Previously snubbed in major categories at other big awards shows like the Golden Globes, Black Panther triumphed at last night’s SAG awards. The billion-dollar Marvel epic won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Accepting the prize alongside Michael B Jordan and others, Black Panther himself Chadwick Boseman gave a moving speech. Seemingly surprised by the win, the star opened: “Well I’ll be. I didn’t think I was going to have to speak.”
Thanking director Ryan Coogler and the producers, Boseman “saved the best ’til last” in Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige.
The actor added: “To be young, gifted and black, we know what it’s like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured.
“We know what it’s like to be the tail and not the head. We know what it’s like to be beneath and not above.
“And that is what we went to work with every day…we knew that we had something special that we wanted to give the world. That we could be full human beings in the roles that we were playing. That we could create a world that exemplified the world that we wanted to see.
“We knew that we had something that we wanted to give and to come to work every day and to solve problems with this group of people…that is something that I wish all actors would get the opportunity to experience.”
He concluded: “Did we change the industry? You know you can’t have a Black Panther now without a 2 on it!”
Black Panther has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture for Kevin Feige.
It doesn’t happen every year, but winning the SAG Best Cast award is often a good sign of going on to win the Best Picture Oscar.
Of course, Black Panther has big competition in that category against Roma, which is expected to win, and other outside chances in Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody.
CHADWICK BOSEMAN REFUSES TO LEAVE STAGE AFTER BLACK PANTHER SAG AWARDS WIN
Certainly, Black Panther is an important film in terms of representation and film history, but was it better than Avengers Infinity War?
While it’s a perfectly decent Marvel entry, last year’s Avengers epic was an even more impressive film in Express.co.uk’s opinion.
Nevertheless, Marvel fans would no doubt be proud if Black Panther defied the odds and won Best Picture.
The 91st Academy Awards take place on February 24 in Hollywood.