Black Panther Trailer, Cast, & Every Update You Need To Know

Release Date: February 16, 2018

Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Forest Whitaker, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Winston Duke, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, John Kani, Sterling K. Brown

Director: Ryan Coogler

Writer: Joe Robert Cole & Ryan Coogler

Black Panther Movie Cast Stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa

Thanks to T’Challa’s appearance in Captain America: Civil War, we’ve know that Chadwick Boseman (42, Get On Up) would play the lead in Black Panther since 2014. Last year, he stole the handful of scenes he was in as the son of the king, the mourning new ruler, and a powerful superhero in his own right. Black Panther will continue to explore the weight of the crown and T’Challa’s attempts to unite his divided kingdom of Wakanda, all while presenting audiences with a very different type of superhero.

Black Panther Movie Villains are Ulysses Klaue and Erik Killmonger

Black Panther will face a number of foes in his new film. There’s M’Baku (Winston Duke), the leader of the mountain clan who doesn’t appreciate T’Challa’s new ruling style. Then there’s Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), a Wakandan exile bent on challenging the Panther for his throne. The main villain of the film, however, will be Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis). The international criminal will slowly morph into the supervillain Klaw from the comics, while providing T’Challa with an outside enemy every bit as deadly as those within his borders.

Other Cast and Characters in the Black Panther Movie

Along with T’Challa and his villains, Black Panther will offer Marvel’s most prestigious cast yet. His stepmother Ramonda will be played by Angela Basset, while Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira will both play members of the Dora Milaje, an elite royal guard. Forest Whitaker will be T’Challa’s uncle Zuri, a spiritual leader of Wakanda, while Letitia Wright will play his sister Shuri, the chief technologist of the country. Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, John Kani, and Sterling K. Brown will also all have key roles, while a few more big names have been mentioned but not yet confirmed.

Black Panther Movie Story

Both the cast and crew of the film have repeatedly stated that Black Panther will be all about family. Within that theme, however, a number of other narrative avenues will be explored. As royalty, T’Challa’s family means something different than it would in your average film. He’ll not only be dealing with his legacy, but the struggles of ruling his country after the death of his father. Unlike previous Marvel films, Black Panther will be less about a global threat and more about a struggle for national identity.

Black Panther Movie Trailer

Black Panther stands with his arms outstretched

Back in June, the first teaser trailer for Black Panther was unveiled and took social media by storm. Reigniting the #BlackPantherSoLit hashtag on Twitter, the trailer quickly established that the new film would be unlike anything seen in blockbuster filmmaking before. From the nearly all-black cast to the African setting to the blend of tribal imagery and futuristic technology, the movie looks to be a fitting adaptation of the comic book source material. In all likelihood, a full trailer will be on its way soon, possibly attached to Thor: Ragnarok.

Returning MCU Characters in the Black Panther Movie

Everett Ross interrogates Klaue in Black Panther

While the Avengers won’t be showing up in Black Panther, audiences will encounter a few characters who have previously appeared in the MCU. There’s the aforementioned Klaue, who will be continuing his Vibranium-smuggling first seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron (where he also lost a hand). Then there’s Martin Freeman, who will reprise his role as C.I.A. operative Everett K. Ross from Civil War. Also returning from Civil War will be Florence Kasumba as Dora Milaje member Ayo, who had a brief but memorable scene in last year’s movie as she stood down Black Widow.

MCU Characters Who Won’t be in the Black Panther Movie

As mentioned, none of the Avengers are set to appear in Black Panther. And though a few elements from Civil War will carry over into Black Panther, we won’t be seeing the Winter Soldier in the film either. While he’s still in stasis in Wakanda, it appears he won’t be brought out until Avengers: Infinity War. We also recently received confirmation that Nick Fury won’t be showing up in the film. While this was previously expected, it’s still something about which fans and Samuel L. Jackson are a little upset.

Where the Black Panther Movie Exists in the MCU Timeline

Black Panther takes place shortly after the events of Civil War. Though the MCU timeline is a bit difficult to follow, that should put it around 2016 as T’Challa will be taking up his duties as king following the death of his father. Of course, a few months after the film we’ll see Black Panther in Avengers: Infinity War as the Avengers battle Thanos. Assuming that will take place in 2018, there’s no telling how much time will pass during Black Panther and before the third Avengers film.

Black Panther Movie Poster

Black Panther fans have had no shortage of promotional material highlighting next year’s film. Preempting the trailer, the first poster for the film showed T’Challa on his throne. Disney’s D23 convention a short time later then revealed another look at the king, this time flanked by his royal guard. Then, a San Diego Comic-Con poster was revealed that highlighted the tech in Black Panther’s suit. All of those reveals, however, led up to the most exciting poster yet, showing the Black Panther surveying his kingdom.

Black Panther Movie Differences from the Comics

While we won't know the full extent that the source material has been altered until Black Panther is released, a few key differences are likely. For one, T'Challa seems to already be operating as the Black Panther before becoming king—a big divergence from the page. It's also highly doubtful that Klaue will wear his infamous comic costume in the movie, though we did learn he'll be getting his signature sonic cannon in lieu of a new arm. Meanwhile, M'Baku won't be referred to as Man-Ape, a change no one seems to mind.

Black Panther Movie Director is Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler directs Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther

After Ava Duverney passed on directing Black Panther, Marvel Studios hired Ryan Coogler. Fresh off of his success on Creed and still praised for Fruitvale Station (both starring Michael B. Jordan), Coogler looked to be the perfect director. With the social message and realism of Fruitvale Station and the fight scenes in Creed, Coogler has showcased he’s more than up for the challenge of bringing Wakanda to life.

Black Panther Movie Writers are Joe Robert Cole and Ryan Coogler

American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson trailer

Along with directing Black Panther, Ryan Coogler has also helped to craft the script. He’s been joined by Joe Robert Cole, the film’s primary screenwriter. Cole is still a relative newcomer, having previously gained acclaim for the indie film Amber Lake that he wrote and directed. He was also a producer on the O.J.-focused first season of American Crime Story, of which he also wrote two episodes. Along with Coogler, he’ll help to explore the unique culture of Wakanda and craft the multi-layered relationships of the royal family.