It goes without saying nowadays that Marvel movies are among the most anticipated blockbusters each year, but Black Panther looks like it will be something particularly special. We only have a few weeks to go until Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa snags the spotlight for himself, and the movie is already making quite the impression, from receiving positive early reactions to outpacing all superhero movies (including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) in advanced ticket sales. There are also a number of folks who are buying out whole Black Panther screenings to ensure that kids, particularly of color, can watch the Wakandan hero's story unfold on the big screen, and now we can count Hollywood star Octavia Spencer as one of the people who will be holding these special screenings.
Taking to her Instagram page earlier today, Octavia Spencer announced that she'll be in Mississippi when Black Panther opens to the public, so she plans on buying out a theater in an "unserved community" to ensure that brown children in the area "can see themselves as a superhero." For those who live in Mississippi and are interested in taking their kid(s) to one of these screenings, Spencer said to stay tuned for exact time and location details. Spencer's profile has grown in recent years thanks to movies like The Help, Snowpiercer, Hidden Figures and The Shape of Water, so if she has the clout and resources to help out the community and make sure a lot of kiddies can enjoy Black Panther, then that's a noble goal.
Although Black Panther isn't the first black-led superhero movie ever to be made, it is the first time the Marvel Cinematic Universe has released such a story, and it's also notable for featuring a predominantly black cast. As Wonder Woman proved last year, it's important that people can see themselves represented on the big screen, and studios making the effort to do that can result in huge box office returns. It already looks like Black Panther is going to follow in the footsteps of most other MCU movies and haul in truckloads of money. But more importantly, it's a big moment for pop culture, and now kids near a yet-to-be-revealed theater in Mississippi who wouldn't have otherwise been able to watch Black Panther will get to partake in the fun thanks to Octavia Spencer's generosity.
Taking place shortly after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther will follow T'Challa returning home to Wakanda and embracing his new duties as the nation's king. However, he will soon have to deal with the combined threat of Erik Killmonger, a Wakandan exile-turned-American black-ops soldier, and Ulysses Klaue, the South African arms dealer last seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, both of whom want to overthrow the Wakandan kingdom. Fortunately, T'Challa won't be alone fighting this battle, as his allies will include the Dora Milaje, his prodigy sister Shuri to CIA agent Everett Ross.
Black Panther prowls into theaters on February 16, and T'Challa will return on May 4 for Avengers: Infinity War. As for Octavia Spencer, her upcoming projects include A Kid like Jake and a comedy where she'll re-team with Jessica Chastain.
