Disney has submitted ‘Black Panther’ for the Best Picture prize at the Academy Awards.
The studio has thrown its support behind the Marvel blockbuster – which proved to be a huge success both at the box office and with fans and critics alike – by putting it forward in every possible category at the Oscars. On Disney’s official awards page, it’s revealed the company has presented ‘Black Panther’ – which starred Chadwick Boseman a the titular hero – to be considered for a host of technical categories, as well as top trophies including Best Director.
Regarding the news, Nate Moore – Marvel Studios vice president of development and production – told Variety: “A lot of our films, I think very rightfully and hopefully successfully, just feel like pieces of pure escapism. This movie attempts to do more. It attempts to make people think about the world that’s around them and celebrate, frankly, a continent, in Africa, that’s often overlooked. I don’t think that at any point in the process did we feel like this could be an awards movie. But we did feel like this could have depth in a way that our movies don’t always do.”
News the film could be up for the Best Picture gong comes after the Oscars decided to postpone the controversial idea of the Popular Film category following backlash over what it could mean for movies normally considered for the more prestigious prizes.
Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said: “There has been a wide range of reactions to the introduction of a new award, and we recognize the need for further discussion with our members. We have made changes to the Oscars over the years – including this year – and we will continue to evolve while also respecting the incredible legacy of the last 90 years.”
