Lupita Nyong’o says working on Black Panther has ‘awakened’ her to the ‘expected female-rival narrative’
Lupita Nyong’o has opened up about how her role in Marvel’s forthcoming Black Panther movie flipped the ‘expected female-rival narrative’ on its head.
The Star Wars actress, 34, plays the role of warrior princess Nakia in the new film which is directed by Ryan Coogler, and follows on from a strong thread in the Marvel cinematic universe.
Much has been previously made of Lupita’s strong female lead in the new film, which expands on the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War and concentrates on the African nation of Wakanda and how T’Challa becomes the Black Panther.
Lupita stars as a member of the Dora Milaje, a group of female assassins dedicated to protecting the advanced nation of Wakanda and King T’Challa himself.
Speaking to Teen Vogue, Lupita said: ‘Ryan made a point of avoiding the expected female-rival narrative. In this genre, where spandex is involved, oftentimes the women are pitted against each other.
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‘In our story, there are so many different women holding their own space. Women may be in competition with each other, sure, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an absence of love or respect.
Shuri [Letitia Wright] is the sister to the Black Panther [Chadwick Boseman] and the leader of technological pursuits and Nakia is someone who has a complicated history with the Black Panther and is a warrior in her own right.
‘You see them work together, and you see a dynamic that is really encouraging. Making this film awakened me. I walked away from this experience feeling extremely supported and I felt challenged,’ she told of how the film flipped gender stereotypes on their heads.
Black Panther hits UK cinemas on February 16, 2018.
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