Marvel Black Panther I believe is one of the most anticipated films in Marvel History besides Infinity Wars. As part of the #BlackPantherEvent, our group was given an opportunity to interview Lupita Nyong’s (Nakia) and Danai Gurira (Okoye) below are a few highlight from the interview. . . (click here for a spoiler-free movie review)
I WAS INVITED TO AN ALL-EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO LOS ANGELES COURTESY OF DISNEY TO ATTEND THE #BLACKPANTHEREVENT & #ABCTVEVENT IN EXCHANGE FOR MY COVERAGE. NO OTHER COMPENSATION WAS PROVIDED. ALL VIEWS SHARED ARE COMPLETELY MY OWN
Lupita Nyong’s (Nakia) and Danai Gurira (Okoye) role are both empowering and I believe will inspire women of all ages. When both women were asked how do they identify with each of their characters?
Photo Credit – Natasha Nichols / Houseful of Nichols
Lupita Nyongo’s responded: “I identify with Nakia’s independent spirit and her loyalty to her country. I understand that she’s the chosen warrior of the River Tribe and she’s also a war dog, an undercover spy but as a warrior. As a leader of her tribe, I think it means a lot to her to make her people proud and I understand that. I relate to that and that was my into figuring out who she was. I love a woman who is on a mission to make a difference which is what she’s on.”
Photo Credit – Natasha Nichols / Houseful of Nichols
Danai Gurira followed up by saying “Yeah, I definitely related to her power and purpose. . . I really see her as a very intense ten-year-old, you know, and she used to watch the door alarm as you’re walking around… and that was just her focus in life. I never wanted to be in the military parse but when I decided what I wanted to do I was very clear about it. So I could really relate to the way that she is so dedicated to her nation and so dedicated to her people and really holds, responsibility, to the idea of who much is given much is expected. I feel like she considers Wakanda like this gem that she has been given to perfect and so she, she really takes that on as something that is priceless and that she cannot let slip. So that’s really something that really propelled me, connected me to her.
[MRS KATHY KING ON THE PURPLE CARPET FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF BLACK PANTHER #BLACKPANTHEREVENT]
The fight scenes in Marvel Black Panther by the women Wakanda, in my opinion, are some best fight sequences in Marvel History. However, for each actress to beautifully mastered scenes took a lot of training
Danai Gurira states: “Yeah, we trained a lot. . . These women are different and how their fighting styles are very different. Mine (Okoye) is very traditional. Hers (Nakia) is get the job done. So my character’s gonna pull out her spear and she’s gonna do forms that have been in Wakandan tradition for generations in this particular place and she’s (Nakia) just gonna take them down.
Lupita Nyongo’s qued in by saying: The training was a big part of getting into character because understanding how someone fights reveal a lot about, you know, what their values are and who they are and so when we were first talking about Nakia’s fighting style Ryan said to me she’s street and that was really all I needed. So by any means necessary, she will use any weapon. . . We occupy our own space (Nakia and Okoye) and going into battle together everyone has a different strength to bring to the table and I think that is extremely rich, you know, and full of culture in and of itself. You know, it’s very specific.
Throughout the film, Marvel Black Panther amplifies that strength and beauty come in many different forms. When Danai Gurira was asked about having to shave her head for the role she responded by stating: I think the beauty is, you know, it’s such a celebration and I think that that’s what’s so powerful to me. . . you often don’t see Africanisms celebrated and so I think that completely connects with the hair. I love what the hair department and the costume department did. They really pulled from real actual cultures and ethnic differentiation and how hair is celebrated across the continent traditionally and currently. I think there is something really powerful about all the ways that hair was represented there.
Marvel Black Panther is 2018 must-see movie No matter if you are a Marvel fan or not you are sure to fall in love with both of this characters.
BLACK PANTHER IN THEATERS 2/16
HERE BLACK PANTHER FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT
More on Marvel Black Panther. . .
BLACK PANTHER DELIVERS STRONG ACTION SEQUENCES AND A EVEN STRONGER MESSAGE
MRS KATHY KING ON THE PURPLE CARPET FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF BLACK PANTHER #BLACKPANTHEREVENT
Thank you Walt Disney & Marvel for making this interview possible.
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