Marvel President Kevin Feige caught many by surprise at the SDCC (San Diego Comic Convention) when he announced that two time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali will be taking over the role of Blade in an upcoming solo film. Watch that announcement below:
There’s just one more thing... #SDCC pic.twitter.com/0Q3F4AZJLg
— Dustin Sandoval @ #SDCC (@DustinMSandoval) July 21, 2019
As anyone who has seen Black Panther can tell you, the Dora Milaje are a force to be reckoned with. The devoted female warriors sworn to protect Wakanda’s throne are an essential part of the boundary-breaking blockbuster—so it should come as little surprise that Marvel’s latest release takes their story far beyond their service to their king, T’Challa. In Wakanda Forever: The Amazing Spider-Man, the Dora Milaje are finally getting their own arc, with Okoye, Ayo, and Aneka headed to New York to investigate a threat to national security, and connecting with Peter Parker in the process. Written by acclaimed sci-fi and fantasy author Nnedi Okorafor, with illustrations by Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque and Terry Dodson, the three-part comic will shed new light on the heroes who have become fan favorites. If the film whet viewers’ appetite for more adventures featuring the near invincible trio, the new series promises to deliver all that and then some. “Typically when you see them, they’re with T’Challa, representing and protecting him,” Okorafor told Vogue. “Now you’re going to see the Dora Miljae for the first time as an independent entity; they’re not under the shadow of the throne.”
Okorafor has already won Hugo and Nebula awards for her game-changing fiction, which explores themes of Afro-futurism and fantastical mythology inspired by Nigerian folklore, but she’s found stepping into the world of comics no less gratifying. “It’s been amazing, and I’ve learned so much along the way,” says Okorafor, whose first book for Marvel, Black Panther: Long Live the King, debuted last year. Presenting a vision of the African continent through the sci-fi lens felt completely natural. “I like to write the future; the Africa I feel can be and the Africa that will be, that has always been my vision,” she says. “With Wakanda, a place set in the present but with a futuristic outlook, it wasn’t a hard transition—it made a lot of sense.”
Read more: BLACK PANTHER’S DORA MILAJE GET SPINOFF COMIC
Wakanda forever! The blockbuster, record-breaking "Black Panther" will be getting a sequel, surprising nobody and delighting us all.
Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirmed the studio has already begun planning a follow-up film. As he told Entertainment Weekly, "We absolutely will do that."
He added, "One of the favorite pastimes at Marvel Studios is sitting around on a Part One and talking and dreaming about what we would do in a Part Two. There have been plenty of those conversations as we were putting together the first 'Black Panther.' We have ideas and a pretty solid direction on where we want to head with the second one.'
Feige didn't allude to possible storylines, though the end of the first movie left things wide open — literally, since T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) was starting to open the doors of Wakanda to the rest of the world.
And what about the very loud demands for spinoffs featuring the badass female characters of "Black Panther," like tech wizard Shuri (Letitia Wright), warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira), and spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o)?
"I think there's lots of potential. It's a balance between leaving people wanting more and then giving them too much, but I would watch a movie about any of those characters you just named," Feige said.
"I think Shuri's astounding, and you'll see much more of her in our universe. Okoye, I think I'd watch three action films just Okoye. I'm not saying we're doing that, but I'm saying that we're intrigued by them. Frankly, as I've said before, finishing these first 22 movies is really all we're thinking about at this point."
Marvel has released new posters featuring individual characters from the upcoming Black Panther movie. Each poster gives you an idea of who the characters are. Check them out below. Black Panther is directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed) and will be released 02/16/2018. The Marvel movie stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.
His father's legacy. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/SLITarKCdJ
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
His people's rage. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/VbqKCW5KW6
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
Her king's love. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/08LozlelID
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
Her nation's honor. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/W5flvGFzUA
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
His people's pride. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/LrOhQc5bz8
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
His nation's security. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/FJO3gVQaGW
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
Her son's survival. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/nZ3HHviAfo
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
His king's commands. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/IBDh8QsmzA
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
Her brother's keeper. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/uSbu3XkPCK
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
His enemy's revenge. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/xxnKYsKhdq
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
His country's orders. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/l3CduecQyL
— Black Panther (@theblackpanther) November 9, 2017
