We’ve seen the importance of family all throughout Marvel lore, which has carried over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ve seen it in recent years with Thor, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and now we will experience it in Marvel’s Black Panther. T’Challa’s relationship with his family as well as other tribesmen will hold a heavy role in the upcoming Marvel movie, placing the concept of family to the very forefront for viewers. But how exactly will this be done?
Screen Rant got to talk to actors Forest Whitaker, Letitia Wright, and Winston Duke at San Diego Comic Con 2017 about the prevailing theme of family within Black Panther.
This film seems like very much it’s family oriented in a weird way. I know that T’Chaka and T’Challa have a relationship. Can you talk to me about the sense of family and how important it is with the Black Panther storyline?
FOREST WHITAKER:: It’s a big deal. We see the mom, Angela, you know, Angela Bassett plays Ramonda and she...you knew about the history of her father and where he came from and before that. So it’s a lot about family and extended families and community. First family, then tribe, and then community. And I think that’s a big part of it, the historical significance. He is from a princely line. He is a king. He is born into it in that way. And I think that in itself, that DNA is about family, so it’s like that.
Let’s talk about Shuri and her brother for a little bit because different iteration of comics, she is obviously a huge important role. What is their relationship in the film going to be like?
LETITIA WRIGHT: Their relationship in the film is going to be...you know in the comics in the beginning, you don’t really see them together. They are always challenging each other but, in the film, what Ryan did was he brought them together as a brother and a sister who’s got each others backs. But then you don’t know how that’s going to carry on in the future of the films and that’s the dope little thing of depth. Something interesting. Something to keep you hooked. I just love it. It’s like a little sister, big brother type of thing. And she thinks she’s smarter than him. And he thinks she, her mouth is always running and they have that, but they love each other. And we see moments where they have to encourage each other and I’m excited for people to see that.
Can we talk about the relationship between M’Baku and T’Chaka?
Winston Duke: Yeah. Well, T’Chaka represented a long line of continuing the importance of vibranium within the culture and, just as a group, the Jabari don’t believe in that. So it puts them at odds.
