By now, most comic fans know that Marvel's first black superhero, the Black Panther, will be making his onscreen debut during the "Captain America: Civil War" film. However, it is not quite sure what exactly his role will be in the film.
From what has been leaked about the film, Comic Book Resources reports that the Black Panther will be playing a key role in the film.
However, where will the character's loyalties be? Will it be the quick-witted, pro-registration Iron Man, or with the optimistic, anti-registration Captain America?
From what Entertainment Weekly is reporting, the answer actually might be neither. Marvel Studio Head Kevin Feige has stated that the biggest reason why the studio decided to debut Black Panther before his solo debut movie is because Marvel needed a character who has his own agenda.
What that agenda could be is still up in the air. But knowing the background of the character might shed some insight into that agenda.
Black Panther in the comics is actually not just one person. The mantle of the Black Panther is actually handed down generation to generation, father to son of the royal family of the fictional country of Wakanda.
Wakanda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is similar to that in the comics as it is home to the largest deposit of a rare fictional metal called Vibranium. For those who do not know, this is the same metal that Captain America's shield is made of.
The current Black Panther and the one who will be getting the most screen time in the film will be T'Challa (portrayed by Chadwick Boseman). T'Challa actually is still new to being the Black Panther as his father was recently assassinated after a long tenure as king of Wakanda.
Feige states that it is because he is still new to being a superhero, T'Challa has to deal with a lot of inner struggles to make the decisions that are best for him and what is best for his country.
It is the struggle between these choices is what makes Black Panther such an interesting variable, states Feige. On the one side, he could side with Captain America as they share a common trait as symbols for their respective countries. However, on the other hand, he could also side with Tony Stark as they both want to do what is right for the entire world and not just themselves.
Who's side do you think Black Panther will side on in the upcoming "Captain America: Civil War?" Fans will just have to wait until the film debuts on May 6, 2016.