鈥淏lack Panther鈥� is poised to pull of one of the biggest premieres in the history of superhero movies, with an anticipated $165-million opening weekend and sold-out screenings across the globe.
But it鈥檚 the film鈥檚 substance that鈥檚 guaranteed to be revolutionary.
The movie, which officially premieres in Canada on Saturday, follows T'Challa, AKA the Black Panther, as he fights to retrieve a valuable artifact stolen from his country, the fictional African nation of Wakanda.
The film has earned hype for its predominantly black cast and crew, including director Ryan Coogler, actress Lupita Nyong'o and actor Chadwick Boseman in the title role.
Fundraisers across North America have raised money for black youth to have a chance to see the film. In Toronto, one crowdfunding campaign earned more than $15,000.
On the eve of the 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� premiere, a McGill University student group is hosting an advance screening.
Andreann Asibey, president of the Black Students鈥� Network McGill, said the massive interest in the film proves that 鈥渢hese stories should be told.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 excited because it鈥檚 not just black people, but dark-skinned black people on the screen,鈥� Asibey told CTV Montreal, adding that it will be interesting to see the story of an African nation that wasn鈥檛 touched by colonization.
鈥淚t will have a great impact, I think, and encourage people to tell more diverse stories.鈥�
For student Fatou Ndiaye, the film sends an important message to young audiences about representation.
鈥淚 think it just allows black people to be dreamers in that respect and I think that鈥檚 not often shown, especially in a universe like Marvel that has been so dominated by people of one particular demographic,鈥� Ndiaye said.
鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to be able to say to my little cousins that are growing up right now, look she looks like you, she鈥檚 beautiful.鈥�
Rachel Zellars, a history and gender studies professor, plans to bring her daughters to the advance screening.
鈥淭hey will see tonight a visual narrative that they have never seen before anywhere else in the world,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have another moment in cinematic history where black people have been given and entrusted by a major studio this much creative control.鈥�
Crowdfunding campaigns to pay for 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� tickets for black youth have sprung up in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario and across the U.S.
Early reviews for the film have been largely positive. On 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� earned a 98 per cent fresh rating.
With files from CTV Montreal
