As the anticipation for Disney-Marvel’s Black Panther continues to grow, IMAX Theatres sits down with Production Designer Hannah Beachler to talk about the work behind bringing the world Wakanda to life.
Being the first-ever mainstream superhero film set in Africa, Beachler did not shy away from representing cultures that are often overlooked. Black Panther is part of a current wave of black superheroes in 2018, but what sets the film apart is its setting of Wakanda, a fictional country in Africa that is wealthy and technologically-advanced. In a sense, simply going to see the movie can be interpreted as making a small gesture of cultural pride.
“I knew that I wanted to really dig into afro-futurism, because I knew it was going to be a big, important part of the people that populated the country, and also to highlight Africa in a way we haven’t ever seen before,” Beachler said.
The film, directed by Ryan Coogler, is one of the most anticipated films of the year, and has a star-studded cast full of black excellence. Chadwick Boseman stars as T’Challa, who takes over as the king of Wakanda after his father is killed. The film also stars Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael B. Jordan.
Black Panther is already making an impact, bringing hope to African American audiences. It has arguably received more hype than any Black film in the last decade, and has sold more advanced tickets than any other Marvel movie. Over the four-day President’s Day weekend, it is estimated to bring in as much as $170 million in North America.
On seeing the film in IMAX, Beachler said, “It blew me away in a way that I have never experienced before. People are going to be blown away.”
The movie will be in theaters Feb. 16, and is shaping up to be a phenomenon.
In IMAX® theatres, select scenes of Black Panther will be specially formatted to show audiences up to 26 percent more image than standard theatres for a truly immersive experience. For more info visit: https://www.imax.com/blackpanther.
