A new rumor may have revealed a surprising detail about the Disney+ Black Panther spin-off set in the kingdom of Wakanda.
It’s been two years since we heard about a Black Panther spin-off series on Wakanda with franchise director Ryan Coogler at the helm. After sinking into limbo, the series is talking about it again. Most likely thanks to the box office success of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Our colleagues from Screening We learn that the project now has a working title, which could suggest that a new Black Panther will debut in the MCU. But we do not know for the moment if it is another spin-off or the one centered on Okoye (Danai Gurira), which would detail his story in the MCU.
As a reminder, Disney first entered into an exclusive five-year overall TV deal with Ryan Coogler in February 2021, with plans to develop a Disney+ drama set in the kingdom of Wakanda. A production company called Maglev Train Productions was then created for the spin-off in July 2021.
Shortly after the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore revealed to Collider that the Wakanda series was not”as advanced as people want“, but hinted that big ideas had been pitched to Ryan Coogler.
As part of The Hot Mic podcast, American critic Jeff Sneider shared a rumor that the Black Panther-centric Disney+ spin-off series that Marvel Studios is developing with Ryan Coogler will be titled ‘The Golden City’ – in reference to Birnin Zana, capital of Wakanda – and would, to everyone’s surprise, be an animated film. Announcement followed by a tweet:
“Rumor: Marvel and Ryan Coogler are developing a Disney+ animated series set in Wakanda called THE GOLDEN CITY.”
A good idea ?
Although it was never said explicitly, most people assumed that the Wakanda series would be live action. The decision to immerse the kingdom in the world of animation may seem unexpected, but it could actually turn out to be quite wise.
On the one hand, the format of the animation could allow to explore larger and more impressive regions and to do so in a more free way than in real shots. On the other hand, it could bring in more high-profile MCU actors than on a live-action series.
Just look at the cast that Marvel Studios has assembled for What If…? to realize how much talent it’s possible to get for an episode or two when all that’s needed is a quick voiceover job.
It’s not yet known exactly what the Wakandan series will be about, but one option could be an animated anthology that would look at the different tribes, lifestyles, cultures, and characters of Wakanda. This would promote a mix between new characters and those returning as guests in the series.