'Black Panther' star Chadwick Boseman talks film’s importance on 'The Breakfast Club'
The ‘Black Panther’ star discusses multiple elements of the history-making film on The Breakfast Club.
The wait is almost over. Marvel’s Black Panther hits theaters this weekend and is expected to pull in some historic numbers. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the superhero flick’s blockbuster cast consists of Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Chadwick Boseman. “I think this is one of those very special moments in history and art where things sort of come together in a way that you can’t explain,” said Boseman, who stars as T’Challa/Black Panther, during today’s (Feb. 14) visit to The Breakfast Club. The actor known for his critically-acclaimed performances in movies such as 42, Get on Up, and Marshall spoke on the importance of a film like Black Panther, its premiere event and if his character and X-Men’s Storm get together.
On Black Panther’s premiere event: “Ours was festive. It was an amazing experience. Everyone was dressed to a nine in their African gear. It was beautiful.”
On Black Panther being a cultural moment: “When you’re seeing things like the Black Panther Challenge, which Frederick Joseph started. They are living up to some of the ideas of the movie when they are doing that. That’s historic. This is history being created. In those other movies I was doing, we were remembering the past. We were looking back at history. This is a very, very present moment that takes us into what could be a different future.”**
On what makes Black Panther authentic: “You know when something is authentic. That’s part of what I’m talking about here. Ryan Coogler is authentic. He makes films because he connects with them. I think he found his stamp and put it in this film. Because that stamp is on this film and it’s unapologetic, that to me is part of it. He’s very clear about his position, and his journey in this film to try and connect to Africa.”
On if there are plans to explore the relationship between Black Panther and Storm: “There’s a few reasons why I can’t answer that, but Lupita will kill me if our characters don’t end up together in the movie. She was like, ‘If they try to bring Storm in this I’m going to turn into a villain.’”
Check out Black Panther when it hits theaters this Friday. Watch Chadwick Boseman’s full interview with The Breakfast Club above.