Black Panther isn’t just a smash hit, it’s an historic box office success. So to celebrate Marvel‘s epic journey to Wakanda coming to stores today with the film’s home release, we wanted to do something special on Nerdist News Talks Back. And did we ever! We had M’Baku himself, one of the film’s breakout stars and leader of the Jabari, Winston Duke on to tell us about being a part of one of the biggest movies of all time.
Host Jessica Chobot and Nerdist News writer Aliza Pearl welcomed Duke, who also joined us last month during our Infinity War MCU marathon, to today’s show to talk about what it’s like to be a part of a true cultural and worldwide phenomenon. How did all of the work that went into making the different cultures, tribes, and religions let him know they had “something special” during filming? And what led to him improvising M’Baku’s memorable barking at Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross?
Why was the waterfall Challenge Day set even cooler than we realized? What were the most exciting differences from doing “King Lear with four people?” How much physical training and research did the self-proclaimed “big time” comic book reader and Superman fan do to play M’Baku? How did the character’s fighting style change after he saw the costume?
He also told us what being a part of the film has meant for him on a personal level, including for his hometown in Trinidad and Tobago. How has he become an “unofficial ambassador” for the “hopes and dreams” of kids there? How crazy is it going to be when he goes back the next time? What’s it like working with Ryan Coogler? Why does his think Cooglers “powerful” ability to listen to others and to “be impacted” by what he hears help him be a great director? What other comic book characters meant a lot to him growing up? And what was it like being on the set of Infinity War? Why was that final battle so physically demanding? How did it compare to his favorite scenes in Black Panther?
Nerdist News Talks Back airs live on our YouTube and Alpha channels at 1PM PT every Monday through Thursday, and we wrap up the week in pop culture with Nerdist News What the Fridays at 1PM PT, only at Alpha. Because even though Challenge Day doesn’t happen all the time, we’re hear every day to talk to you.
We did you think about today’s show? Talk back to us in the comments below.
Black Panther Image: Marvel
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