[MUSIC PLAYING] It was Chadwick Boseman's
performance in "42" that really made us take a second look. There is such an honor
and dignity to the way that he played Jackie
Robinson that we knew we needed for the
character of T'Challa, the prince of Wakanda. Chadwick is an amazing
actor who we thought would fit perfectly with the MCU. Black Panther himself,
ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Chadwick Boseman. [CHEERING] Chadwick, you know,
he has a lot of depth. It was amazing as an audience
member to look into his eyes, and see what's going on. We must find a way to
look after one another as if we were one single tribe. A lot of the things
about the character are also true about Chad. He's very knowledgeable. He's an athlete, you
know, a martial artist. He's had a lot of
experience playing roles that come with a lot
of weight, you know? So I think he as a person, he
as a guy, has a lot of weight to him. I think he brings all
that stuff to the role. Not to mention that he's
incredibly gifted as an actor and as a performer, and also as
a storyteller in his own right. I am not king of all people. I am king of Wakanda. And it is my responsibility to
make sure our people are safe. Because he is so
prepared as an actor, and because his character
is sort of flawless on set, it forced the other actors
who had scenes with him to kind of raise
their game and go, OK, this guy is not taking
anything for granted. He's really leaving
it all out there, so we have to keep up with him. What doesn't Chadwick
bring to the character? I mean, he's regal,
and grounded, and he brings a gravitas to it. So all of this
feeds his T'Challa. And I think he wore
the crown with dignity. (YELLING) Yibambe! (YELLING) Yibambe! (YELLING) Yibambe! (YELLING) Yibambe! I've known him since
I was about like, 17, so I've known him for a really
long time back in New York. He did the work, obviously. You know, I just think
he did an incredible job being true to the character. (YELLING) Wakanda forever! (YELLING) Wakanda forever! I had a great
time with Chadwick, just warmth and
camaraderie came into it, of course, with a great deal of
respect for his previous work. So when I looked at
him with proud eyes, you know, they were as
mother, and also as comrade and colleague and Angela. It is your time to be king. Chadwick is just a powerhouse. He really is so talented. Every single movie
he's made, there's kind of this internal
almost nobility. The Black Panther has been
the protector of Wakanda for generations. He's such a soulful actor,
and so professional, so present, it really gives so much to the
other person, and he's awesome. And his presence
on set, I think, kind of raises the stakes
a little bit for everybody. Chadwick is a really smart,
interesting, dynamic guy. And I think he was-- not overwhelmed--
but very surprised and somewhat taken aback
by the amount of love. It ceased to become just
about how well he inhabited the role and all that stuff. It's become part of our
culture just as a symbol. [CHEERING] This welcome is one
of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. It's fun to watch just
what it means to people. At times, like in my
head, I'll be like, well, what does this do for the world? Like, is it actually
valuable in this climate? And I have to say yes,
it actually is, not because it makes people escape. I think when done right,
it gives people hope. I found that it means a lot. [MUSIC PLAYING]
