Movie

Following his live-action appearance in recent 'Civil War' trailer, a new close-up picture of Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther has been unveiled.

• Dec 3, 2015

AceShowbiz - "Captain America: Civil War" graces the cover of Entertainment Weekly's latest issue. The magazine also offers a detailed look at Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther with the headline which reads, "Black Panther, He's Tall, Powerful - and Has Claws That a Real Housewife Would Envy".

Chadwick says of Black Panther, "He's definitely not the life of the party in this instance. I think this is something true of the comic book character and the movie. You never quite know where he stands. There's always a bit of concealing and mystery. So I think mysterious is more his boat. Not to say there's not charm and he can't be a ladies' man and all that. It's more like if there is humor, it's more like James Bond."

In "Civil War", Black Panther is a key figure in the conflict between Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). "There definitely is a sort of tradition that he's torn between, in terms of how things were done in the past and how things need to happen now in this new world," Chadwick explains, "I think there's perhaps a bit of a maverick there, and then there's also a need to live up to traditions and his father's legacy. And not even his father's legacy, but the entire nation of Wakanda. I think those are the things you will see."

Black Panther's costume is not actually cloth, but vibranium. "It has a sheen because its a weave of the strongest metal in this fictional universe," says Joe Russo. Anthony Russo adds, "It's like medieval chain mail, woven extremely thin. It's not comparable to any other costumes in the universe."

Chadwick says, "As far as the storytelling is concerned, the vibranium is a metal that is dynamic. It can change how it's used. It's not a liquid, but it has the ability to change shape and change form and still have its strength. I think there a lot of things about that in the mythology that I think has a lot of potential in terms of the storytelling."

"It's not just about being durable, it has the ability to absorb energy," he adds, "It's not just like you hit it and it doesn't take it. It has the ability to absorb the attack of another person and repel or respond to that attack. That's part of the power."

Of Black Panther's fighting style, Chadwick says, "There are some animal forms, but not just cat. He could be a snake, or various different styles. Obviously there's an opportunity to do some capoeira." When asked who will win a fight between Black Panther and Captain America, Chadwick replies, "If you're talking to Mayweather about the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, then Mayweather's gonna say he's gonna win. I have to back myself."

"Captain America: Civil War" is set to hit U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.