Black Panther: Chadwick Boseman Totally Shattered the Myth That “Black Doesn’t Sell” Paving the Way For Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart in MCU

SUMMARY

• Late actor Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther is one of the most important films in the MCU.
• It was a surprise hit and was also the first film in the franchise to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.
• Co-star Lupita Nyong'o mentioned that Marvel executives were apprehensive before the film's release due to the 'Black doesn't sell' myth.

Late actor Chadwick Boseman became a global star when he was chosen to play Black Panther in the MCU. Making his debut in Captain America: Civil War, the actor headlined his own solo film Black Panther in 2018, creating a ripple of change in the way Black superheroes were portrayed in the mainstream.

In a recent public event, co-star Lupita Nyong’o mentioned how the executives at Marvel did not trust the film to do well and were apprehensive. She attributed the doubts to the Hollywood myth ‘Black doesn’t sell’, which the Boseman starrer shattered with a $1.35 billion box office and seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Lupita Nyong’o On How Black Panther Shattered Hollywood Myths

Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther | Credits: Marvel Studios

Despite Black actors like Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, and more making a huge mark in the industry, mainstream films tackling social topics at a blockbuster scale were reportedly considered a risk. It took ten years in the MCU for Black Panther to get made and even longer for Black Widow.

Actress Lupita Nyong’o, who played Nakia in the 2018 film revealed that the executives were apprehensive about the film’s success at the box office as it was the franchise’s first film to be led by a person of color. Though now shows like Echo, the upcoming Ironheart, and Ms. Marvel are prominent, the reportedly $200 million budget film was a risk.

A still from Black Panther | Credits: Marvel Studios

Nyong’o revealed at a recent public event that the Chadwick Boseman starrer shattered many myths surrounding films featuring a dominant Black cast. She said (via THR),

There was a lot of fear, definitely from the executives… Marvel was shaking a little bit in their boots! We were too because we were like, we only get to do this once. And we gotta do it right…[but it] totally shattered the myth that Black doesn’t sell.

The film went on to earn $1.35 billion at the box office, making it one of the MCU’s most successful films (via BO Mojo). It was also nominated for seven Oscar awards, including Best Picture, which was a first for the franchise. It won three Oscars, including Costume Design, Original Score, and Production Design.

Lupita Nyong’o Says The Memories Of Chadwick Boseman Still Brings Her To Tears

A still from Black Panther | Credits: Marvel Studios

While Marvel has had Black heroes like Blade and Falcon, Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther was the first character and film to not push them to an R-rating or make them a supporting character. Boseman’s superhero was at the front and center, tackling relevant social issues about race through a post-colonial lens.

Boseman reportedly died of colon cancer at the age of 42 in August 2020 (via CNN). The actor had kept his condition private and his death came as a shock to fans. Lupita Nyong’o recently spoke about how the memories of him still brought her to tears and even became emotional while seeing a clip from their 2018 film. She said (via THR),

The grief is the love and no place to put it…I watch this clip and I’m filled with grief and I don’t know whether I’ll ever be done shedding my tears from losing my friend. But I’m like, we get to see him alive. And that’s so wonderful.

The cast of Black Panther came together again without Chadwick Boseman for the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which did not recast the actor.

Black Panther is available to stream on Disney Plus.

Written by Nishanth A

Articles Published: 1451

Nishanth A is a Media, English and Psychology graduate from Bangalore. He is an avid DC fanboy and loves the films of Christopher Nolan. He has published over 1,000 articles on FandomWire. When he's not fixating on the entire filmography of a director, he tries to write and direct films.