Winston Duke is best known for his work on the TV show Person of Interest, having portrayed Dominic throughout the course of the series. Now he will be making a step on the big screen with his portrayal of M’Baku aka Man Ape in Marvel’s Black Panther.
Screen Rant got a chance to talk to Winston Duke at San Diego Comic Con 2017, where we discussed M’Baku’s development on the big screen, the relationship between M’Baku and T’Chaka, and what he thinks fans should be excited for in Black Panther.
In the comics M’Baku has a specific point of view. How is that translated to the screen in this iteration?
Winston Duke: M’Baku’s function for a long time as been as a big challenge to T’Challa and I believed that’s retained. That’s stayed, but I think where we focused on is strong storytelling elements, so deepening his attachments, making him more three-dimensional. So he is deeply attached to his people, very culturally grounded and, once we found those attachments, we then know why he would really challenge and why he would do so much and how far he would be willing to go to achieve whatever goals he has.
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.
What are you most excited for fans to see about this film?
Winston Duke: There is so much but, since you are asking for me to choose, I will say the technology. The technology is amazing and I know you’ve just seen the preview. Ohhhhhhhh!
Give me something.
Winston Duke: Oh. I can’t. I don’t know, but you are going to have to wait. It’s worth it. So the technology is wonderful. You are going to see a lot more gadgets, their interaction within their world. And as you know, Wakanda is about 100, 200 years ahead of everyone else on the planet. No contemporary, so you are going to really dig in and bite into those elements.
