There is nothing can make me doubt that Marvel Studios' Black Panther is the most anticipated movie release of 2018. In theaters February 16th, I might actually consider that it may be one of the most anticipated films of the decade, but we'll save that title for Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity Wars (only because its been 10 years in the making). Likewise, there has been a ton of content out regarding Black Panther and I want the internet, creatives, and Marvel fans alike to keep that same energy all year round.
Black Panther is directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed) and starring Chadwick Boseman (Get On Up, 42) and a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita N'yongo, and Forrest Whittaker. Since T'Challa's appearance in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther has been the talk of nearly every corner of the internet from newly found fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to Michael B. Jordan stans, and is beginning to take on a long list of social and Pop culture influences. Bringing the vibranium-clad hero to life was probably not an easy feat, but nonetheless his role and appearance in Civil War became a hit.
In X-Men, Charles Xavier and Magneto; in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, we see Caesar and Koba, and in Black Panther we see T'Challa and Erik Killmonger. For Haiti, post-Dessalines, it is Christophe and Petione—successors who would establish two sides: the Kingdom of Haiti versus the Republic of Haiti.
In November, I had the opportunity to write an Op-Ed for OKAYAfrica, We've Seen A Glimpse of Wakanda In Real Life - The Haitian Revolution, and received pretty good feedback for my parallel and historical analysis of Haiti in relation to Wakanda. As a second-generation Haitian, I've always admitted that Haitian history was something that I wasn't always just given, but instead had to take on learning on my own. One of the greatest learning experiences I had in my life was taking the journey up hills and mountains to see Citadelle Laferriere in Haiti's northern valleys when I was just about 7 or 8 years old. The Citadel, considered to be one of the Wonders of the Modern World, sits atop a mountain and has done so since the 1810's after being built as the official castle of King Henry Christophe of what was then The Kingdom of Haiti. The story of Haiti's formation as an independent country broken off from chains of slavery, to the First Black Republic, and its struggle to finding political stability sounds like exactly the kinds of drama I can expect audiences to have to juggle in the upcoming Coogler film.
Let me also add in that the impending arrival of Thanos in Infinity Wars​ can technically be paralleled to the same anticipation for the return of the French, but for history's sake and for Haitian pride, I won't give Napoleon's forces that credit.
I don't doubt Black Panther's ability to completely smash the Box Office in February. In fact, there's no doubt that this movie may very well be one of the top three grossing MCU films once it releases. (Presently: #1Marvel: The Avengers, #2 Avengers: Age of Ultron #3 Iron Man 3). For a film releasing in February, that's a great move considering Marvel Studios' preference for releasing Summer Blockbuster hits (all top 3 grossing films released first week of May; Deadpool released in February 2016 and is #8 Overall for Fox Studios).
But Black Panther, releasing in February - as in Black History Month - seems so fitting that it's thrown the Internet into a strange fit.
Yes, we're getting an almost entirely Black cast, a Black director and a Black superhero who lives in a secretive Black kingdom during Black History Month. In my honest opinion, it doesn't get any Blacker than this. But some social media users are skeptical about how much we should be celebrating the film, considering its a Marvel Comic book character, and yes, written by Jack Kirby.
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