Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige opens up about Black Panther earning a Best Picture nomination and what it means for the studio and the film industry as a whole.
Much of the comic book community has been celebrating Black Panther’s nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars, which is a first for any comic book film. Many of the cast and crew, along with a host of celebrities have shared their reactions to the nod. Now, Kevin Feige, the man who helped get the movie to the big screen, is sharing his thoughts.
EW recently spoke with the Marvel Studios head to discuss Black Panther’s historic nomination, and the one word he could think to describe it was, “pride.” to him, this feeling radiated through the film’s cast and crew following the announcement:
"“It’s the most important recognition that a film can receive in our industry. That’s not lost on any of us. It’s something that’s immensely gratifying. As the numerous phone calls and text messages [show] that went back and forth between all of us who were lucky enough to work on the film, it is just … pride.”"
Producing the first comic book movie to ever receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture is a major milestone, and Feige has been given a lot of credit. However, the producer believes it was writer and director Ryan Coogler’s distinct vision that led to the Oscar nod:
"“I think Black Panther is a unique movie told by a unique filmmaker in a unique time. It comes down to this amazing cast and crew, and a brilliant director who had something to say. He had a very personal story and struggle to explore, and he wanted to use this movie and this canvas to tell it. Looking over the past year at the cultural impact this movie has had around the world, it feels like the recognition from the Academy this morning is the pinnacle of that.”"
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Aside from Black Panther being a landmark achievement for the superhero genre, the cultural and social significance of the film is not lost on Feige. Through the nomination, he believes the Academy not only saw the action, humor and heart, but also saw the true message of the movie. And at the end of the day, representation was the ultimate goal:
"“It’s about representation, and it’s about inclusion, and it’s about the importance of telling different types of stories. That the Academy recognized that this morning is extremely gratifying to all of us.”"
What Black Panther has accomplished is nothing short of incredible. In addition to Best Picture, it was also nominated in six other categories. These accolades coupled with its effect on pop culture have already made it a staple in the history of cinema. It’s hard to predict if it will actually take home the golden statue. But either way, it’s a key step for the superhero genre and representation in film.