Marvel Studios’ Black Panther made history today, breaking the glass ceiling and becoming the first superhero movie to be deemed worthy of an Oscar nomination for Best Picture by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
In addition to the Best Picture nod – which it will contest against BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, Roma, A Star Is Born and Vice – the superhero blockbuster also racked up a further six nominations, and Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has been speaking to Entertainment Weekly about his immense pride over the film’s achievements.
“The word that keep coming to me from the moment it happened is just this humbling sense of pride for everyone involved in the movie,” said Feige. “It’s the most important recognition that a film can receive in our industry. That’s not lost on any of us. It’s something that’s immensely gratifying. As the numerous phone calls and text messages that went back and forth between all of us who were lucky enough to work on the film, it is just … pride. I think Blank Panther is a unique movie told by a unique filmmaker in a unique time.”
“It comes down to this amazing cast and crew, and a brilliant director who had something to say” he continued. “He had a very personal story and struggle to explore, and he wanted to use this movie and this canvas to tell it. Looking over the past year at the cultural impact this movie has had around the world, it feels like the recognition from the Academy this morning is the pinnacle of that… It’s about representation, and it’s about inclusion, and it’s about the importance of telling different types of stories. That the Academy recognized that this morning is extremely gratifying to all of us.”
SEE ALSO: Marvel’s Kevin Feige calls Black Panther “the most important victory we’ve ever had”
Is Black Panther worthy of its Best Picture nomination? Do you think it could pull off a shock upset come the Oscars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media channels…
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
Black Panther sees Ryan Coogler (Creed) directing Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa alongside Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, John Kani as King T’Chaka and Nabiyah Be as Linda.
