Black Panther Will Link To Avengers: Infinity War

Marvel's Black Panther is still well-over two years away from its release and at this point very little is known about the film.

We know that its titular hero will make his debut in Captain America: Civil War, with Chadwick Boseman playing T'Challa and Black Panther will be the final film of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before the grand Infinity War finale begins. Other than that, it's either a secret or it's undecided.

Marvel Studios head, Kevin Feige, recently shared some new details about the film. "This one is important," Feige tells Empire of Black Panther. "Not only do you get an unbelievable lead character, but you also get all of Wakanda which is a whole new setting and culture to explore."

Despite the cast being unannounced and/or undecided, Feige assures it will be "primarily African-American." That will be another step in the diversity direction for Marvel films, which have become known for having white male actors front and center (often times named 'Chris'). Earlier this year, the announcement of Ant-Man and The Wasp marked Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne as the first heroine to be named in a Marvel Studios film's title.

Of course, we're also wondering how Black Panther will effect the grand scheme of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's story leading into Infinity War. "It's a big geo-political action adventure that focuses on the family and royal struggle of T'Challa in Wakanda, and what is means to be a king," says Fiege. "T'Challa's story is very important to us as it links to the next Avengers films, which is why we brought it forward."

Black Panther is slated for release February 16, 2018. Its titular hero will debut in Captain America: Civil War on May 6, 2016.

(via CBM)