Black Panther, the 18th film to be released under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner was recently revealed to have drawn inspiration from Ridley Scott’s classic Blade Runner. The film’s production designer Hannah Beachler, in a reply to a fan on Twitter, confirmed that she was definitely inspired by the 1982 cult hit.
When Beachler was asked if Blade Runner held any inspiration in her concept of high-tech, futuristic world of the African nation of Wakanda, or Ryan’s vision, she said she was “definitely inspired by the original Blade Runner”. When another fan asked her what exactly was the inspiration she took from Scott’s classic, Beachler replied that it was in the fictional society’s use of technology, and the city’s sheer density, texture, and tone. The talented designer added that she was also inspired by other movies including 2011 released non-narrative documentary film Samsara, directed by Ron Fricke.
This certainly isn’t the first time Marvel films were revealed to have drawn inspiration from other cult-hit films. Earlier in June, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige also revealed that Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie was watched to draw inspiration for the MCU films.
Black Panther, which is expected to hit the theatres early next year, has been drawing attention from all corners right from the start. The film also received limelight for its talented cast members. Moreover, the film is directed by Ryan Coogler of Fruitvale Station and Creed fame.
Further, the film made heads turn when the teaser trailer of Black Panther released a few months ago. People couldn’t stop noticing the contribution that the production design team made in the way the fictional location of Wakanda was portrayed. It not only seemed futuristic but also appeared grandly aesthetic, just the way fans expected it to be.
“For me, it was always understanding that Wakanda had been there for 10,000 years and then what does it look like now? It was supposed to be a place that was never colonized too, so what does that look like?” Beachler told The Frame recently while talking about the heightened technological evolution showcased in the film.
Black Panther, which is set to release on February 16, 2018 stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, , Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, , Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, , Letitia Wright as Shuri, Angela Bassett as Ramonda , Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Winston Duke as M’Baku , Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, John Kani as King T’Chaka and Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the full-length trailer. If the teaser of Black Panther arrives with unfinished CGI as other films, then we can only imagine how grand Wakanda will look in the full-length teaser.
Yes, I was definitely inspired by the original Blade Runner.
— Hannah Beachler (@chinchilla1970) October 3, 2017
The forward thinking in the part tech played in that world and the density of the city. Texture and tone. Lots of movies inspired. Samsara.
— Hannah Beachler (@chinchilla1970) October 3, 2017
