Black Panther Actor Reveals Studio Execs Were ‘Nervous’ About the Film Project

Main Insights

Marvel executives initially worried about the potential success of the first Black Panther film.
Lupita Nyong’o and the cast felt the pressure as they recognized the film’s significance.
The success of Black Panther challenged stereotypes and became a major financial hit for Marvel.

Despite the Black Panther films being among the highest-rated and most profitable in the MCU—outside of the flagship Avengers series—some Marvel executives expressed initial reservations about pursuing this direction. Reports indicate that certain higher-level staff were “nervous”about investing heavily in the inaugural Black Panther movie.

Lupita Nyong’o, an established figure in the film industry, noticed a remarkable tension among Marvel executives concerning Black Panther. In a recent reflection, she shared her recollections of those early days before the iconic phrase “Wakanda Forever”became a household saying for Marvel fans.

Lupita Nyong’o Reflects on Marvel’s Apprehensions

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nyong’o opened up about various topics, predominantly reflecting on the first Black Panther film and her fond memories of co-star Chadwick Boseman. She revealed that while Marvel executives expressed hesitations regarding the film’s focus on a primarily Black cast, the actors were equally anxious, understanding the stakes of achieving both critical and commercial success.

“There was a lot of fear, definitely from the executives… we were scared too because we knew this was a one-time opportunity. We had to get it right.”

Upon the film’s release, Black Panther proved to be a tremendous success, both financially and critically. Nyong’o noted that the film significantly alleviated the initial fears surrounding such a groundbreaking entry in the MCU and demonstrated that there was a viable market for it. She emphasized how Black Panther effectively challenged the misconception that Black-led films don’t succeed commercially.

Black Panther
Starring	Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright
Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole
Directed By	Ryan Coogler

Black Panther has secured its place as one of the most commercially successful films in the MCU’s 16-year history, grossing $1.35 billion globally, making it the sixth highest-grossing superhero film ever. Its success also led to a sequel that had to be restructured following the untimely passing of lead actor Chadwick Boseman due to cancer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjDjIWPwcPU

Marvel Studios' Black Panther – Official Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjDjIWPwcPU)

Though Marvel eventually produced a reimagined version titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, featuring many characters from the original, it seems that Nyong’o’s concerns about the studio’s initial hesitations were not unfounded. Back in 2019, Marvel chairman Ike Perlmutter openly doubted the direction of diversity initiatives in the MCU. President Kevin Feige acknowledged that some individuals within Marvel shared Perlmutter’s skepticism. Nonetheless, these fears likely dissipated after the original Black Panther exceeded a billion dollars in earnings, along with nearly $900 million from its sequel, despite the absence of Boseman.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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