Black Panther Teaser Trailer Released

Marvel finally dropped its long-awaited teaser trailer for the upcoming Black Panther during the first quarter of tonight’s NBA Finals. Let me tell you, the first glimpse of Wakanda is truly glorious. You can watch the trailer on Twitter or on Marvel’s YouTube below:

The trailer starts off with the villains, as we watch a tied-up Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) describing the mysterious Wakanda to a skeptical Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). When Ross mistakenly says that it’s a third world country he is told instead that the land is more like El Dorado, hidden away from sight and full of secret wonders, while viewers are treated to flashes of the country itself. It’s almost alienating for a moment, but perhaps that’s the point – the Wakanda that outsiders like Ross and Klaue see is not necessarily the truth. The story itself will be about the Wakanda that T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) knows and experiences, and I hope to see that reflected more in future trailers.

Even as the narration filters Wakanda though the perspective of white colonialism, the visuals forego that and invite viewers in to experience the magic of the country itself. The music is enthralling, the colors are vibrant and enticing, and the action looks nothing short of epic. The specific plot of Black Panther is not completely clear yet, but the trailer showcases some of the Dora Milaje and suggests their prowess will be crucial to the story.

As for the King himself? Marvel’s synopsis of the film declared that T’Challa’s mettle as both king and Black Panther would be put to the test when an old enemy resurfaces, and there is a sneak peek of that in the trailer. The first prolonged look at him is when he’s fending off invaders, a scene which is quickly followed by T’Challa in more regular clothes watching his prisoners. The duality between the man and the king was already hinted at in his first appearance, back in Captain America: Civil War, and the trailer gives me hope that Black Panther will explore it much more thoroughly. In fact, the last line in the trailer claims, “It’s hard for a good man to be king.” As ominous as that may sound, I have no doubt that T’Challa will prove such an adage wrong.

Black Panther is set to come out on February 16, 2018.