​Black Panther Smashes Another Movie Milestone As It’s The First Marvel Film On TIME’s Cover

It's not even been released in the UK yet but superhero flick Black Panther is already being called Marvel's greatest ever film.

Pre-sale tickets have shredded the franchise's previous box-office records while banging reviews have ensured a super-rare 100 per cent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Now, the blockbuster has cranked up yet another impressive milestone - it has become the first Marvel movie to feature on the front of TIME Magazine.

Chadwick Boseman, who stars as T'Challa, King of Wakanda, is this week's cover star. And in the accompanying piece he proves he's something of a superhero in real life, too - talking not just about the movie but also heavyweight subjects such as identity and equal representation.
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"You might say that this African nation is fantasy," the 40-year-old says. "But to have the opportunity to pull from real ideas, real places and real African concepts, and put it inside of this idea of Wakanda-that's a great opportunity to develop a sense of what that identity is, especially when you're disconnected from it."

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Based on Jack Kirby's 1966 comic, the movie - the 18th in Marvel's expanding cannon - has been called a long overdue celebration of African culture, heritage and heroes. It features the franchise's first ever predominantly black cast, and, at London's European premiere on Thursday, many of the stars turned up in traditional African dress.

The film itself begins after the events of Captain America: Civil War. King T'Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced country of Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, he soon finds himself challenged for the throne from factions within.

Boseman added: "I know people are going to see this and aspire to it. But this is also having people inside spaces-gatekeeper positions, people who can open doors and take that idea. How can this be done? How can we be represented in a way that is aspirational?"

And director and co-writer Ryan Coogler said of the movie: "Obviously, the superhero is who puts you in the seat. That's who you want to see come out on top. But I'll be damned if the villains ain't cool, too. They have to be able to stand up to the hero, and have you saying, 'Man, I don't know if the hero's going to make it out of this.'"

One thing's for sure, it promises to be a sensational ride.

Words: Colin Drury

Topics: Chadwick Boseman, TV and Film, black panther, Time

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