By way of tone and intensity, the new trailer for Marvel’s upcoming Black Panther is setting up an exciting and original franchise that is breaking free of previous Marvel Cinematic Universe offerings.
The trailers starts with two somewhat familiar faces: Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), the adamantium dealer from Avengers 2: Age of Ultron, tied up and bound, being interrogated by Deputy Task Force Commander of the Joint Counterterrorism Center Everett Ross (Martin Freeman–and I sure miss the simplicity of saying, “He’s part of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) Or I should say, Klaue is educating Ross about a bigger, more complex world.
It would seem that the peaceful Wakanda, ruled by the newly appointed King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is only a front for a very technologically advanced civilization. The mythical El Dorado, the city of gold thought to be in South America is actually Wakanda in Africa, and Klaue is the only man to have seen it, escaped, and lived.
What follows are multiple scenes that reveal small bits of the amazing world of Wakanda—advanced architecture and technology mixed with shots that seem like religious ceremonies and festivals, and lots and lots of action.
The most telling bit of info about why there exists a Black Panther seems to put BP into the role of guardian of this hidden domain. Mercenaries or soldiers seeking to access this magical kingdom are quickly dispensed by BP, who is hiding in a tree in a very crouching-panther-like manner. There are, of course, other action driven scenes that show what an agile and powerful hero he is, but they lend themselves to serve as garnishment rather than a glimpse at the main course.
Two lines help to suss out some sort of direction for the story, both spoken by an unidentified actor with an African accent. “The world is changing. Soon, there will only be the conquered and the conquerors.”
And (spoken to Black Panther/T’Challa), “You are a good man, with a good heart; and, it is hard for a good man to be king.” These seem to suggest that this new Marvel franchise will put T’Challa up against forces that will conflict with that goodness; perhaps, an established criminal empire that seeks to exploit the riches of Wakanda?
The visuals are awesome! The costumes and props are a blend of traditional African aesthetics with a futuristic flair. The music, too, has a hip-hop feel, but relies heavily on tribal undertones to create something I’ve never heard before. I loved the bells that rolled out at the end of the trailer. Unlike some of the complaints that past Marvel soundtracks have faced (that they are bland and without theme), this go around should be a compelling and dynamic musical journey that accompanies a colorful and exciting story.
With a supporting cast that includes power-house actors like Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Daniel Kaluuya, we can rest assured that no expense was spared to plus out this film with industry pros and Oscar winners.
I love that this film will dive right into the Black Panther story. Avengers 2 pretty much took care of any need for an origin story, so we will hopefully get a fully fleshed out hero that knows his place in his world and takes action accordingly.