“Black Panther” Press Conference Brings Out Producer Kevin Feige, Actors Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o and More to Tallk About the Newest Marvel Film

Hi everyone!

We were invited to the press conference for Marvel’s Black Panther, which opens on February 16th, 2018. Among those joining producer Kevin Feige were Chadwick Boseman (“T’Challa / Black Panther”), Michael B. Jordan (Killmonger), and Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia). This was one of the longer press conferences we have covered, at about 45 minutes long. Before my write-up below, we do have the full press conference. My article is just a little of what is included throughout the discussion of Marvel’s newest film.

Lupita Nyong’o took the first question from moderator Nischelle Turner, who noted that Nyong’o did a “little dance” of excitement when Nyong’o had been introduced before the Black Panther screening the previous evening. Turner asked how Nyong’o felt as the lights were going down for everyone to experience the movie for the first time. Nyong’o looked at the audience, smiled, and said “I’d been waiting a long time for this”.  She said that everyone enjoyed making it and felt a “a lot of ownership” for the film – and that a lot goes into the film from the time the shooting ends and the movie is shown.

Turner then turned to Chadwick Boseman. She had discovered the night before that Boseman was aware that there would be a Black Panther movie while he filmed Captain America: Civil War. Kevin Feige let Boseman know during the initial call that they expected the character to be a stand-alone as well as an ensemble character within the Marvel Universe. Boseman said that during the making of Captain America: Civil War, that, “I was not aware that other people weren’t aware that this was going to happen, because it was so…such at the forefront of my mind”.

Nyong’o discussed seriously how she felt that women were supportive of each other in the film, and how that wasn’t always the case. She said, “I think oftentimes in movies we fall into that trap where women…there’s very few of us and then we are against each other. There’s a competitive spirit….”. Nyong’o continued that it was a powerful message that women had different points of view and could argue with each other without being against one another.

Director Ryan Coogler followed up on what Nyong’o said, saying that Black Panther has “involvment from brilliant women all over from start to finish…they weren’t hired because they were women, they were hired because they were the best for the job and that was our cinematographer Rachel Morrison, our costume designer Ruth Carter, production designer Hannah Beachler…”. Coogler continued to name other women who had a hand in the making of the film. There were several major themes running through the press conference, with powerful women being one. Danai Gurira (Okoye) said that Ryan developed the female characters in away that allowed them to collaborate, and she said that she was blessed and excited about that.

Black Panther opens February 16th, 2018.

Full cast and filmmakers in the press conference:

Chadwick Boseman “T’Challa / Black Panther”  

Michael B. Jordan “Killmonger”

Letitia Wright “Shuri”

Lupita Nyong’o “Nakia”  

Danai Gurira “Okoye” 

Martin Freeman “Everett K Ross” 

Daniel Kaluuya “W’Kabi”

Winston Duke “M’Baku”

Angela Bassett “Ramonda”

Forest Whitaker “Zuri”

Andy Serkis “Ulysses Klaue” 

Ryan Coogler / Director 

Kevin Feige / Producer

Movie Synopsis: Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life. “Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay.