GOTG’s Djimon Hounsou Says Black Panther Was A “Historical Event” In Africa

Black Panther wasn't just a major success. To Guardians of the Galaxy star Djimon Hounsou, the film was a "historical" event when it made its big premiere in Africa in February last year.

Last year Screen Rant went down to visit the set of Captain Marvel and the publication got to speak with Hounsou who's set to reprise his role as Korath the Pursuer in Marvel's first female-led comic book movie. During the interview, the actor went on talking about how excited he was to see Black Panther and its effect on the Hollywood industry, discussing how the film was a huge "event" when it premiered in Africa last year.

The publication just recently decided to talk about the interview now, and here's what Hounsou said:

"Well the thrill for me this time around is not even so much about this film, other than the fact that it's great to be part of this one, but I think the one that really leverage all films for me, it's Black Panther. In a way that I've never heard in my own country, championing our kids, going to movies. Parents are even putting money on the side for them to just get that one ticket to go and see a movie like that. It was historical. I mean, it gives me chills. You guys don't know here, how it is over there. We rarely ever- don't have many theaters in the country, to begin with, and the couple of theaters that we have... You have Universal, Vivendi, you name it, the French company, that's going around certain countries in Africa and opening theaters, a chain of theaters."

According to Hounsou, Black Panther came out in Africa about the same time it was released in the US, and he couldn't believe that he saw African kids driven just to see a film. Apparently, it's rare for children in Africa to go out just to see a movie, and he was more than happy to see Black Panther turn the minority into heroes.

Of course, Black Panther was a groundbreaking film for both the comic book industry and the Hollywood scene. Not only was the film the first standalone movie for a black superhero, Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, but it was also the first all-black comic book movie from Marvel. Black Panther's success proved to the world that audiences wanted diversity and representation in movies.

How did you feel about Black Panther when it premiered? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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