Black Panther debuted in February 2018, serving as the 18th film in the MCU. Calling the movie a success is an understatement considering it brought in $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office. Based on its focus on an African nation and the themes of liberation, oppression, and power, Black Panther was culturally significant. But does the sequel have a chance to be even better?
Chadwick Boseman first played the role of T'Challa (aka Black Panther) in 2016's Killmonger." To dethrone his cousin and continue the goal of his late father, Killmonger faced T'Challa in a tribal ritual. With the hope of starting a global revolution, Killmonger took over the throne, but he was defeated by T'Challa before enacting his plan.
Considering the big box office splash, it was no surprise that Marvel Studios greenlit a Black Panther sequel. By the end of 2018, Coogler signed on to write and direct Black Panther 2, revealing that he felt an immense amount of pressure based on the positive reaction to his first MCU movie. Work on the script officially began last summer, but other than the return of Boseman, Danai Guiria, Letitia Wright, and Martin Freeman, details on the sequel have been few and far between. As of now, Black Panther 2 is set to release on May 6, 2022, and there are enough factors in play that suggest the sequel can be even better than Black Panther.
Black Panther Was A Great MCU Movie (But Had Flaws)
There's a reason why Black Panther still stands as one of the most talked-about MCU films despite releasing over two years ago. On the surface, it was one of the most successful franchise films to date, but it also holds an extra level of significance. Based on the predominantly Black cast, it became culturally important. The character of T'Challa and the Wakanda narrative appealed to a segment of society previously unrepresented in the superhero genre, let alone in media as a whole. Black Panther reiterated the importance of Black-centric projects, especially ones catered to all ages.
Not only did Coogler achieve greatness as the first Black figure to direct a film in the MCU, but he also set a high bar by developing a truly great movie. T'Challa was already introduced prior to his first solo film, but Black Panther dove deeper in the character's internal struggle taking over as the King of Wakanda. The movie also presented some of the most compelling characters to date while presenting elements of the African nation. Coogler and Marvel Studios astonishingly incorporated African culture into the genre film, catching the attention of the Oscars, and garnering the franchise's first nomination for Best Picture as well as wins for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score.
Despite the overall critical response and box office dominance, Black Panther didn't come without a few flaws. The CGI effects were the major aspect that received the most criticism. While the production was phenomenal for the majority of the film, Black Panther's CGI use was lackluster in a few sequences. Black Panther had a habit of using CG models in place of humans, which was a bit distracting. One of the criticized scenes included a fight between T'Challa and Killmonger withing the vibranium fields. In addition, not every key character was given their dues, such as Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia or the Dora Milaje as a whole. In addition, the third act fell into the typical big battle sequence that the MCU has a habit of using. Thankfully, the focus shifted back to T'Challa an Killmonger's complicated connection.
How Black Panther 2 Can Be A Better Movie Than The First
When approaching Black Panther 2, Coogler and the returning cast understand what worked for the first film. With over two dozen and counting MCU installments in the books, Marvel Studios also realizes there's a need for fresh stories through a new approach. Without rehashing what was already done, Black Panther 2 can build on T'Challa's duties as the King of Wakanda while putting more focus on the advanced African nation. By honing in on the cultural relevancy, the sequel has another chance to create a superhero story through a diverse lens. If production fixes the CGI criticism, gives certain characters time in the spotlight, and strays away from cookie-cutter narratives, the movie could reach a higher level of excellence.
Now that T'Challa is an established character in the MCU lore, Black Panther 2 can add a layer of complexity that better connects to new broader comic book storylines. With the origin in the rearview, T'Challa emerged as a vital member outside of the original Avengers team. He and his Wakandan allies greatly assisted in link to the MCU's X-Men. Either way, Black Panther 2 won't be held back with the basics since there are so many more stories to tell.
Will Black Panther 2 Match The First Movie's Success?
When Black Panther made its debut, viewers hoped it would find success, but nobody could have expected the true impact the movie would have. MCU movies gather enough interest but word of mouth propelled moviegoers outside of the superhero fandom. Now that Black Panther 2 is in development, the expectations for the sequel are high. The movie stands one of the most highly-anticipated films within Phase 4, and possibly one of the most anticipated movies in general. But the question remains - can Black Panther 2 reach the same level of success as the 2018 original?
Unfortunately, those high expectations have a habit of changing perception when it comes to sequels. Viewers will have a weighted view by the time the sequel arrives in 2022. That said, Marvel has exceeded in the past when tasked with expanding characters through solo film sequels. For example, Thor: Ragnarok ultimately retooled Thor's entire characterization and became successful for it.
Thankfully, Black Panther 2 is in good hands considering the return of Coogler and cornerstone cast . Coogler and his team were well aware that his previous work carried cultural significance, and there's no reason to change that aspect. By keeping the thematic approach while expanding the MCU universe as it involves T'Challa, there's really no reason why Black Panther 2 couldn't match the success, or possibly even becoming a bigger box office juggernaut - given it will have the first movie plus Infinity War and Endgame to build upon now. As it stands, Coogler and Marvel Studios have nearly two years to come up with something even more special.
