Home scenario on our hands and we won’t know until November.

    Source: Variety, The Numbers

  • REPORT: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Runtime Makes It the MCU’s Second Longest Film

    REPORT: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Runtime Makes It the MCU’s Second Longest Film

    The final film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Four, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may be one of Marvel Studios’ longest features to date. According to new listings on the Cineplex and Regal websites, the Ryan Coogler-directed sequel will be 161 minutes (two hours and 41 minutes) long. If true, that runtime makes it the longest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe behind Avengers: Endgame, which ran over three hours.

    While still unconfirmed, a longer runtime could suggest that Wakanda Forever is taking its time to explore a larger story amidst the heavy nature of the film stemming from the passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020. According to the film’s synopsis, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje fight to protect Wakanda from intervening world powers as the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, along with War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). Tenoch Huerta will be making his appearance in the MCU as Namor, and the sequel also features Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams, ahead of the Ironheart Disney+ series.

    While runtimes ultimately say quite little about the contents of a film, fans love to speculate. Before they were released, Eternals was deemed too long and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was deemed too short by those on social media. If Wakanda Forever does end up being the longest non-Avengers film in the MCU, it could be the result of a packed storyline, a slower-paced narrative, or both. In any event, the filmmakers likely took their time crafting the emotional follow-up to the iconic Black Panther.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11, 2022.

    Source: Cineplex and Regal

  • Marvel Studios President Opens Up on Not Recasting the MCU’s T’Challa

    Marvel Studios President Opens Up on Not Recasting the MCU’s T’Challa

    The death of Chadwick Boseman was a heavy one; for many it was unexpected. Not only was it a tragic loss of amazing talent, but it also was a hardship his many friends, family, and more had to endure. His legacy lives on in many ways, such as his memorable take as T’Challa throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, it wasn’t an easy decision after his passing for Marvel Studios and director Ryan Coogler to figure out if they’d continue to tell the stories of T’Challa in Black Panther.

    While it’s uncertain still who exactly will carry over the mantle, there’s been a lot of discussions on if this was the right decision. Of course, while many want to see the stories of T’Challa continue in the MCU, there’s also the weight it puts on any actor having to take over that role and the heavy weight it would be for the cast and crew simply replacing a close friend. In an interview with Empire, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige offers some insight on why they decided to not recast.

    It just felt like it was much too soon to recast. Stan Lee always said that Marvel represents the world outside your window. And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do. The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story.

    Kevin Feige

    Of course, he highlighted that the big aspect was also them taking their decision and questioning how they continue. One thing was to keep that legacy that Chadwick Boseman left alive while tackling the sequel.

    What do we do next?’ And how could the legacy of Chadwick – and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas – continue? That’s what it was all about.

    Kevin Feige

    No matter where one stands, there was never truly going to be a “right” answer. The first trailer definitely felt like our first glimpse into the weight this project will hold. For now, we still can only theorize how exactly they handle it but November isn’t that far away anymore.

    Source: Empire

  • First ‘Black Panther’s Post-Credit Almost Included Namor

    First ‘Black Panther’s Post-Credit Almost Included Namor

    It’s no secret that the upcoming sequel of Black Panther will introduce the world to Namor the Submariner, played by Tenoch Huerta. We’ve heard news throughout the last few years that there were many times they thought of including him, such as a member of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Yet, it turns out the earliest we could’ve seen him was all the way back when the first Black Panther film hit theaters.

    In a new piece from Empire, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige reveals that they initially had plans for a post-credit sequence that would set up the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s take on the character. It seems director Ryan Coogler initially pitched it as a tag, which means this sequel’s main story has been on his mind since he started work on the very first entry.

    Ryan had a pitch for a tag at the end of Black Panther. The camera would push through the palace in Wakanda, and then we’d see wet footprints leading up to the throne.

    Kevin Feige

    It definitely would’ve made for an imposing tease though open many questions on how he got past the Dora Milaje. Still, it would be the perfect way to tease the character without giving away any details, which would’ve led to casual audiences having to question who exactly the person might be. Coogler having that character in mind so early on also makes us wonder if he generally mapped out a full trilogy for the franchise and if he’ll follow through with those initial plans if he kept Namor in his back pocket up until now.

    Source: Empire

  • ‘Black Panther 2’ Actor Confirms Namor’s Mutant Status

    ‘Black Panther 2’ Actor Confirms Namor’s Mutant Status

    Many have wondered with the recent build-up to the mutant’s introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe if they are sticking to the comics for some characters. We are getting teases and hints of famous mutant characters but outside of an audio cue in Ms. Marvel, there hasn’t been a confirmation. Now that changes, as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s Tenoch Huerta has confirmed that he is indeed a mutant in the upcoming Black Panther sequel.

    He highlighted that this is the aspect that is carrying over from the comics, as they are taking a different approach with their version of Atlantis. It is now called Talocan and is fully inspired by Mesoamerican culture; something the initial trailers have definitely put a large focus on and made sure to highlight.

    You can take Atlantis from Greek myth, or you can adapt from a real culture.

    Tenoch Huerta

    It’s impressive how they took that cultural identity and made it work so well while also including some great comic-accurate costume elements from his early days in the comics. We’ll see just how deep they explored the Mesoamerican cultural impact on the character when the film releases in November, but so far it has been quite impressive and it’ll be exciting to see what else they might have planned for the character.

    Source: Empire

  • New ‘Wakanda Forever’ Merch Showcases the Film’s Main Cast & New Logo for Namor

    New ‘Wakanda Forever’ Merch Showcases the Film’s Main Cast & New Logo for Namor

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is closer than ever, and it looks like Marvel Studios is pushing its marketing into overdrive. We’ve already gotten some teases of the main cast and even Iornheart’s more comic-accurate costume in the past but it seems some more merchandise has found its way online through @MCU_Facility on Twitter.

    It doesn’t offer much new but does once again highlight the designs of the various main characters. The latest addition is a pin for what could be a logo for the Atlanteans, or the Marvel Cinematic Universe take on it. Namor is prominently showcased wearing a Jaguar-inspired crown and it does seem like they are sticking to that very design as part of their logo.

    The Jaguar shouting as part of its design could be a showcase of Narmor’s people being on the attack in the upcoming project but likely also just an easier way to add a distinguishing factor between the offered designs. Black Panther’s logo is a different style altogether and it’s great to see how Marvel is using the character’s in-universe mythology inspired by the real-world to add some distinguishing designs.

    Riri Williams is also prominently showcased and gets her own logo, which is likely the updated Arc Reactor version of her armor’s heart piece. It’s distinctive enough with the heart shape form and what looks like a rabbit design on top. It’s still unclear what her role will be in the film but it’s certainly interesting how big of a part she has in the film’s promotion. Perhaps we’ll get a tease of her proto-armor in the next trailer.

    Source: Twitter

  • Winston Duke on M’Baku’s New Role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Winston Duke on M’Baku’s New Role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Winston Duke’s M’Baku became a fan favorite after the actor’s wide-ranging performance in Black Panther. While he was one of T’Challa’s first foes in the comics, the MCU version of the character became of T’Challa’s allies, fighting alongside the King during the Battle of Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War. Duke returned for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to the 2018 film, and his character now inhabits a world where the King and Black Panther of Wakanda is dead and the world is forever changed following T’Challa’s decision to break from tradition and step out of isolation.

    With T’Challa now dead, the fallout from his decision will now be in the hands of others, including his mother, Queen Ramonda, and the members of the Tribal Council. In an interview with Phase Zero, Duke described how the time gap between the two films has changed his character.

    M’Baku is really forced to catch up with the times. His role is changed. He survived the Snap. He is now part of their Tribal Council, so he’s more forward-facing and less insular. So he’s been forced to really be a part of the collective transparency. I think that’s a really cool thing for him and you get to see a whole new dynamic including him.

    Winston Duke

    Duke’s M’Baku has been a fan favorite choice to take on the mantle of Black Panther ever since the tragic passing of star Chadwick Boseman. While the identity of the character in the costume in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever remains a mystery, it certainly seems M’Baku has taken some steps in a direction that might allow him to suit up at some point.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11th, 2022.

    Source: Phase Zero

  • D23: New Footage Description for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    D23: New Footage Description for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Marvel Studios D23 panel has finally kicked off and they are focusing on what’s heading our way with Black Panther Wakanda Forever. The lucky attendees got an exclusive sneak peek of what the film has to offer and it seems like a lot of the storyline will be built around vibranium and the world trying to capitalize on Wakanda’s biggest resource in the absence of their former king. It’ll be interesting to see how they tackle this storyline and how it may tie together with Namor’s story.