Marvel’s Black Panther has been generating big buzz thanks to its excellent trailers, which reveal just how much world-building and action director Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios have put into the film.
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Of course, any footage from a new Marvel Cinematic Universe movie comes with all kinds of fun Easter eggs for fans to dig up and geek over – and such is the case with Black Panther.
Some dedicated Disney fans watch the Black Panther trailer and felt like they’d seen certain aspects of the visual imagery before – in Disney’s 1994 Lion King movie. Take a look for yourself:
The Black Panther King
“Remember who you are.” The Black Panther and Lion King parallel. Wow. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/Zn3VPa2YS6
— UrbanNoize2 (@UrbanNoize2) October 16, 2017
My parallel assumption from the trailer is that T’Challa’s seeking council from his ancestors who show up as panthers. Simba w/ ghost Mufasa pic.twitter.com/uNq0YKoQVp
— UrbanNoize2 (@UrbanNoize2) October 16, 2017
One more time to drive the Black Panther and Lion King parallel point home. “Remember who you are.” And im done. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/RCdjmPodFD
— UrbanNoize2 (@UrbanNoize2) October 16, 2017
After that similarity was identified, fans took the parallel even further, going back to Captain America: Civil War to further equate the story of T’Challa with that of Simba in The Lion King.
Man the parallels are too much looking back at the death of T’Challa’s father on Civil War & Mufasa on Lion King. ?#BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/piskpDvSed
— UrbanNoize2 (@UrbanNoize2) October 16, 2017
Parallel Stereotypes?
While this seems like a cool Easter egg spotting, one does wonder if there isn’t something a little offensive with equating Marvel’s first film about a black/African superhero with one of the only Disney films that’s also set in Africa. It may seem like a trivial thing to be offended by – but in these days and times when people are triggered so easily, there’s bound to be a little blowback.
Black Panther has had to walk a tight line between respectful celebration and offensive stereotype on several fronts – like changing a few details to a character who was traditionally referred to as “Man-Ape.” Clearly times and attitudes have changed since Black Panther gained prominence in ’70s, and cinematic representation can have a very different effect than a comic book page.
Thankfully, director Ryan Coogler and Co. seem to have made Black Panther and Wakanda into something modern fans will love.
Black Panther hits theaters on February 16, 2018.
Other upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movies include Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, 2018, Ant-Man and the Wasp on July 6, 2018, Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019, the fourth Avengers movie on May 3, 2019, the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming on July 5, 2019, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2020.
