Black Panther's importance to the Marvel Cinematic Universe will stretch well beyond his involvement in 2016's "Captain America: Civil War." The character, played by Chadwick Boseman, is also set to receive a standalone film in 2018, positioned as the last Marvel movie ahead of "Avengers: Infinity War - Part One." While speaking to "Empire" magazine, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige spoke to the role that both the character of T'Challa and his solo film will play in the cinematic universe.

"The one is important," Feige told "Empire," as transcribed by ComicBookMovie. "Not only do you get an unbelievable lead character, but you also get all of Wakanda which is a whole new setting and culture to explore."

Feige added that the film will have a "primarily African-American cast" and will be "a big geo-political action adventure that focuses on the family and royal struggle of T'Challa in Wakanda, and what is means to be a king. T'Challa's story is very important to us as it links to the next Avengers films, which is why we brought it forward."

So far Chadwick Boseman is the only actor attached to "Black Panther." "Creed" director Ryan Coogler was reportedly in talks to direct the film, although no updates have been officially given regarding his involvement since that news broke earlier this month.

Black Panther debuts in "Captain America: Civil War," which opens on May 6, 2016. "Black Panther" hits theaters on February 16, 2018.