Release: Bashenga: The Black Panther

 

Bashenga: The Black Panther

Genre: Action / Superhero / Historical

Director: Steve McQueen

Writers: Jimmy Ellis & Mark Newton

Based on Marvel Comics Characters

Cast: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Rufus Sewell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Chad Coleman, Lovie Simone, Jay Will, Sheldon Shepherd, Peter Mensah, Masali Baduza, Jermaine Fowler, Ola Rapace, Genevieve Nnaji, Kofi Siriboe

Budget: $130,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $190,190,000

Foreign Box Office: $234,091,402

Total Profit: $107,182,003

Reaction: The studio is pretty happy with these numbers considering the character's lack of fanbase and the historical setting - it was a risk from the filmmakers that turned out nicely.

"This ain’t your usual Marvel flick — Bashenga hits different. It’s a Wakandan myth remix through a gritty historical lens, with Kelvin Harrison Jr. rocking the king-in-the-making energy. Rufus Sewell is next-level hateable as Klaw, and the battles? Raw and ruthless. The worldbuilding is rich, the vibes are regal, and the finale totally rips. It’s a little more patient than your average superhero movie, but that just makes the payoff sweeter. This is what happens when the Marvel Comics Universe lets real filmmakers cook." - Syd Valdez, ScreenSlap.com

"Not a minute seems wasted on this action packed thrill ride. Steve McQueen's vision of colonial era Wakanda is breathtaking and Kelvin Harrison Jr's portrayal of Bashenga hits all of the right notes. I look forward to seeing him in future LRF Marvel Universe appearances." - Dexter Quinn, Cinematic Observer Newsletter 

"Though occasionally overlong and burdened by its scope, Bashenga: The Black Panther is an undeniably ambitious chapter in the Marvel canon. Director Steve McQueen brings a gravitas rare for superhero fare, grounding the origin of Wakanda in rich cultural lore and brutal colonial history. Kelvin Harrison Jr. carries himself with quiet strength as Bashenga, but it’s the film’s reverent tone and textured worldbuilding that resonate most. Less popcorn spectacle, more historical epic — and all the more admirable for it, even if it sometimes trades momentum for message." - Elliot Voss, The New York Dispatch

Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong action violence and thematic elements