It's an exciting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In just a few months, Avengers: Infinity War will finally arrive in theaters, bringing together almost every major character in the battle against Josh Brolin's Thanos. First, this week will bring Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, helping to expand the MCU into the fictional country of Wakanda. Black Panther will be the first contemporary superhero movie with a black protagonist, plus a black writer, director, and an outstanding cast of primarily black actors. Before the inception of the MCU, Wesley Snipes played Marvel hero Blade for a trilogy of films, and was even slated to appear in a Black Panther movie back in the day. Here's what he thinks about the film finally making its way to the silver screen:
Excited is definitely not the word. Overcome, overjoyed, clutch the pearls, I am ecstatic about it. I know what it's going to do, the impact it's going to have, not only on the minds of the community, but on the industry and the minds of those who are now the new gatekeepers. When they see the money, that's a wrap. It's a wrap. It's inevitable that it opens up new opportunities, it's like dropping a load of seed in the mud. It's going to grow. It's going to grow.
Does anyone else have chills? Wesley Snipes' excitement no doubt echoes the many people of color who are hoping that Black Panther will be a game changer in the world of blockbuster film production. And if the early reception for the film is to be believed, then Ryan Coogler's superhero flick may do just that.
Wesley Snipes' comments to Slate seems to echo the feelings from Black Panther's cast and crew. Everyone involved seems to see the significance in the film's release, especially as the vast majority of major contributors are black. It's a significant moment in film history that needs attention and respect paid, which is exactly what Snipes seems to be doing.
Indeed, Black Panther is going to break new ground for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU didn't start off as a very diverse place, as the original team of The Avengers were all white men, with the exception of Scarlet Johansson's Black Widow. The call for representation in the media has grown louder in the last few years, with Phase Three helping to diversify the pool of characters with more people of color and female characters.
While Wesley Snipes was up to play T'Challa in a failed Black Panther movie, he seems to think that now is the right time for the character to meet the silver screen, as it can open up a ton of new possibilities and reach more people.
Keep in mind, too, the digital age opens up that possibility. It brings the world closer, and then it allows your marketing dollars to travel further. So, I can't even imagine what this version of Black Panther would have been 20 years ago when we were talking about it. It's the right thing, at the right time, and the right occasion.
Once again, he hits the nail on the head. Black Panther has the potential to be catalyst for many more black heroes, maybe even includes Blade himself. After all, many fans would love for the vampirical hero to pop up in the MCU.
Black Panther arrives in theaters February 16, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
