Marvel Studios Unveils First Black Panther Footage

On Monday, Marvel Studios opened its doors to select members of the press for the first time.

A handful of new eyeballs were feasting on the walls which were plastered with images of Star-Lord, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Thor, the Hulk, Spider-Man, and more live action heroes and villains who have graced the big screen under the Marvel Studios umbrella.

One of the next characters in line to make an effort as a standalone hero in a self-titled film is T’Challa. The character made his debut in Captain America: Civil War with his self-titled Black Panther film set to be released in February of 2018.

During the Marvel Studios Open House event, the studio showed off the first footage from the Ryan Coogler-directed film.

Jungle Fight

Of the footage Black Panther shown on Monday afternoon, none of it was complete. Several of the clips were taken straight from the daily reviews, meaning absolutely no editing had been done to them. They were raw footage. 

Still, they looked fantastic.

One of the first clips shown followed Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia character as she approached soldiers in a jungle. As the soldiers opened fire, presumably aiming for the Dora Milaje, Nakia snuck up on several of them and beat them until they were not only disarmed but unable to fight back.

She did this with several kicks, punches, and hip tosses, all in one smooth, well-choreographed effort.

Klaw

A later clip saw Ulysses Klaw, as portrayed by Andy Serkis, entering a casino. Being narrated by Danai Gurira’s Okoye, the audience hears that he has eight men with him. 

After marching down the stairs, Klaw later comes to a meeting with Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross. Ross jokes that Klaw brought so many people they might as well be dropping a new mixtape. Klaw jokes back, clearly not taking the insult seriously. He wants a brieface.

After a cut, an action sequence ensues. T’Challa is protecting Freeman as they hide behind a table. He uses guns to take out several enemies, providing Ross with enough cover to take his briefcase and escape the casino.

En Route

A pair of clips showed two boats approaching Warrior Falls for T’Challa’s crowning as King of Wakanda.

The first clip had Gurira’s Okoye at the lead of a ship. She was wearing gold while the rest of the Dora Milaje was wearing a light red color. As they camera crept towards the group, they chanted and stepped together, lead by Okoye.

In the following clip, a similar angle sees a group of Wakandan citizens, many dressed in extravagant colors, celebrating and dancing together as they approach Warrior Falls to see T’Challa become King. 

Both shots were surrounded by huge walls of blue screen which might be replaced with additional boats, endless ocean, or land.

Warrior Falls

Upon arrival at Warrior Falls, it is time for T’Challa to take on the mantle of King.

the first shot follows Chadwick Boseman’s character down a set of steps and into water at the bottom of Warrior Falls. As the camera follows T’Challa’s sight line, it pans up to reveal the people of Wakanda dancing in celebration of his arrival. He joins in and steps to a beat with a spear and shield in his hand.

The second shot was a reverse, medium close up, focused on T’Challa as he approaches the crowd.