How excited were you about Marvel doing Black Panther?

When I heard Marvel was doing Black Panther, I was super excited. It was only a matter of time, honestly. Being very familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, being in the business and hearing things, I knew it was coming eventually. The Black Panther character did so well in (Captain America) Civil War and Chadwick did such a great job playing him, it was only a matter of time before he got his standalone.

What appealed to you about this film?

I think for me, first and foremost, it was the director, Ryan Coogler. We have been like brothers ever since we did Fruitvale Station (2013). This is our third film together. So to be able to team up with him again was a no-brainer. Also being able to work with Chadwick appealed to me, as I hadn’t had the opportunity to do that yet. And this was the perfect platform for us to do that. And of course, being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe had a lot to do with it. 

What was your reaction to the script? 

To me, the script was spot on. I’m very proud to be a part of this project. Joe Robert Cole and Ryan did a really good job of laying down the foundation of Wakanda for the first time. It’s the introduction to the world and giving the voice to the people. The culture of Wakanda is very old. There is history and traditions and how they’re used to doing things. I loved the way they tied in the old-school tradition with what today is and how important foreign policy and how we interact with one another is. They laid down a lot of tropes in there that I think are very smart and progressive, and ones that people need to see and hear today. 

Tell us about your character.

I’m playing Erik Killmonger. He’s the villain of the film and has an agenda that challenges T’Challa for the throne.

What did you connect to with the character?

Killmonger is always 10 steps ahead. He’s very patient, that’s a very dangerous attribute to have as a villain because he’s going to sit and wait, and he’s going to plan and calculate every move. I like to think of myself as a forward thinker, and I love playing chess and seeing steps ahead. So that was something that I definitely connected a lot with him. 

What is your character’s look?

Killmonger in the comics had really long hair. He had long locks down to the small of his back. We did a more modern version of that with a lot of scarification on his body for all the kills that he’s got over the years. The scarification is a reminder for him of what he’s going through and what is keeping him on mission, and that he’s doing the killings for a reason. It’s not senseless. He kills for a reason and he believes what he’s doing is right. The marks on his body are a constant self-reminder to be focused and to continue the mission straight through. Then there’s a lot of other stuff about his look that I’d rather just save for a surprise.

What did you like about Chadwick Boseman’s take on Black Panther?

Chadwick’s take on the character was just very honest. He did an incredible job with being true to the character. It was awesome to see him bring the character to life. Marvel does an amazing job with rolling out characters. It all fits into their overall master plan, so when you see certain characters pop in and out, especially if you’re familiar with the comic books, you look forward to seeing how they are actually going to connect the dots. 

Do you think the point of view of every character is well developed?

Yes, the point of view of every character is well developed. That also makes it tough to decide who you want to root for. You are able to see and understand where everyone’s coming from, which is really unique for so many characters.  

What do you think of the cast?

Our cast is amazing! I was super excited to work with these actors and I’m super excited for everyone to see the work that we did. I was beyond excited about Angela Bassett (who plays T’Challa’s mother Ramonda). And Danai’s (Gurira as Okoye) amazing, and Chadwick, Lupita (Nyong’o as Nakia) and Forest (Whitaker as Zuri). It’s pretty packed.  

What was it like joining Marvel?

It felt really good to join Marvel. A dream come true is so cheesy to say, but in my case it’s true. It is definitely something that I’ve always wanted to do and to be able to do it at this level, with this director, with this studio, and with this cast is one of those things that just lined up perfectly. So I was really excited about it. 

What’s the difference between Black Panther and the other Marvel films?

It’s taking risks. It’s speaking to the world as it is today. And it’s also giving black people something to be very proud of and be able to relate to and identify with. I think it is just super important all around. 
To have a majority black cast and black writers and a black director is so right now and important. But besides that, I think the story’s just going to be very honest and gritty. Whatever you would expect from a Ryan Coogler film, that’s what you’re going to get in this one, mixed in with what Marvel does so well with characters. It’s got all of the right ingredients to make something really special.