Black Panther's Chadwick Boseman may be breaking new ground as Marvel's first black leading man, but there's a reason you'll see this king of Wakanda surrounding himself with women.
In the idealistic country of Wakanda, female power is on display.
“The idea to be strong equates to masculinity is so turned on its head here,” said The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira, who plays the general in charge of Wakanda’s defense.
Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o is a spy who can brawl with any brute.
“Her fighting is street and she is by any means necessary and she uses all weapons made available to her,” said Nyong’o.
Letitia Wright plays the Black Panther's brainy little sister who invents gadgets James Bond could never have imagined.
“What do I like about her?” she asks. “Pretty much everything.”
In Black Panther, Wakanda is a breathtaking country -- the richest in the world -- with a history uninterrupted by colonialism.
“I feel like this is a film that really has the potential to shift popular culture,” said Nyong’o. “So much work has been done to make sure that it feels authentic. It is inspired by real cultures around the African continent. Hopefully, it will make people curious in a new way about Africa and its people”.
Before filming started, the women of Wakanda had to endure six weeks of intensive training.
Danai Gurira had to go a full step further, shaving her head.
“Hair is hair,” she laughed. “I've had a short cut for a very long time and I'm like ‘Listen ladies, hair grows back’.”
The women of Wakanda. Hear them roar!
Black Panther pounces into theaters Friday, February 16, 2018.
