A trailer for Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast has been released as part of the MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe]’s first podcast collaboration between Proximity Media and Marvel Studios and Entertainment.
The six-part series will officially debut on 3 November ahead of the release of movie sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on 11 November. It will feature narrative audio storytelling on the cultural impact of the films, and interviews with the film’s cast and crew including Angela Bassett, director and Proximity co-founder Ryan Coogler, Proximity head of audio Paola Mardo, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, and many more.
The podcast is part of a five-year exclusive television contract with The Walt Disney Company signed by Coogler’s production company Proximity Media, which he founded with five other members. The rest of the podcast episodes will be released in January 2023.
The podcast will be hosted by award-winning author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, who's also the writer of the Black Panther Marvel comics’ sixth volume, in 2016, and spin-off series Black Panther And The Crew. The first episode will feature him in conversation with Coogler, who also co-wrote and directed the first Black Panther film in 2018.
“Ever since Ryan, Zinzi and Sev entrusted Proximity's Audio division with this project, our goal has been to tell the story of the making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with as much heart and authenticity as the film itself,” said Mardo. “With our premiere episode, we've accomplished this goal while breaking new ground in the process, thanks to the awesome collaboration between our incredible host Ta-Nehisi Coates, our talented podcast production team, and our collaborators at Marvel and Disney.”
“There is no storyteller I admire more than Ryan Coogler,” said Coates. “Any chance to partner with him, Proximity Media and Marvel is a worthy one. For that opportunity to be a chronicle of the making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was simply too good to pass up.”
Although Marvel has created other podcasts, such as Women Of Marvel, this is the first major one that directly ties into the MCU and aligns with the company’s film release date. Other film and television franchises that have entered the world of tie-in podcasting include HBO’s The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon and Nickelodeon’s Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast.
"Podcasts are a deeply engaging storytelling medium, and as a brand with so many incredible stories to tell, this is an inspired move to deepen their relationship with their audience," said Neil Cowling, founder of branded podcast creation company Fresh Air.
"Entertainment creators are increasingly complementing films, TV shows or other content with extra audio material, but the depth of engagement that podcasts offer can work for all sorts of brands. At least 25 minutes of intimate, uninterrupted attention – that’s the value of podcasts and I can’t wait to hear how Marvel have made it work for them."
