Key Takeaways:
* Marvel's pieces were scattered among various Hollywood studios before Disney's acquisitions.
* Disney brought together Marvel Studios, 20th Century Studios, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four properties.
* Black Panther was anticipated to debut in the 1990s with Wesley Snipes but was delayed due to complications.
* Fantastically Poor performance of the Fantastic Four sequels didn't deter the plan for a third film, expected to debut Black Panther.
* Black Panther eventually returned to Marvel Studios after a rights wrangle with Universal and New Line Cinema.
* Black Panther emerged a cultural phenomenon, earning $1.38 billion at the box office and bagging numerous awards.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Humble Beginnings
Marvel's cinematic universe was previously scattered across different Hollywood studios, resulting in a fragmented storyline. Marvel had to make do with just the Avengers playing with a limited hand before the real game got underway. They brought out Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. The turning point was when Disney made strategic acquisitions.
Disney's Acquisitions: The tide begins to turn
Disney's acquisition of Marvel Studios in 2009 was a landmark event that kick-started a whole new era of superhero movies. A decade later, Disney added 20th Century Studios to its stable, unifying the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four properties. This integration allowed for Marvel Studios to substantially expand its cinematic scope and narrative complexity.
The Long Awaited Debut of Black Panther
In the early 90s, Wesley Snipes, known for his role in ‘Demolition Man', wanted to debut as the super hero, Black Panther. However, this vision never came to fruition, steering Snipes towards his iconic role as Blade, the half-human vampire hunter.
A Fantastic Pursuit Turns Sour
After the setback, Fox pivoted, deciding instead to follow through with the Fantastic Four project. Despite the lukewarm reception and low box office earnings of the Fantastic Four sequel, there was no deterring director Tim Story's graveyard ambition of a trilogy. A plan was set in motion for a third Fantastic Four movie, this time finally introducing Black Panther.
Rights Wrangles Stall Production
However, complications involving the rights to the comic character grounded Fantastic Four's third instalment. Interestingly, Marvel Studios at the same time was also in an aggressive pursuit of the IP. Despite the box office flops and discouraging ratings of Fantastic Four movies, the quest for a successful debut of Black Panther continued.
Black Panther Finds Home
Black Panther eventually found his way back to Marvel Studios, though Namor, another character, couldn't make the same journey and stayed behind at Universal.
The Black Panther Revolution
The Black Panther revolution truly took off when Chadwick Boseman donned the character in Captain America: Civil War. Despite sharing screen time with Marvel heavyweights, Boseman stood out as the ruthless yet compassionate hero seeking to avenge his father's death.
The Solo Black Panther Film & its Legacy
A standalone Black Panther movie, following the positive reception of Civil War, brewed anticipation among audiences. On release, the movie smashed through expectations. Black Panther ignited a cultural phenomenon, earning a jaw-dropping $1.38 billion at the box office, securing a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, and winning three out of seven Academy Award nominations.
The Future of Marvel Cinematic Universe
Today, Marvel fans can stream the world-class superhero movies, Fantastic Four and Black Panther, on Disney+. The future holds much in store as Marvel continues to expand its superhero universe. Pedro Pascal is set to light up the MCU in its Phase Six film, promising to keep audiences thrilled and engaged.
