Black Panther will be tonally similar to Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Marvel Studios’ recent entries have been comedic and light in tone, but Black Panther will be taking a comparatively serious and darker approach.
World building is a very important aspect of sci-fi and fantasy films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe has certainly mastered that art to perfection. That’s why it didn’t seem odd when viewers had to jump from Earth to Asgard with Thor in Phase 1 or dart through space with Star Lord in Phase 2. As tone helps us through these transitions, Black Panther will be taking a somber path on the MCU’s first tour into the mysterious kingdom of Wakanda.
Post-credit scenes play a major role in the MCU since it sets up future movies even before the trailers drop. For example, although Ant-Man was a light-hearted heist film, it featured a gritty after-credit scene for Civil War. However, after debuting in Civil War, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) has been absent from 2018’s Marvel releases. Additionally, since the trailers and TV spots’ haven’t provided any idea how Black Panther will fare tonally, producer Nate Moore sat down with Cinemablend to shed some light on that matter.
"“I think tonally this does veer more toward [Captain America: The] Winter Soldier than it does Guardians or Ant-Man or some of our more overtly comedic films. I think the fun comes from the interaction of these characters and I think as much as even Panther tends to be serious, Shuri doesn’t always have to be serious. Okoye is a lot of fun. The character of Nakia who Lupita Nyong’o plays is a lot of fun. It’s surrounding him, much like we did with Cap, with characters who can bring out different colors. It won’t be Guardians. Hopefully it’s still entertaining without breaking what makes Panther ‘Panther.'”"
T’Challa’s entry into the MCU was a very tragic and revenge-fueled one since he had to take on the mantle of the Black Panther after his father’s death. As the events of Civil War didn’t allow fans to fully delve into T’Challa’s solemn psyche, the serious tone of Black Panther will definitely give us the chance to understand the gravity of his situation. In addition to that, as the movie is set at his home, the actions of Killmonger and Klaue are going to hit T’Challa on a personal level. That’s why, by emulating The Winter Soldier‘s gritty storytelling, viewers will be able to feel the emotional tussle between the protagonist and the antagonist(s).
Is Marvel Studios course correcting its tone with Black Panther?
Marvel movies have consistently been light in tone, while featuring some mature content. When it was being distributed by Paramount Pictures or Universal Pictures, Iron Man, The First Avenger and The Incredible Hulk had some steamy sequences. However, after Disney acquired it, there has been a severe reduction in such scenes and an increase in jokes. And since this form of humor has risen to the level of slapstick, it often hinders the seriousness of a scene.
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Civil War was a very pivotal moment for the Avengers,and although the choreography of the airport battle was commendable, the banter seemed very out of place and noticeable. Following that, the entire “Mister, Doctor” exchange between Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) felt unnecessary since it was happening while a Master was being killed. While the humor of the first Guardians was welcomed, the overabundance of jokes in Vol. 2 undid some of the familial reunions.
Considering how every Marvel film in 2017 were largely comedies, if this trend would’ve trickled into 2018, there would’ve been a severe disconnection between how T’Challa was portrayed in Civil War and how he should be in Black Panther. However, it’s great to see that Ryan Coogler understands T’Challa’s calm and collected demeanor and has incorporated The Winter Soldier‘s subtle humor in order to avoid downplaying the more serious moments of the film.
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There is no harm in using humor to elevate scenes but it shouldn’t define a character or an entire franchise. As Marvel has a variety of characters who’ve a multitude of films to star in, they should be allowed to face circumstances that’ll bring out various facets of their personality, instead of sticking to one tone. And seeing how Black Panther is breaking out of Marvel’s recent brand of humor, fans can hope to see the franchise showcase all kinds of versatility post Infinity War.
What are your thoughts on the MCU’s form of humor? Let me know in the comments