The King is gearing up for a return, as a new trailer for "Black Panther" showcases the arsenal and kingdom of T'Challa a.k.a. Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), as well as his biggest enemies.
The new official trailer was uploaded to YouTube on Oct. 16 and shows the hidden and futuristic African Kingdom of Wakanda. Wakanda was hidden by T'Challa and the kings before him from the outside world amidst the existence of the Avengers and numerous alien invasions, which prompted the founding of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division.
The video shows the crowning of T'Challa, which fans can presume takes place after the events of "Civil War," where his father was killed in an explosion orchestrated to cause infighting between the Avengers. T'Challa's new Black Panther costume/armor is also shown.
Black Panther's main antagonist in his upcoming standalone movie will be Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). Erik is a Wakandian exile who seeks to overthrow T'Challa and usurp his throne. The character is shown with a torso full of ritualistic scars, markings, and tattoos, as well as dreadlocks in what seems to be a homage to the original character's look in the comic books. Erik will be donning a Golden Jaguar suit as opposed to T'Challa's Black Panther.
Erik will also be employing Ulysses Klaue a.k.a. Klaw (Andy Serkis), a black-market arms dealer, smuggler, and gangster working in South Africa. Klaw is out to expose T'Challa and Wakanda since he thinks both are hypocritical. Klaw, one of the few outsiders who has penetrated Wakanda, will be using Wakandian mining equipment as a weapon. Apparently, the dealer also has access to vibranium, the metal used for Black Panther's claws and Captain America's shield.
Together with Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), his former lover, T'Challa must stop the two before they take over Wakanda and put the "whole world in danger," as he suggests in the trailer.
"Black Panther" is set to be released initially on Feb. 9, 2018 for IMAX and 3D.
