The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta celebrities pack ‘Black Panther’ premiere
Moviegoers got their first look at Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black
Panther in 2016, when the character was part of Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War.” But the wait for a standalone “Black Panther” movie has felt much longer.
“This film is the ultimate black superhero movie. This is the film I’ve dreamed about since I was like that,” actor Samuel L.
Jackson said at the movie’s Wednesday night premiere, his hand-held low to the floor to suggest the height of a small child. “It’s taken a very long time for that to happen.”
Jackson, who appears as Nick Fury in a number of Marvel films, made a surprise appearance just before the movie screened before a packed audience at the Fox Theatre. Ahead of time, a stream of celebrities strolled the red carpet, as brimming with excitement as the thousands of audience members.
“As a superhero fan, it means a lot. As a person of color, it’s a tremendous evening,” actress Kim
Fields said. “As a woman, it’s really an important film. We really get a chance to see strong women of power and the respect that they are given from strong men of power. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see men of color that are respected and that are dynamic in front of and behind the scenes.”
“Black Panther,” due out Feb. 16, is set in the fictitious nation of Wakanda, and opens as T’Challa is mourning the death of his father and preparing to succeed him as king. T’Challa is protected by the Dora Milaje, a group of female warriors led by Okoye, played by Danai Gurira of “The Walking Dead.” Wakanda’s phenomenal technological advances and T’Challa’s Black Panther suit are the results of his brilliant sister Shuri (Letitia Wright). His mother, Ramonda, is played with steely grace by Angela Bassett.
Actor and recording artist Tyrese Gibson loves the message “Black Panther’s” strong advance ticket sales and glowing early reviews sends, and was thrilled to be at the film’s Atlanta debut.
“Everything about this city represents diversity, inclusion, opportunity,” he said. “There’s something really, really powerful and life-changing about what’s happening in Hollywood right now. ‘Black Panther’ is already on fire. I’m sure it will be on fire opening weekend. Everybody’s excited about it, and it’s my honor to be here to support this film.”
“Black Panther” joins a slew of Marvel movies being made in Atlanta and elsewhere in Georgia. It follows “Ant-Man,” “Guardians of the Galaxy vol.2,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” along with the upcoming “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Venom,” “Avengers: Infinity War” and its as-yet unnamed successor. Industry officials and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, formerly the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, touted the economic boost of the highly anticipated blockbuster.
“Bringing ‘Black Panther’ required you and it required 2,800 other extras and crew members across the Peach State, who were paid a total of $24 million in wages,” Marvel Vice President David Grant told premiere audience members, many of whom worked on the film. “Your hard work brings to life stories like ‘Black Panther,’ that truly make a difference. Stories that inspire, stories the world wants to see more of.”
Overall, the movie spent more than $70 million in Georgia, Motion Picture Association of America Chairman and CEO Charles
H. Rivkin said. “When a movie’s made, it’s not just the actors and the technicians,” he said. “It’s all the community that benefits. It’s the caterers and the hairdressers and the florists. Local businesses, most of them small to medium enterprises.”
All told, the film industry produced a $9 billion economic impact in Georgia last year, and generated 100,000 jobs, Rivkin said.
“These are good jobs, high-paying jobs and union jobs. More movies were made in Georgia than in any nation on earth last year,” he said. “That’s pretty impressive. I’ve spent most of my life in Hollywood, and they’re definitely taking notice.”