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Late actor Chadwick Boseman became a global star when he was chosen to play Black Panther in the MCU. Making his debut inCaptain America: Civil War, the actor headlined his own solo filmBlack Pantherin 2018, creating a ripple of change in the way Black superheroes were portrayed in the mainstream.
In a recent public event, co-star Lupita Nyong’o mentioned how the executives at Marvel did not trust the film to do well and were apprehensive. She attributed the doubts to the Hollywood myth ‘Black doesn’t sell’, which the Boseman starrer shattered with a $1.35 billion box office and seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Lupita Nyong’o On HowBlack PantherShattered Hollywood Myths
Despite Black actors like Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, and more making a huge mark in the industry, mainstream films tackling social topics at a blockbuster scale were reportedly considered a risk. It took ten years in the MCU forBlack Pantherto get made and even longer forBlack Widow.
“He saw I needed help”: Daniel Kaluuya Will Never Forget How Chadwick Boseman Helped Him Like a ‘Big Bro’ During Black Panther
Actress Lupita Nyong’o, who played Nakia in the 2018 film revealed that the executives were apprehensive about the film’s success at the box office as it was the franchise’s first film to be led by a person of color. Though now shows likeEcho,the upcomingIronheart, andMs. Marvelare prominent, thereportedly $200 million budgetfilm was a risk.
Nyong’o revealed at a recent public event that the Chadwick Boseman starrer shattered many myths surrounding films featuring a dominant Black cast. She said (viaTHR),
There was a lot of fear, definitely from the executives… Marvel was shaking a little bit in their boots! We were too because we were like, we only get to do this once. And we gotta do it right…[but it] totally shattered the myth that Black doesn’t sell.
The film went on to earn $1.35 billion at the box office, making it one of the MCU’s most successful films (viaBO Mojo). It was also nominated for seven Oscar awards, including Best Picture, which was a first for the franchise. It won three Oscars, including Costume Design, Original Score, and Production Design.
Lupita Nyong’o Says The Memories Of Chadwick Boseman Still Brings Her To Tears
While Marvel has had Black heroes likeBladeand Falcon,Chadwick Boseman’sBlack Pantherwas the first character and film to not push them to an R-rating or make them a supporting character. Boseman’s superhero was at the front and center, tackling relevant social issues about race through a post-colonial lens.
A Vicious Cycle: Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler Sets Eyes on His Next Comic-Book Movie That’s the Unholy Child of John Wick and Looper
Boseman reportedly died of colon cancer at the age of 42 in August 2020 (viaCNN). The actor had kept his condition private and his death came as a shock to fans. Lupita Nyong’o recently spoke about how the memories of him still brought her to tears and even became emotional while seeing a clip from their 2018 film. She said (via THR),
The grief is the love and no place to put it…I watch this clip and I’m filled with grief and I don’t know whether I’ll ever be done shedding my tears from losing my friend. But I’m like, we get to see him alive. And that’s so wonderful.
The cast ofBlack Panthercame together again without Chadwick Boseman for the sequelBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, which did not recast the actor.
Black Pantheris available to stream on Disney Plus.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
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