Ryan Coogler's Marvel sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is expected to boost the box office by a massive amount during its opening weekend.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources with access to NRG tracking data foresee the upcoming Marvel Studios and Disney film hunting down at least $175 million in its opening weekend from Nov. 11 to 13. With the final media push now in place, the number is likely to grow.

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The groundbreaking success of Coogler's Black Panther debuted at $202 million domestically in 2018 and transformed into a cultural phenomenon, earning more than $1.34 billion worldwide. It was Marvel's first to feature a predominantly Black cast. With the box office still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, Wakanda Forever is expected to suffer some impact, though it remains one of the most anticipated films of 2022. Even with the pandemic's influence, superhero movies generally perform better than other genres.

Avengers: Endgame holds the biggest domestic debut of all time with $357.1 million. Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man: No Way Home scored $260.1 million in December 2021, marking the second-biggest domestic debut. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opened to $187.4 million in early May, while Thor: Love and Thunder opened to $144.2 million in July.

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Wakanda Forever Is Poised to be a Massive Hit

Wakanda Forever pays tribute to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who tragically passed away from cancer in August 2020. The sequel will see his character being written out of the MCU rather than being recast. At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel unveiled the film's tear-jerking trailer, paying homage to Boseman and his character T'Challa's legacy.

Marvel Studio President Kevin Feige previously addressed the decision not to recast T'Challa in the sequel because it felt too soon. "Stan Lee always said that Marvel represents the world outside your window," Feige said. "And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there's a relatable and human element to everything we do. The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And [director and co-writer] Ryan [Coogler] poured that into the story."

In response to calls to recast T'Challa, Nakia actor Lupita Nyong'o stood by the studio's decision. "It's laying to rest [T'Challa] and allowing for real life to inform the story of the movies," she said. "I know that there are all sorts of reasons why people want him to be recast, but I don't have the patience. I don't have the presence of mind, or I don't have the objectivity to argue with that. I don't. I'm very biased."

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters Nov. 11.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter