Hey there! Let’s talk about something truly remarkable. Wakanda forever, right? That’s the iconic rallying cry of T’Challa, also known as the legendary Black Panther. This Marvel superhero has not only taken the world by storm but is now returning to theaters for free screenings as part of a special celebration for Black History Month. And if you think this is just another movie event, think again. This film already made history by winning the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and even scored seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Not bad for a superhero flick, huh?
Free Screenings and Scholarships: A Double Celebration
Here's the scoop: Black Panther, which has already grossed an impressive $1.3 billion globally, will be playing at select AMC Theatres from February 1 to February 7, and guess what? Admission is completely free. Yes, you heard that right—free! But that’s not all. Disney, the proud owner of Marvel Studios, announced a generous $1.5 million grant to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). This grant aims to help minority students achieve their dreams by funding scholarships to attend college. Talk about giving back to the community!
Disney CEO Bob Iger Shares His Thoughts
In a heartfelt statement, Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “Black Panther is groundbreaking for so many reasons, including the incredible diversity of voices that contributed to its success. The story beautifully highlights the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of ensuring everyone has access to it. We’re thrilled to offer thousands of free screenings of Black Panther, hoping it will continue to inspire audiences around the world. Moreover, we’re proud to support the UNCF with a $1.5 million grant, making the dream of higher education a reality for more students.” It’s clear that Disney isn’t just about entertainment; they’re about making a difference.
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Chadwick Boseman’s Powerful Words at the SAG Awards
Chadwick Boseman, the charismatic actor who brought T’Challa to life, had some powerful words to share at the SAG Awards. He said, “When I reflect on going to work every day and the passion, intelligence, resolve, and discipline everyone brought to the table, I can’t help but think about two questions we’ve all been asked during multiple publicity tours. First, did we know this movie would receive this kind of response? Would it make a billion dollars? Would it still be relevant during awards season? Second, has it changed the industry? Has it truly transformed how the industry views us? And my answer to that is: ‘To be young, gifted, and black.’”
(Photo by Dan MacMedan/Getty Images)
He elaborated, “We all know what it feels like to be told there’s no screen for us to be featured on, no stage for us to perform on. We know what it’s like to be the tail but never the head. We know what it’s like to be beneath but never above. That’s what we brought to work every day. Because we didn’t know if we’d be around during awards season or if the film would make a billion dollars, but we knew we had something special to offer the world. We wanted to show that we could be fully realized human beings in our roles. We aimed to create a world that exemplified the world we wanted to see.”
Evan Narcisse on the Depth of T’Challa’s Character
Evan Narcisse, the talented writer behind the Rise of the Black Panther comic book mini-series, shared his insights in an exclusive interview. He said, “What I love about T’Challa as a character, and the entire Black Panther mythos, is that he stands at the crossroads between tradition and modernity. He carries this long, sweeping legacy of Black Panther rulers that stretches back centuries. He obviously wants to uphold that tradition because it’s what keeps Wakanda safe, sovereign, and self-determining. But the world is changing. Embedded within the character is the fact that he’s not just a superhero but also a king. Going off to save the world is a direct contradiction to being a ruler. For Rise of the Black Panther, that’s where the core idea came from. I knew we’d never seen the exact moment when Wakanda was introduced to the world. I wanted to tell that story.”
