The first teaser trailer for Marvel’s Black Panther aired today during game four of the NBA finals and it looks nothing short of glorious.
After Chadwick Boseman‘s initial portrayal of the titular hero in last year’s Captain America: Civil War, the character’s first stand-alone feature holds a heavy emphasis to his fictitious home land of Wakanada, a hidden region in Africa which is unknown by most to be the wealthiest nation in the world. Reprising his role of Ulysses Klaw, Andy Serkis labels the country as the misplaced “El Dorado”. Eradicating Everett Ross’ (Martin Freeman) common belief that the nation is a “third world country, (with) cool outfits”. The depiction of Wakanada is vibrant, viscerally outstanding and an exciting blend of ancient kingdom and futuristic world, with a plethora of villains lurking through the country’s hierarchy.
The trailer’s primary achievement is showcasing how sportingly epic the film will be set against a backdrop that up until this point has only been teased in previous instalments. As while not much of the central plot is illuminated, a battle for the throne appears to be teased here in striking fashion. Black Panther looks like a grand adventure and on a tonal basis, setting Marvel up to do what they do best – tell a different kind of superhero story.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, who has become one of the most captivating directors in modern cinema with films such as the masterful independent drama Fruitvale Station as well as the exceptional Oscar-nominated Creed, is helming the film. And after the immense success of Wonder Woman, Coogler seems the ideal choice to continue the welcome sense of diversity to the superhero genre.
Black Panther has assembled an all-star cast to appear alongside Boseman with the likes of Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis. The film has been written by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. Here is the offical synopsis:
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther hits U.S. theatres on February 16, 2018. No word on the Australian release date has surfaced as of yet. Watch the debut teaser trailer and view the first poster below.
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