BLACK PANTHER (2018) Production Notes

Writer-director Ryan Coogler is known for his intimate character-driven style, which catapulted him to the forefront of the indie film world in 2013 with his riveting awardwinning drama "Fruitvale Station."

PRODUCTION NOTES

WRITER/DIRECTOR AT THE HELM

Writer-director Ryan Coogler is known for his intimate character-driven style, which catapulted him to the forefront of the indie film world in 2013 with his riveting awardwinning drama "Fruitvale Station," starring Michal B. Jordan. Coogler's follow-up film "Creed," again with Michael B. Jordan and also with Sylvester Stallone, cemented his reputation as a filmmaker who excelled with challenging, multi-layered material.

"Ryan Coogler is an unbelievable filmmaker," comments producer Kevin Feige. "He's already made two films that, I believe, will stand the test of time. The fact that he was as excited and passionate about jumping into this storyline as we were was amazing for us. His early thoughts and ideas really reinvigorated us with the possibilities for the film."

For Coogler, talking with Kevin Feige was a meeting of minds that also "definitely attracted" him to the prospect of taking on "Black Panther." "Kevin is somebody who you could tell really loves what he does," says Coogler. "Kevin has a really clear vision of what this universe means in pop culture and in the industry and what it could do. He's a big-picture guy, but at the same time he can go from big picture to character and story and what's important in a heartbeat."

While Coogler's filmmaking credentials impressed Feige and the Marvel Studios' team, the self-avowed fan boy and longtime "Black Panther" fan also possessed a deep well of passion and drive to embark on the journey to bring the world of Wakanda to the big screen. That journey began with the screenplay, which he wrote with Joe Robert Cole.

Describing their initial approach to drafting the story, Coogler says, "We looked at everything. Everything was fair game. It's such a rich history there, with Black Panther and publishing. He's one of those characters that does a good job of building off of what the last custodian of the story did. You see certain writers come on board and invent certain things about Wakanda, or certain characters, and you see those characters carry over and grow under the care of other writers. So, we looked at that."

Coogler and Cole also found that Black Panther's appearance in "Captain America: Civil War" was "a great jumping off point." Coogler explains, "I would say that Cap's universe and Black Panther's universe are closely related. Some writers in the past hinted at that more than others."

He adds, "But you have the vibranium connection and you have the super soldier connection. Captain America tends to be a character who's easily defined. For Cap it is black and white; there's right and there's wrong. He's a soldier. Whereas Black Panther exists in the gray area. In addition to being a soldier, he has a more important job, which is a politician. He's this monarch whose world is extremely complicated. He's constantly making these choices in the fog of politics and in the fog of war."

As fantastical as the world of Wakanda is, the writing team made sure that the spiritual, the mystical and the technological influences in the country's culture were still anchored in the real world with relatable characters to allow the audiences to take in a tangible, yet remarkable experience.

For Coogler, the film is about Black Panther but equally about the proud nation of Wakanda and its people. "We'll see T'Challa's friends, people who he grew up with, people who he's responsible for, people he has to answer to when he's sitting on that throne," comments the director. "And all of that is extremely important. We really wanted Wakanda to feel like a real place, in the same way that it is when you meet a New Yorker. Maybe you have never been to New York before, but you get a sense of what New York is like through the people.

"So audiences have already met somebody who's from Wakanda and who represents Wakanda, but they haven't been there, so we're going to drop them right off at ground zero in this film. And they will have more understanding about how and why T'Challa did the things he did in 'Civil War,' and why he moved the way he moved," concludes Coogler.

Beyond eye-popping visuals, memorable characters and Black Panther's super-heroics lie the unexpected thriller elements surrounding T'Challa's introspection and struggle of how to best lead his kingdom. Should Wakanda remain cloaked in obscurity for another millennia or thrust into the scrutiny of the international political stage? Whether on his own terms or having his hand forced by outside influences, T'Challa faces the decision of a lifetime.

Says Coogler of his and Cole's intent to craft a realistic story of T'Challa's self-discovery as King and as Black Panther, "T'Challa is dealing with the loss of his father on a personal level. But he's also dealing with it on a professional level. He just got the biggest promotion of his life. A whole nation of people are looking at him for what to do next."

The Talented Cast Comes Together
With a compelling storyline in place, the filmmakers looked towards filling the ranks of the cast to surround Chadwick Boseman's title character. Coogler and Feige would eventually gather an enviable ensemble of pedigreed cast, culling from the ranks of film, theater and television artists from around the world.

Feige comments, "It's great to be able to delve into the world of Wakanda, see Black Panther's lineage and heritage and meet these amazing, rich characters that surround him. To bring them to life, we put together a phenomenal cast. They are among the best that we've ever assembled."

CHADWICK BOSEMAN

Prince T'Challa is primed to become the new King of Wakanda. Mourning the loss of his father, T'Challa's claim to the throne is waylaid when villains outside the country pull him out of Wakanda and lead him on an adventure that spans the globe. Pushed to the limit and burdened with the fate of a nation, T'Challa must prevail by any means necessary or risk the lives of millions of Wakandans.

Although he was familiar with the Super Hero, the Black Panther comics really came on Chadwick Boseman's radar with Reginald Hudlin's iteration, which was first published in 2005. So when presented with the opportunity to bring the title character to life as part of "Captain America: Civil War," it was a thrill for the actor.

The subsequent positive audience response to the newest Super Hero in the MCU arsenal was swift, and the feedback excited Boseman, who was eager to show film audiences more of Black Panther's story. Boseman says, "There was certainly been a lot of excitement about the opportunity to do a stand-alone movie based upon the way the character was set up in 'Civil War.' I feel like that was a success, and we left people with wanting more. I felt that excitement from outside, from people who saw the last movie, and I definitely felt like there was an excitement within Marvel too."

Boseman offers what he finds compelling about his character. "T'Challa is smart. He's a strategist and that has always been something that stood out to me, even in the comic books," the actor says. "He's a world leader and with that comes the responsibility for an entire nation and considering its place in the world. That's something that other Super Heroes don't commonly have, but he must also uphold his legacy. It's an interesting combination."

For Boseman, a committed actor always looking for a substantive role, the opportunity to explore the duality of a conflicted ruler and Super Hero was an irresistible combination in a role. He offers, "There's a lot of real world conflict that you can bring to it. So you don't feel like you're just playing a guy in a suit. You're playing a conflicted, well-rounded character. If you're going to do a Super Hero, you want to do one where you can really act and where you can do something that's going to make you a better artist as well. And I think, culturally speaking, that there are not a lot of opportunities to play a black Super Hero. It's breaking new ground, and to be a part of that is a special thing."

With an opportunity to show more about what makes Black Panther tick, director Ryan Coogler and Boseman had discussions about how the character could evolve in the new movie. "We tried to build on what was already there," says Boseman. "You have the opportunity in this film to be more detailed than you were in the last one because in the other story Black Panther was a supporting character. In this he has to show a lot of different colors. We talked about what those colors were, and what were those different aspects of the character that we wanted to show."

Even as Boseman jumped into the fray on "Civil War," the Marvel team knew they had found their king. Recalls executive producer Nate Moore, "From the beginning we knew that Black Panther needed to feel singular. Whoever we cast had to be somebody who was going to bring integrity to the role that felt different in tone to what a Robert Downey Jr. brings to Tony Stark, to what Chris Evans brings to Captain America, even with what Chris Hemsworth brings to Thor."

He adds, "Chadwick is so prepared as an actor that he read all the comic books, and he came to us with a list of questions and had his own ideas about Wakanda. You realize very quickly this guy is not taking anything for granted and is fully invested in the role."

MICHAEL B. JORDAN

Erik Killmonger is a new foe to Wakanda with designs on the throne. Equipped with deadly tactical skills and knowledge of Wakanda, he is a formidable enemy for our heroes.

The creative bond between Michael B. Jordan and Coogler runs deep and is evident from their previous collaborations in "Creed" and "Fruitvale Station" and extends far beyond a working relationship. So when the director proposed the idea of Jordan flexing a different acting muscle and consider taking on the role of Killmonger, a darker more unconventional turn for the actor, Jordan agreed without hesitation.

Jordan had already been mentally in the game from the second he heard Marvel Studios was developing the "Black Panther" project. A longtime comic book fan, Jordan could not turn down the chance to work on the film. "My initial exposure to the Marvel universe was pretty extensive," comments Jordan. "I grew up with Marvel and comic books and was always a big fan."

He continues, "I was very familiar with Black Panther. As a kid I always wanted to be the Black Panther. Black Panther was a character that I always looked up to and admired my whole life, so it's pretty amazing to get to be part of the story for the big screen."

Very little is known about Michael B. Jordan's character, Erik Killmonger, when he's introduced into the narrative but slowly fragments of his connection to Wakanda are revealed to T'Challa. Killmonger is a mercenary who is just as lethal as Ulysses Klaue, so with the pair now united against T'Challa, the stakes have grown exponentially.

"Killmonger is a threat to T'Challa because he truly understands Wakanda," explains Coogler. "That's really somebody who could be the biggest threat. If you know your enemy, then you're in pretty good shape. It makes you very formidable. It's a film about what society has come to, which is information. And when it comes to information, it's those who have it and those who don't. And above all else, that's what Killmonger has."

Coogler and the filmmakers knew that Jordan would prove to be a strong foil to Boseman. As a new foe to Wakanda, Killmonger's designs on the throne would set an immediate and inherent tension in motion between the two men which sets the stage for the emotional crux of "Black Panther."

States Nate Moore, "Killmonger thinks he's a good guy, which is the best kind of villain. A villain who actually believes in what they're doing. Michael has much more of an outward charisma, which always helps with an antagonist but even when he's intense there's still a likeability there, there's still a charisma that he brings to the table, which is really interesting."

Describing Killmonger, Jordan says, "He is always ten steps ahead. He's very patient. That's a very dangerous attribute to have as a villain because he's going to sit and wait, and he's going to plan and calculate every move. I like to think of myself as a forward thinker, and I love playing chess and seeing steps ahead. So that was something that I definitely connected a lot with him."

Jordan sums up, "I'm very proud to be a part of this project. Joe Robert Cole and Ryan did a really good job at laying down the foundation of Wakanda for the first time. It's the introduction to the world and giving the voice to the people. The culture of Wakanda is very old. There is history and traditions and how they're used to doing things. I loved the way they tied in the old-school tradition with what today is and how important foreign policy and how we interact with one another is."

LUPITA NYONG'O

Nakia is a War Dog, a Wakandan spy often imbedded in countries outside of Wakanda to observe and report back. She must decide whether she should be guided by her duty to her nation or her feelings for T'Challa.

Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o was drawn to "Black Panther" by several different elements. "I had been wanting to work with Ryan Coogler, who I think is brilliant," says Nyong'o, "in addition to wanting be a part of the MCU. And then the fact that this was going to be Marvel's first black Super Hero, and that he is an African king, and the fact that we were going to be creating this really dope African country, and populate it with all sorts of badass African characters-it was a no-brainer, honestly."

Nakia, who is from the River tribe, is a force to be reckoned with-a highly disciplined and strong-willed woman who gives as good as she gets, especially when it comes to T'Challa. Her warrior skills match those of the Dora Milaje, the elite all-female security force, which makes her an exceptionally effective operative.

Describing Nakia, Nyong'o says, "Nakia is a bit of a rebel but also a loyalist to her country. She is in conflict with some of the ideals of her nation and wants to go her own way, but she is also really eager to serve the country she loves so much. She and T'Challa, now that he is King, are at odds as to what way forward is best for the nation. But they also have some history together, so they have to come to terms with that and figure out how to forge ahead."

Nyong'o states that she could identify with Nakia's free spirit and her independence. "I love a woman who goes her own way and is independent, and I am also really someone who depends on my family and friends and feels a connection to my people, and maybe has a sense of responsibility to 'make them proud.' So I really related to that balancing act within oneself," comments the actor.

In the film, Nakia has an interesting relationship with Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje, the all-female security force. "Okoye and Nakia have a sisterhood but also one that is challenged because Nakia doesn't do so well with authority figures," explains Nyong'o. "And Okoye also doesn't do so well with rebels. So, Okoye represents the old guard and tradition. She's really eager to keep tradition alive, while Nakia challenges tradition. They have a deep respect for each other, but they just see the world differently."

Calling the cast "a godsend," Nyong'o elaborates: "I can honestly say that I loved working with everyone who was in this film. We had legends like Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker and then newer faces like Daniel Kaluuya and Letitia Wright. Everyone came together with the same level of enthusiasm and passion to bring this story to life. I feel like we all really owned this story and wanted to do right by it. There was like a militancy with which we showed up every day to put in our work."

DANAI GURIRA

Okoye is the head of the Dora Milaje, the all-female Wakandan Special Forces. She is the best fighter in Wakanda who is not named the Black Panther, and she is fiercely loyal to the throne.

Best known for her immensely popular role of the katana-wielding Michonne in the hit AMC series "The Walking Dead," actress Danai Gurira was a no-brainer when it came to filling the role of the fearless Okoye, T'Challa's confidante and head of the Dora Milaje.

But beyond the action-driven aspects of the character, Gurira was drawn to Okoye's complexities within dynamic circumstances. She is a true leader who believes in the need to uphold the traditions and ultimately the security of Wakanda in the face of powerful enemies.

Offering her take on Okoye, Gurira says, "Okoye is the head of the Dora Milaje. These women have pledged their lives to the throne and to the maintenance of the security of the kingdom and specifically of the throne. But my character, Okoye, is also the general of the armed forces as a whole and the head of Wakandan Intelligence.

"So she's more than a bodyguard. She's got a much more expansive role than that, and she's deeply involved with all the workings of what's going on in the kingdom. She knows everything. She reports to T'Challa. She makes decisions. She's very well known for her abilities as a soldier and as a leader. She has her own complexities going on as well. And all of that's been very cool to play," concludes Gurira.

Describing her relationship to T'Challa/Black Panther, Gurira says, "Her connection to T'Challa is very close. They're good friends. They've grown up around each other. She was definitely a young girl who stood out from a young age from the Border tribe and was being brought through the ranks and close by him. And so she's known him for a long time. She's all up in his business, basically, so they have a great relationship."

Born in the U.S. but raised in Zimbabwe, Gurira is also an award-winning playwright known for compelling exploration of African characters and their stories. "As a playwright, I write about African stories and try to tell them in the Western context," says Gurira, "so to see African characters showcased in an epic platform like 'Black Panther' in itself is exciting, but listening to Ryan's vision was amazing. His script [along with Joe Robert Cole] really brought to light the beautiful components of women from Africa within the context of the power of this prosperous, self-sufficient unseen kingdom that is not affected by all outside influences. This beautiful mythic place that developed its own way, designed its own modernity and evolved into the most technologically advanced country on the planet. To me, that was so thrilling."

MARTIN FREEMAN

Everett K. Ross, A CIA agent who was last seen interrogating Zemo, Ross soon finds that he's on the trail of the same villain recently resurfaced from T'Challa's past. Ross is pulled into the wondrous world of Wakanda and finds himself aligned with T'Challa against international forces threatening to destroy Wakanda.

Martin Freeman reprises the character of Agent Everett Ross in a surprising turn as an ally, albeit a reluctant one, to T'Challa. "There's real sense of nobility to him," cites Moore of Ross' détente with T'Challa. "There's a mutual respect between Ross and T'Challa as they reluctantly team up to pursue Klaue. Ross isn't the requisite government suit who acts as the obstructionist."

Freeman was pleased to join the cast of "Black Panther," and says, "From my point of view, obviously I knew Ross, my character, was going to have more to do. I think Ross is an interesting character, and the slight difference between what was on the page with Ross in the comics and what we're doing here is interesting. It's going to be a little bit straighter, I suppose, if not darker."

Freeman admits that he likes his character, commenting, "I like his authority. I like his status, actually. I like the fact that he doesn't care about offending people. I think he doesn't care about where his jurisdiction is because his jurisdiction is everywhere as far as he's concerned. So I like that; giving yourself license just to go and act like the most powerful person in the room."

DANIEL KALUUYA

W'Kabi is the head of security for the Border Tribe. The people of the Border Tribe live on the borders of Wakanda and serve as the first line of defense for the country. To outsiders they appear to be what people would "expect" of a small African nation-but the truth is they are some of the fiercest warriors in Wakanda, intent on protecting the secrets of their nation at all costs.

British actor Daniel Kaluuya joins the cast as W'Kabi, Royal Counsel to T'Challa when he ascends to rule Wakanda. Offering insight on W'Kabi, Kaluuya says, "W'Kabi is quite an honest African character. He's got an African male ego. I find that quite interesting and really honest. It's like seeing what that does to a man when he's been brought up in this certain tradition that is quite sexist in a way and seeing whether he can develop and overcome it. And anyone can."

Continuing, he adds, "Also, the fact that his arguments are very valid open it up. He's given the alternative argument to Black Panther, but he's coming from a very real place, a place that has logic. It was really exciting to be a vessel for that. It was quite cool."

LETITIA WRIGHT

Shuri is T'Challa's little sister and a smart-mouthed, tech wizard. She is second-in-line for the throne behind her brother and is the smartest person in Wakanda-the top scientist and the innovator behind the Black Panther's updated suits and technology.

British actress Letitia Wright steps into the shoes of tech-savvy Princess Shuri, T'Challa's cheeky younger sister. Describing Shuri, Wright says, "Shuri is someone who's very innovative. She takes care of the technology side of everything that's going on in Wakanda. She designs exciting, cool things that we're going to see in the film. Her brain is always working, and she's always thinking of solutions to help her country and building gadgets and things like better armor. Shuri's mission in the film is expanding and improving Wakanda, helping her brother and being a positive part of the story."

While tech may be in Shuri's wheelhouse, she shows her prowess on the battlefield as well. It was that arc and the promise of working with Coogler and the assembled cast of well-known and talented actors that sparked a strong interest from the 23-year-old actress. Like all of her co-stars, Wright loved the idea of an African Super Hero and knew that the project would be something fresher and more different from anything she has done or seen before.

WINSTON DUKE

M'Baku is the formidable leader of the Jabari tribe, a group of Wakandans who have shunned the use of vibranium and removed themselves from mainstream Wakandan life. In the wake of T'Chaka's death, M'Baku is faced with the choice of challenging T'Challa for the throne in order to return Wakanda to its isolationist ways.

Winston Duke portrays M'Baku, leader of the Jabari mountain tribe of Wakanda who doesn't see eye-to-eye with T'Challa and the royal family. "M'Baku is a self-professed man of deep integrity," offers Duke. "He really cares about his people, and he's deeply shaped and defined by his cultural identity. He is Jabari, which is one of the main tribes of Wakanda. And being so is a really big part of who he is. He has a particular way of wanting his world to reflect where he comes from. He does not want that to be forgotten, and he's a man of deep integrity. However it's manifested, it's still connected to integrity."

He adds, "Working with Ryan helped me to get to another level of understanding the character. M'Baku's a man who has a great level of need of doing service for his people. He's serving something bigger than himself. He has to make sure that the Jabari survive and their ways and their culture survive. He wants them to remember who they are and that they created this entire remarkable civilization on their own. He feels it is time to remind them that they can't move forward without a clear, deep, thoughtful adherence to the past, which is a really powerful thing."

ANGELA BASSETT

Ramonda is T'Challa and Shuri's mother. Her goal is to help T'Challa become King of Wakanda in a peaceful transition of power, serving as a de facto advisor to the throne. However, as things get complicated for our hero, she sets aside any political functions and instead operates as a mother whose sole concern is the physical well-being of both of her children.

Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett plays the stalwart Queen Mother Ramonda, T'Challa's mother. The recent widow is a pivotal character that provides an anchor to both T'Challa, who is struggling with his role as leader of Wakanda and protector of its traditions, and his sister, the headstrong, brilliant young Princess Shuri.

Of her role, Bassett says, "Ramonda's a wife, and she's a mother of a son of whom she is immensely proud of, and of a young daughter Shuri. You have that back and forth between Shuri and Ramonda sometimes as she's trying to assert her independence and as she's growing into her humanity and her adulthood. As a mother of a boy and a girl, I know that there are just different dynamics and tensions that play out between boys and girls and mothers and sons and mothers and daughters."

The role of mother comes easily to the veteran actress and mother of two but she unexpectedly found herself becoming the Queen Mother to the cast who often referred to her off camera as such. And she embraced it all with fulfilling results both onscreen and off. "Letitia Wright and I formed a very beautiful bond," relates Bassett. "She is a lovely young woman who is full of fieriness, sass, humor and openness. I had a wonderful experience with her and just drew her close to me. We talked and learned from each other."

Continuing, she adds, "Chadwick is such a talent. From the beginning there was warmth, camaraderie and a great deal of respect for his previous work, so when I look at him with proud eyes, they were as a proud mother, Ramonda, and also as his proud colleague, Angela."

Bassett's young co-stars, particularly Wright, appreciated the maternal dynamics at play as much as she did. "Angela is amazing," enthuses Wright. "I actually had to take a moment before we started filming to thank her. She did a movie, 'Akeelah and the Bee,' which inspired me to want to act. She's amazing and she's funny. She's given me so much advice and reassures me when she sees I'm frustrated. Her advice is something I would not exchange for anything. I'm honored to have worked with her."

Working with Ryan Coogler was a first for Bassett and proved to be a positive experience. "Ryan is very collaborative and allows you to bring to it what you would," says Bassett. "What I loved about him is that he always asked us to ground our characters in reality-in our bodies, in our emotions, in our feelings-as opposed to thinking about them as comic book characters. He wanted us to explore who these people were and how they felt about each other and what they wanted."

FOREST WHITAKER

Zuri is the spiritual leader of Wakanda. A good friend to former King T'Chaka, Zuri has become a mentor figure to T'Challa, bestowing his knowledge and wisdom onto the Black Panther. Zuri is also the keeper of the Staff of Bashenga, and tends the garden of the Heart-Shaped Herb that gives Black Panther his powers.

For Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, joining the "Black Panther" cast as Zuri was akin to a family reunion with Coogler and Jordan with whom he collaborated as a producer on "Fruitvale Station."

Whitaker brings his considerable acting skills to the part of Zuri, the shaman of Wakanda and longtime Royal advisor to King T'Chaka, making Zuri's long and complicated history with the royal family real and relatable.

ANDY SERKIS

Ulysses Klaue is an illegal arms dealer, smuggler and gangster operating out of South Africa, whom we met in "Avengers: Age of Ultron." He is after Wakanda's vibranium and in the Black Panther's crosshairs.

Andy Serkis was always game to revisit the role of the South African arms dealer who first appeared in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and once he heard Coogler was set to direct he signed on despite an overwhelming schedule.

It was worth it for the award-winning actor, who says, "Ryan has really come up with something special with 'Black Panther.' It's an extraordinary retelling of essentially everything that we know about Black Panther from the comic while creating Wakanda in a wondrous yet accessible way. He's a brilliant director who's all about character and knows this world so well. He's created something that is really smart, really skillful and very pertinent. It's truly a film for our times."

Klaue is a unique character who possesses a dark unstable sensibility that allows the British actor to jump in and enjoy the ride. The black-market arms dealing smuggler/gangster is still obsessed with Wakanda and its vibranium mine and despite his alliance with Killmonger he continues to work his own agenda.

"We do really honor the character of Ulysses Klaue and his brutal history with Wakanda," says Serkis. "I wanted him to retain that anger and if there is any redeeming factor about Ulysses Klaue it is that he wants to expose their hypocrisy. Ryan really wanted this interpretation to be fresh and show that Klaue now lives for the moment and enjoys his new weapon and his new life. There's a lot of humor in the way that Ryan and I have worked on the character together."

Rounding out the cast are German actress Florence Kasumba who plays Ayo, the Dora Milaje who first appeared in "Captain America: Civil War"; South African actor/playwright John Kani ("Captain America: Civil War," "Coriolanus") who returns to play T'Challa's father King T'Chaka; and Emmy Award-winning actor Sterling K. Brown ("This Is Us," "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot") appearing as N'Jobu, a Wakandan War Dog.

CREATING THE MYTHIC WORLD OF "BLACK PANTHER"

Within Marvel mythology, the seemingly impoverished African nation of Wakanda is, in fact, the cradle of the impervious metal vibranium. Probably best known as the material that provides the unimaginable strength to Captain America's shield and compels Klaue's maniacal drive to prove its existence and harness its power, vibranium is an incredible resource that has been a vital part of the Wakandan culture for generations. The impenetrable metal can take multiple forms, whether threaded through the Black Panther suit, molded into Cap's shield or as an energy source that powers the entire country, which sits on the endless supply that is mined as needed.

With it comes a bevy of technology, knowledge, wealth and power. It far surpasses anything the modern world could ever imagine and establishes Wakanda as a technological, albeit reclusive, giant.

A glimpse behind the shroud of the fictitious Wakanda reveals a futuristic otherworldly culture that is deeply rooted in the African tradition. This world held untapped potential for the filmmakers and their production team as they prepared to bring it to the big screen.

Says executive-producer Nate Moore, "For Black Panther and the world of Wakanda, it's about finding those real life touchstones that we think give the film an integrity that it otherwise might not have, yet still making it something exciting and something that you've never seen before."

"Black Panther" may be production designer Hannah Beachler's first foray into the comic realm, but the talented designer embraced the unique opportunity to conceptualize and articulate the multifaceted vibranium–infused landscape that married the traditional African aesthetic with a highly evolved modernity.

What made the task a streamlined effort was the long-standing collaboration that Beachler has with the director. From the Sundance Film Festival prize-winning "Fruitvale Station," to the gritty box office hit "Creed," the pair have crafted a shorthand that often has the designer anticipating what Coogler will gravitate to.

The relationship is one that keeps the talented and meticulously prepared designer continuously thinking outside the realm of what's she done. "Ryan is always taking me into places that perpetually challenge me and force me to push myself further, says Beachler. "Ryan is really collaborative, and we've gotten to the point where we both trust each other enough to challenge each other and go back and forth with our ideas. This is our third project together and our most ambitious so it's been an exciting journey on so many levels."

Comics were a new medium for Beachler but after a tutorial from her teenage son, a comic book fan, she quickly realized she would need to delve deeper into the Black Panther lexicon. From early Jack Kirby to Ta-Nehisi Coates' most recent interpretation, she discovered a rich history punctuated by a Super Hero amidst socially relevant stories.

"The heart of the 'Black Panther' series has always been about taking some serious material and wrapping it up in something fun," comments Beachler. "To have a character in a comic that's been around this long is amazing, so it was important for me to reference all the artists that worked on these comics over the years. So it was absolutely necessary for me to see that starting point and stay true to the story and then bring it into 2017 for what Ryan wanted to do."

Armed with copious research, production designer Beachler had marathon sessions with Coogler, in which they shared photos and inspirations from their visits to Africa. Through this collaboration and utilizing a very fluid design language, Beachler was able to articulate a sense of thoughtfulness to the canon of the Kirby comics while contemporizing what the technologically advanced African nation would encompass.

Story-wise, Beachler's prime directive was to incorporate the Wakandan resource of vibranium everywhere. A stickler for detail, she spoke with mining and metallurgy experts to extrapolate what the potential phases of the powerful alien material could be before she even began to incorporate it throughout the Wakandan milieu.

The majority of Wakanda sets that Beachler and her team designed were constructed on sound stages in Atlanta, including the Tribal Council; the Wakandan Design Group, Shuri's hive of research and development of the vibranium-rich country; the ancient subterranean Hall of Kings; and most notably Warrior Falls, the ceremonial heart of Wakanda's revered traditions.

One of the most awe-inspiring sets is the exterior set for Warrior Falls built on a back lot north of Atlanta. It is the audience's first glimpse behind the curtain of Wakanda, which showcases their centuries-old heritage and the pageantry that surrounds their rituals.

Inspired by the majestic Oribi Gorge in South Africa, the Warrior Falls set would prove to be a mind-boggling effort between the art department, the special effects department, led by veteran special effects producer Dan Sudick, and Geoff Baumann's visual effects team.

The Warrior Falls set was 120' x 75' in size. The set was 36' tall, with the pool being six feet above ground level. That made the practical cliff faces 30' tall, which gave Coogler and director of photography Rachel Morrison the ability to craft sweeping camera shots from every conceivable angle, allowing for up close perspectives of fighting action within the Challenge Pool below or a birds-eye viewpoint from up above.

On screen, the cliff wall of the Warrior Falls will look like it is 100 feet high-a combination of CG enhancement and the practically built set. For the safety of the extras, the stunt team had to rig all of the cliff faces with mountain climbing gear to safely secure them on the 30-foot cliff faces.

Beachler's department of artisans provided the framework of the set by hand-sculpting industrial Styrofoam, which was then meticulously plastered and painted to resemble a plateau of the ancient rock cliff wall. Over 25,000 cubic feet of foam was used for the set, which was sculpted to match the rocks in Oribi Gorge in South Africa.

The elevated set had multiple falls feeding water into a built-in pool below that would eventually be the setting for several crucial scenes. Sudick's team engineered a fully functional flowing waterfall and pool at the ledge of the cliff with six large submersible pumps feeding over 125,000 gallons of temperature-controlled water piping up through the set at a rate of 30,000 gallons per minute before recirculating through the system.

The production designer even designed an ingenious system of tunnels concealed throughout the rear of set to allow over 100 background extras, festooned in elaborate tribal garb of Wakanda's four tribes-Merchant, Border, Mining and River-access to different elevations throughout the stunning backdrop.

When it was all said and done, the tremendous feat of engineering the fantastical set, which took four months to build, was worth every frame of the set's two-week shoot.

The effort to create such a practical environment was not lost on the actors. "We had Warrior Falls," says Bassett. "The rush of water. We had the mountains. We had the throne room. So we could see the world. You could really get a sense of it; you could get a sense of the scope and grandeur."

Letitia Wright agrees, "It was amazing. I've never been on a set like that before. I already miss the people and the drums playing. As a people, we were moving; we were dancing; we were singing. It was brilliant for me to see, because it educated me to see that there's a root of where we come from. And that place and that motherland is brilliant." The Tribal Council set, the site of official state business, is a prime example of melding the old world with the new. The set was a combination of sleek, practically built set with visual effects enhancements, courtesy of visual effects supervisor Geoffrey Baumann, alumni of several Marvel Studios blockbusters, including, most recently, "Doctor Strange."

The Tribal Council set that involved much thought and design process. Beginning with a look at the design language of the film, which featured rounded shapes, Beachler decided to go with the circle of life idea that exists in many cultures to realize the room. In addition, the production designer wanted to make it a mix of old and new. "We wanted some sort of tech to enhance what is old," says Beachler. "A lot of what we tried to do is mix these two ideas together of our past and our present but never getting rid of the past. It's always there."

In order to achieve that feel, Beachler's team decided to put a ruin in the middle of the room, under a high-tech-looking glass floor, so that the tribal council would actually be sitting on the ruin, a symbol of their ancient history. On metal columns in the room, Beachler had script from an old Nigerian language written, which was not overlooked by one of the Nigerian extras. As Beachler explains, "She looked at the writing and said that she knew what it said. And she said that it was really beautiful. So this is a text from the 5th century in this high-tech setting. And it worked."

Lupita Nyong'o found the Tribal Council room inspiring. "The production value of this movie is spellbinding," she says. "I remember once coming on set on a day that I wasn't called and there was a tribal council scene being shot. It just gave me goose bumps because for me this was the image of what an African nation could have been if its development had been left to itself!"

One of Beachler's favorite sets was also one of the production's most ambitious sets both in design and the scope of the action and filmmaking-the illegal casino set. Concealed beneath the kinetic, densely packed activity of the Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan, South Korea, is a luxe, high-stakes casino. The contrast of texture and design is heightened as one descends from the lights, noise and smells of the market to the opulent casino.

The casino is the setting for the epic first meeting between T'Challa, Ross and Klaue, which goes array and jumpstarts a heart-pounding action sequence replete with a tightly choreographed fight scene and a white-knuckle car chase sequence throughout the streets of Busan.

The interior scenes were filmed in Atlanta with the high–speed car action filmed on location in the bustling coastal city of Busan. Coogler was drawn to the Busan area and knew it was the perfect backdrop to how he envisioned the sequence. "We were beyond thrilled to be able to shoot 'Black Panther' in Busan," enthuses Coogler. "The city has an amazing energy, and provides a great mix of modern architecture and historical buildings all against this beautiful coastal backdrop. It instantly reminded me of my home in the Bay Area."

For close to two weeks, "Black Panther's" action unit, led by second unit director Darrin Prescott and stunt coordinator R.A. Rondell, were based in Busan, which is nestled against the foothills of Geumjeong Mountain, to film the thrilling, mind-blowing chase sequence through such iconic sites as Gwangalli Beach and Haeundae District.

For Andy Serkis, who plays Ulysses Klaue, sharing the screen with fellow "Hobbit" star Martin Freeman in an epic showdown in a South Korean casino was rollicking fun. "It was a great scene to shoot," remarks Serkis of the rousing action sequence. "I've really enjoyed working with Martin again. We had an enormous amount of fun filming the casino scene, which is a pretty spectacular affair with huge action and actually some of the most brilliant physical stunts I've witnessed on camera. It was fantastic."

Perhaps Winston Duke sums up the production value of "Black Panther" best when he says, "It's astounding, rendering you speechless and just leaving you with your mouth gaping open. Looking at the sets, looking at the costumes, the colors, the sounds. It's going to be beautiful."

COSTUME DESIGN

The next layer of bringing Wakanda to life on the big screen was the task of veteran costume designer Ruth Carter, who in concert with Academy Award-nominated special effects makeup designer Joel Harlow and hair department head Camille Friend would capture the heart and soul of Wakanda's people.

At the core of Carter's approach was keeping her designs steeped in the appropriate African custom while elevating it to reflect the fantastical elements inherent to the mysterious country and culture. She worked closely with the production design team to develop a complementary color palette chock full of vibrant African color, patterns and ultimately capture the African tradition and weave it throughout their visual landscape and story-telling.

"I'm looking at the whole continent and a wide range of people, like the Maasai and the Suri," says Carter. "It all becomes a part of the framework of Wakanda. Most people who read the comic books know Wakanda is a mountainous area, and it's a secret place that's not necessarily trading and interacting with the rest of the world. They're more advanced in technology than other civilizations. We are creating that world and trying to create a culture and pride that feels authentic to the specific location."

Carter admits the learning curve on "Black Panther" was both steep and intimidating when it came to conceptualizing her starting point for the fictitious country and culture. But on the flip side of that coin was the appeal of the project.

"Wakanda is this vast unknown world and, ultimately, the challenge of the unknown is what appealed to me on so many levels," comments Carter. "Beyond what has been established in the comic realm, I knew very little about it but as I began my research, I realized we could create from a place of fantasy, a place of African culture and a place of imagination. Everybody had their own take on what Black Panther's world was but it had never really been translated to film, which was very exciting."

Carter is an artist but she is keenly aware of the fine line between the creative and practical needs of her costume designs. Her designs needed to satisfy her own creative benchmark while withstanding the wear and tear of the MCU's hallmark action scenes.

For "Black Panther," the filmmakers knew they needed to up the ante of their Super Hero with a new and improved suit. While Boseman initially wears the original costume from "Civil War," he soon gets an upgrade in the movie courtesy of Shuri's techno wizardry and Marvel Studios' head of visual development Ryan Meinerding's design acumen.

The new Black Panther suit is supposedly interwoven with vibranium, so Carter opted to streamline the new suit and use a lighter material. The vibranium layer, which is actually a silver missile suit, is visible underneath an overlay of a very thin fabric imprinted with a repeat tribal triangle pattern known as Okavango. The suit also has a subtle medallion emblazoned over the chest plate and a new panther-tooth necklace that bolsters the tribal feel, as does the revamped helmet.

"The new suit is a little bit more streamlined and Black Panther can do a whole lot more with less," says Carter of the design.

Adds Coogler, "One thing that a lot of people might not know is that Black Panther's suit is not a Super Hero suit. It's a military uniform that he wears and something that has a history. When he shows up, and when you see everybody else, it folds into the idea of what a five-star general's uniform would look like."

Visualizing the costumes for T'Challa's security force, the Dora Milaje, proved to be another welcomed design challenge for Meinerding and his visual development team, who wanted there to be meaning and historical basis behind how the fierce women warriors presented themselves. They are an integral and recognizable part of the Black Panther comic realm, so Carter outfitted them in a molded base tunic, again using her touchstone of tribal influences that would integrate tribal lines and add texture all over the costumes.

A leather harness adorned with vibranium and elaborate beaded talismans in the front is worn over the base costume. A simple buckle in the front was transformed into a custom-designed metal panther head. Like Japanese armor, the harness is deemed to be a prized heirloom passed from mother to daughter to survive and use over generations. Carter brought in a jewelry designer to craft numerous one-of-a-kind specialty pieces, including the Dora metal shoulder armor, as well as their signature necklaces and anklets and Okoye's metal chest plate.

Carter was able to reflect both ends of the style spectrum with the royal family, starting with Princess Shuri's fashion sense. Shuri sports an edgy, young Afro-Punk vibe replete with an eccentric mix of bright tribal colors, adorned with funky jewelry and neckpieces, and the latest pair of Nikes.

Letitia Wright says of her look, "I love what Ruth Carter has brought to this. Shuri is stylish and everything she wears was created by Ruth and also with Ryan. I love it because it's so different from me. I'm super simple and easygoing fashion-wise. But Shuri wears a lot of bright colors, odd shapes, cuts and designs. It's a mixture of tribal and also youthfulness. Tribal meaning traditional things that you find in South Africa and around the continent of Africa. She creates her own path when it comes to fashion and style. She wears what she loves. It could be an odd shape, bright colors, or cool rings. She's just a cool kid."

The regal Ramonda, as Queen Mother, has a more refined traditionalist take on fashion. Simple yet elegant silhouettes and fabrics, all adorned by equally sophisticated head pieces. Carter's attention to detail was evident when she commissioned a 3D-printed, Zulu-inspired headpiece and a mantle to complete her unique looks.

Describing her costumes, Bassett says, "I have the long ball gown with the African script and writing and symbols on it in gold. And these magnificent headdresses that are sort of Zulu-inspired, and with a mantle across the back and this gorgeous filigree of sorts, which Ruth Carter made with the new 3-D printing technology. The costume was really beautiful, and it really helps Ramonda to stand there in the midst of this incredible crowd of colorful, magnificently-attired individuals and stand out."

In fictional Wakanda, each tribe has a color palette, which Coogler designed and discussed with Carter. The desire was to keep the color theory strict and only applicable to the specific Wakandan tribe.

For example, the color blue signified danger or trouble, so blue was reserved for the Border tribe, who act as a policing force, and Killmonger's character also wore blue. No one else is in any kind of a blue palette.

The River tribe, which is Nakia's tribe, wears green. Lupita Nyong'o, who plays Nakia, wears many different shades of green in her various costumes. Says Carter, "Greens mix together well because it's like nature. But I also tried to bring in some things that support the greens like yellows and chartreuse to support the green and make it lusher."

Nyong'o, whose character is a Wakandan spy imbedded in different countries, actually had a range of costumes, from a leather jacket and boots to dresses and gowns and warrior attire. "I love Nakia's look," comments Nyong'o. "She is this world traveler, so her style is definitely influenced by the experiences she's had. It's grounded and pragmatic, but it also has a funk to it. I love that about her. Also she wears the color of the River Tribe, which is green."

Michael B. Jordan's look as Killmonger was contemporary with most of his clothes coming from Los Angeles. But, he also had a special panther suit, which was also designed by Meinerding. As Carter explains, "Killmonger's suit is incredibly special. His is in a gold-spotted suit. In the process of making it, we put a real gold suit underneath his skin suit, which is the black spotted suit. We gave him a heavy gold necklace. He's a little bit more ostentatious than Black Panther; a little more street, I would say."

The seamless collaborations among Coogler's behind-the-scenes brain trust also extended to Joel Harlow and Camille Friend. The pair worked closely to conceive the final and integral components of fully realized character looks for the principal cast and dozens of supporting cast.

Like his colleagues, research was intrinsic to Harlow's makeup design approach. It all stemmed from African traditions, whether from the pages of National Geographic, African ritual books, body painting, historical references or the "Black Panther" catalogue of comics. They all played a part in conceptualizing his makeup design.

Says Harlow of the sentiment behind his thought processes, "Our inspiration visually was coming mostly from the African tradition. The goal was to be visually interesting while maintaining the integrity of the meaning behind everything, whether it be tribal markings or the script and design of a tattoo."

As with the production and costume design, vibranium would be incorporated in the most unexpected ways in Harlow's realm. The sky was the limit and Harlow made sure to explore that edict at every turn.

Not only did Harlow's team craft special effect make-up and facial prosthetics, they were also tasked with creating several one-of-a-kind neckpieces for Shuri that were integrated into her wardrobe. After body molds were cast of the young actress, Harlow's team of sculptors handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces. The end result was then glued to her jaw line, allowing Wright a full range of motion whether speaking or fighting in full-speed action scenes.

Michael B. Jordan, who plays Erik Killmonger, spent about two and a half hours in the special effects makeup chair every day, while makeup designer Joel Harlow and three other makeup artists applied close to 90 individually sculpted silicone molds to his upper body. This "scarification" application process entails transferring each mold and then blending and painting them to match Jordan's skin tone. Each of Killmonger's scars represents a "notch" of his kills over the years.

Explains Jordan, "The scarification is a reminder for him of what he's going through and what is keeping him on mission, and that he's doing the killings for a reason. It's not senseless. He kills for a reason and he believes what he's doing is right. The sacrificial marks on his body are a constant self-reminder to be focused and to continue the mission straight through."

Friend, too, also pushed the boundaries to evoke a full spectrum of looks for the cast's hairstyles. From traditional African braids, to elaborate clay-molded hair sculptures to custom-designed, hand-woven wigs, Friend and her team experimented with texture, color, natural fibers, flowers, berries and even the ubiquitous vibranium (metallic coated twine) to fully realize Coogler's vision of a multi-layered Wakandan society that embraced their past, present and future.

For Friend, one of her more labor intensive projects produced the most dramatic character reveal-the waist-long, silver-haired dreadlocks of Queen Ramonda. The wig was made up of 120 pieces of hair that were literally rolled and handmade into multiple dreadlocks for the actress.

Friend also added dreadlock extensions to enhance Michael B. Jordan's look as the deadly Killmonger. It was a new look for the actor and one that the veteran hairstylist is proud of. She says, "The Killmonger look is very cool. We basically had Michael grow his hair as long as he could and then added in dreadlock extensions. It was really a great solution to give him a whole different look. There is an added edge and unpredictability, so he really stands out as a villain."

Although Letitia Wright's African braids were paired with a partially shaved head etched with a tribal design, without exception, preparing Gurira, Kasumba and all the actresses who play the Dora Milaje to shave their heads completely bald for the iconic look (which harkened back to Black Panther's comic book origins) was a tough one.

"That was a hard day," recalls Friend, "and we took it very seriously. For some women, their hair is their pride and joy, so it's a big deal to shave your head and maintain it for months. We were very patient, and if someone needed to take a moment, we gave it to them. When it was all said and done, they looked amazing, especially when we saw them in full Dora Milaje mode holding their weapons."

LANGUAGE & CUSTOMS

It was decided earlier on that Xhosa, one of the official languages of South Africa would be the language of fictional Wakanda and subsequently the Xhosa culture would lend itself as a touchstone to the Wakandan citizenry. A precedent had been set in "Civil War," when celebrated South African actor John Kani, who portrayed King T'Chaka, used his native accent and Boseman, in turn, picked it up.

With an international cast, all hailing from different countries and regions of the world, dialect coach Beth McGuire was tasked with ensuring that there was continuity amongst them all. McGuire, a linguist who works with students at the Yale Repertory Theatre, previously had worked with Lupita Nyong'o for her performance in Danai Gurira's play "Eclipsed" and came to Coogler's attention.

As the director began to fully flesh out what Wakanda would be and how its language would fit into his narrative, he looked to McGuire to work in Xhosa and other languages, including Nigeria's Igbo for the remote Wakandan province of Jabari, and a smattering of Korean, and, of course, Afrikaans for Serkis' Klaue.

For Winston Duke, who plays M'Baku, the language training was fun. "I do more of a Nigerian Igbo influence," he offers. "So it's not Igbo, but it's influenced by Igbo because the rest of the cast is doing South African Xhosa. So they're doing something very specific and rooted and grounded. M'Baku's mountain-strong people, who have been sequestered in the hills in the mountains, have developed to some degree their own culture. We wanted something that had its own personality and had its own beauty. So we referenced Igbo, and that helped. The rhythm of that language influenced the rhythm of my character."

Working in tandem with McGuire, South African actor Atandwa Kani (cast in the role of young T'Chaka to his father John's elder T'Chaka) served as a cultural consultant, lending his expertise of his homeland to the filmmakers. It would prove invaluable when scenes ventured out into Wakanda's streets and countryside but especially during filming of the epic Warrior Falls sequence that had dozens of Wakanda's citizens bearing witness to T'Challa's ascension to the throne.

It's all in the details for Coogler, Feige and the cast, and Kani's participation added another layer of authenticity to the project. Kani clarified the cultural nuances of movement, greetings, songs and chants. At one point, he had everyone on the film set singing songs as musicians played to keep energy and spirits up during complicated shoot days. These organic moments often made their way into filming.

STUNTS & TRAINING

Stunt coordinators Andy Gill and Jonathan Eusebio were tasked with creating inventive multi-layered action to dovetail with Coogler's storytelling. No strangers to Marvel Studios' unparalleled action, the pair are known to their peers and audiences alike for their impressive, practically executed fight and stunt choreography.

As with most Marvel Studios' productions, the actors needed to possess a minimum level of strength and fitness, which may be supplemented by weapons, martial arts or other specialized training, to meet the rigors of filming an action-adventure film.

One of the more unexpected surprises for Gill was how invested the cast was in their approach to preparing for the stunt work and their willingness and ability to fully perform everything that he and Eusebio threw at them. "For Black Panther, we were so blessed to have actors that really wanted to do the stunts and this is not an easy picture to do," comments Gill. "It has a lot of fight scenes. Chadwick, Michael, Lupita, Danai, Letitia, Florence and the rest of our Dora team all put in 200%. We rehearsed them and worked them out for almost three months before filming began."

As part of the requisite fitness boot camp, the stunt coordinators established a routine and then would begin layering in difficulty on every level. The same applied to weapons training, which would continue through filming to maintain an elevated level of play.

The goal for Gill and Eusebio was to ensure that they were able to satisfy Coogler's vision, if not surpass it. Spending hundreds of hours with the cast allowed them to see firsthand what each of them was capable of and make sure their abilities were tailored to the fight action.

"Pretty much with all the cast, when you see them on camera, they're doing the bulk of the fight work," states Eusebio. "This allows us to design great action because the actors can stay in the shot longer and we're not relying on a stunt double or camera tricks or anything. We can raise the bar a little bit more."

Boseman, whose skill set includes a comprehensive martial arts background and fitness level showcased in the memorable fight sequence in "Civil War," knew what he was in for but Nyong'o, Gurira, Wright and the others started from scratch.

For Boseman, it is all about keeping the moves authentic, learning the choreography and fine-tuning it to make it his own. He offers, "It's obviously intense and lot of work and sweat. But it's been cool collaborating with those guys about the style of movement. To me, that's one of the most fun things. It's like dancing. Part of what I wanted to make sure is that there is some legitimate African movement and African martial arts present to tell the story of Wakanda as a military nation as well. And they've been completely open to all of that stuff. Sometimes it felt like we training for a real fight. So that was fun."

Jordan, who showcased his own physical chops with the rigorous boxing role in "Creed," found himself training differently but just as intensely for the role of Killmonger. Months of weapons training and learning and perfecting multiple fighting styles began almost immediately. Speaking about the training, Jordan says, "The physicality of it was something I was really looking forward to. 'Creed' was the first project in which I really had to transform myself physically into something else. It took a year and a half of boxing training to really sell the fact that I was a real boxer. In this film, to be able to transform into a special ops-type killer was a different kind of training. All the knife training, gun training and combat stuff was intense but a lot of fun."

Another hallmark of the Marvel Comic oeuvre that was incorporated into the film adaptation is the Dora Milaje, the cadre of strong fierce women who serve as the personal security force to the King and royal family. These tall, statuesque bald-headed warrior women who move as one command attention wherever they go are a powerful part of the original comic series and play a prominent role in the theatrical version.

Led by Danai Gurira's Okoye, the security force is comprised of eight actresses who are from all over the world. The filmmakers and the stunt team met with hundreds of women, including film and television stunt players, track and field athletes, dancers and MMA fighters to fill the ranks of the squad.

Once cast, the women trained together daily and easily fell into step as the kick-ass squad they brought to life on screen. The hours of weapons training, intense strength and fitness regimens and rehearsing together created camaraderie. "We all had to shave our heads," states Gurira, "so, of course, instantly it's a sisterhood. It's been really cool to find a beautiful grace in the Dora and also a ferocity."

Along with Clayton Barber, fight team coordinator, Eusebio designed the fight elements and oversaw the training for the cast in advance of learning the intricate choreography. The root would be an African fighting style but ultimately different influences would come into play, like Brazilian capoeira.

For the synchronized yet fluid fighting moves of the Dora Milaje, Eusebio taught Gurira and the team a bank of basic moves with their staffs and gradually added on more complex techniques until they could cycle through multiple moves on command.

Says Gurira of the experience, "It was really beautiful the way the Dora Milaje have a way of fighting that was supposed to be inspired a little bit by moving as one, almost sometimes in a way that is almost dancerlike. There were a lot of very interesting formations that we created for when the Dora work together to take down somebody.

Elaborating, she adds, "There are very specific things. When my character makes a command, she does something with her staff. We use staffs, which are like basically very, very sophisticated spears made out of our special, vibranium. We're able to do a lot with them. You look at the staff and think it is just a stick. No, it's not just a stick, which you'll learn shortly if you try and mess with it. We were able to find a beautiful grace in these women and also a ferocity, and I think that's a really great combination."

Nyong'o, too, joined her fellow cast in training for her role of the undercover operative who often works alone and has to fend for herself no matter the circumstance. For Nyong'o, preparing for this role was wholly different than anything she's ever done before for a film role, and she loved every minute of it.

Says Nyong'o, "The stunt training was intense, to say the least. But as I got my ass kicked, I felt more connected to Nakia's warrior spirit. She is a woman who has traveled the world, and so her fighting style is informed by her experiences in the world. Ryan described her style as 'street,' which is in contrast to the Dora Milaje who have a way more graceful, more traditional style of fighting. She is a 'by any means necessary' kind of gal! So there was judo, jiu-jitsu, Filipino martial arts, muay Thai and a bit of capoeira thrown in there."

WAKANDA FOREVER!

With its relatable characters and environments, along with the Marvel Cinematic Universe's signature spectacular action, "Black Panther" is set to provide everything Marvel fans expect from a beloved Super Hero's story brought to the big screen.

Chadwick Boseman hopes that people experience the "wow" factor when they see "Black Panther." "You want people to walk out and say 'wow,'" says Boseman. "You want that for all the different reasons-the performances, the spectacle, the fight scenes, all of it."

He thoughtfully adds, "I think part of the reason you make this movie is that it changes perspective. People can see a Super Hero in a different light, or in a different complexion, or a different worldview. So I think you also want that. But at the end of the day you just want them to be like 'wow' at the end."

Summing up, director Ryan Coogler says, "Just the idea of bringing a story and characters like this to fruition, but at the same time dealing with some of the human issues that make Black Panther a regular guy, was so very exciting. What I mostly look forward to is sharing Black Panther's story with the audience and seeing how it impacts them. And especially seeing how it impacts little kids, like I was when I first came to know the character in the comic books."