[INTERVIEW] CHATTING WITH MARVEL’S BLACK PANTHER STAR FOREST WHITAKER #BLACKPANTHEREVENT #BLACKPANTHER Thursday 08 February, 2018
Ok I am back for another installment of interviews with the Marvel’s Black Panther cast and today is the interview I did with Forest Whitaker. The bloggers and I got a chance to interview with him intimately and share his thoughts on his character, Zuri, in the film. Let me just say Forest is one of the humblest celebrities I have ever encountered with. He seems like a gentle teddy bear, soft spoken and dare I say even a little shy. Despite his real life personal coyness, he always plays a powerful role in every movie he portrays. This time Forest takes his role in a more spiritual direction, so read more on that and follow along.
Forest Whitaker as Zuri
Photo credit: Natasha C. Nicholes (HousefulOfNicholes.com)
Every movie that I do, most of the time, is different, and then when it starts to get too similar, then I know that there’s something wrong. And if I can’t feel a little fear about it, and I don’t feel like I’m going to change or grow from it, then it’s something wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing it. – Forest
Zuri is a religious figure or spiritual figure. Spirituality is something that exists strongly in Wakanda and he has a major influence in the tribe when it comes to traditions as an elder. Zuri is major link to T’Challa’s father. Zuri is someone he looks to for guidance, similar to an uncle figure.
Photo credit: Natasha C. Nicholes (HousefulOfNicholes.com)
Forest on filming his first Marvel movie
It was exciting. Because I remember when we were at the Wakanda Falls — so overwhelming. Because it felt like this hundred-foot waterfall was falling all around us. And this pool of water. It’s a very powerful, powerful experience. But what I did with Chad [T’Challa/Black Panther] inside, I really got to the get inside the emotional heart of it, too.
Forest on the powerful energy of being on set of Black Panther
Wakanda Falls was really interesting, because they were playing music, and the drummers would continue to play a lot between the takes. People would start singing and stuff, so it was like, a real communal experience. Even when we weren’t working, you know, a guy would start leading them in songs…[LAUGHS] it was something unlike any other.
Photo credit: Natasha C. Nicholes (HousefulOfNicholes.com)
Forest on his African ancestry dna discovery influencing his character portrayal of Zuri
I guess it did. Yeah. I fashioned him around different spiritual leaders, and different ways of trying to get like, get into the moral fiber for the community, because he’s like, the he’s the spiritual leader of Wakanda. And so just trying to understand that from different perspective.
Forest on the message he hopes people take from this film
We are our brothers’ keepers, you know, that we have to, even in our own comfort, be able to reach out and help those and help others is important. One tribe, I think, is important. I think the message of female empowerment, you know, just both physically and mentally. The power that that expresses, about Killmonger, like about our youth, and how we’re molded by our environments, and how we have to step in and try to move those things forward.
There’s other messages, too, you know. Colonialism. And, you know, all of those kinds of things. Finding your own voice…Empowerment. Particularly for people of color, but for everyone. It’s a lot of messages in the movie…those are some of them.
Photo credit: Natasha C. Nicholes (HousefulOfNicholes.com)
It was great speaking with Forest! A legend with over three decades of consistent work in Hollywood. I truly enjoy Forest portrayal of Zuri in the movie. His role in the film was profound as he was the spiritual bind in the movie. Wakanda is a very spiritual county and most of the time spiritual traditional and knowledge always come from the elders. Zuri was an elder, who was poised, calm and powerful. Its not always about fighting physically to get a solution, many time we have to be spiritually grounded to get the truth. He definitely was a great spirtual mentor for T’Challa/Black Panther in the movie!
TRAILER
Synopsis Marvel Studios’ BLACKPANTHER follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and BlackPanther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of BlackPanther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.
Black Panther opens in theaters on February 16th.
GET SOCIAL WITH MARVEL’S BLACK PANTHER #BLACKPANTHEREVENT #BLACKPANTHER
Disclaimer: I was invited to attend an all-inclusive press trip, sponsored by Disney. All opinions are my own.
Are you Ready To See Black Panther?
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
Follow her on her blog and social media at kiwithebeauty.com + @kiwithebeauty
Wow, I have been a fan of his for years (since the Crying Game!). I cannot wait to see this movie, I am hoping it plays on our Disney Cruise, I hear they get first run Disney movies!
Everything I have read keeps making me and more excited about seeing Black Panther. Previously, I was looking forward to seeing all the strong woman, but now I’m dying to see Forest Whitaker too!
You had an awesome experience to be able to be there at the event and interview Forest Whitaker! I love the message he imparted about looking out after each other and about women empowerment.
He will always be an actor that I look up to! He’s very intelligent, talented, and inspiring. I’m glad I’ll be able to watch him in Black Panther! Such an awesome interview.
You can never miss the chance to interview an actor as awesome as Forest! I think it’s really lovely that you got to do this. There’s so much that we can learn from him!
He is such a great actor . . . what an honor to be in the same room with him! This film seems like it’s going to do a lot of good for both women and people of color.
Forest is pretty amazing and I’m glad you had the chance to interview him. I seriously cannot wait to see this movie and see him portray Zuri! I’m sure he did an awesome job!
What a great experience you had with this intimate interview session with him. He is so talented and I love him too! I hope to experience the same too.
The more interviews that I read and hear about the Black Panther movie makes me want to see it even more! Forest Whitaker is an awesome actor and I can’t wait to see him and the rest of the cast!
Such and amazing experience. I can’t wait to watch this movie. I’ve been enjoying everyone’s post about this movie and their experience with some of the actors.
I love him as an actor, it had to be a treasure to meet and interview him. His character Zuri resonates in the film. He nailed it and it caused me to do a lot of reflection about myself and my culture.
Black Panther opens in theaters on February 16th.
![[FASHION RECAP] MARVEL STUDIOS’ “BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER” WORLD PREMIERE](https://www.kiwithebeauty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/64A66F52-0CBB-4131-8B8A-8FABDA3BC164.jpeg "[FASHION RECAP] MARVEL STUDIOS’ “BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER” WORLD PREMIERE")
![[FASHION RECAP] MARVEL STUDIOS’ “BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER” WORLD PREMIERE](https://www.kiwithebeauty.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/64A66F52-0CBB-4131-8B8A-8FABDA3BC164-183x183.jpeg)
What an awesome interview. We are so excited for this movie.
Wow, I have been a fan of his for years (since the Crying Game!). I cannot wait to see this movie, I am hoping it plays on our Disney Cruise, I hear they get first run Disney movies!
Another fun interview to read with the cast from The Black Panther film. This film is really going to be wildly popular, I can see it now!
Forest is such an amazing actor, so I am thrilled that he’s a part of the new Black Panther movie. I can’t wait to see him in action in it!
I love Forest Whitaker! I did not realize he was in this movie. I’ve read and heard a lot of great reviews on Black Panther.
How awesome! What a great interview this would be to do. I am really looking forward to seeing this film!
I bet this is going to be an amazing movie!! I really need to check it out!
I’ve liked Forest Whitaker since his show, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. I’m looking forward to seeing Black Panther.
Everything I have read keeps making me and more excited about seeing Black Panther. Previously, I was looking forward to seeing all the strong woman, but now I’m dying to see Forest Whitaker too!
Such an awesome opportunity to be able to interview him and just hear what he has to say. He’s one of my favorite actors! So talented.
You had an awesome experience to be able to be there at the event and interview Forest Whitaker! I love the message he imparted about looking out after each other and about women empowerment.
What an incredible experience for you. We cannot wait to see this movie!
He will always be an actor that I look up to! He’s very intelligent, talented, and inspiring. I’m glad I’ll be able to watch him in Black Panther! Such an awesome interview.
I am so ready to see this movie. It sounds like it’s going to be awesome and that there will be important messages in it.
You can never miss the chance to interview an actor as awesome as Forest! I think it’s really lovely that you got to do this. There’s so much that we can learn from him!
Oh wow what an amazing opportunity for you to interview someone as fantastic as Forest Whitaker and what an interview it is!
Omg this just got me even more excited, can’t wait to see the movie. You are so luckily to have had interviewed a legend
He is such a great actor . . . what an honor to be in the same room with him! This film seems like it’s going to do a lot of good for both women and people of color.
another brilliant interview which is making even more exciting about the movie! can’t wait to see it!
I love him! So talented & really a great actor who knows how to represent characters in a way that is so realistic. That was an awesome opportunity
Forest is pretty amazing and I’m glad you had the chance to interview him. I seriously cannot wait to see this movie and see him portray Zuri! I’m sure he did an awesome job!
What a great experience. I’m looking forward to seeing this movie. Tickets already bought.
You are so lucky! That is a privileged to have interviewed them. So nice!
I freaking love this guy. He has been in so many great movies. This is awesome
What a great experience you had with this intimate interview session with him. He is so talented and I love him too! I hope to experience the same too.
I can’t wait to see this movie myself and see how the casts give justice to their roles. If only my husband would agree. Lol!
Run Forest Run! LOL. He is really a great actor. The casting is good and I’m now more excited to watch the movie. Only a few days left. 🙂
Great interview! I can not wait to see him and the rest of the cast in this film!
The more interviews that I read and hear about the Black Panther movie makes me want to see it even more! Forest Whitaker is an awesome actor and I can’t wait to see him and the rest of the cast!
Such and amazing experience. I can’t wait to watch this movie. I’ve been enjoying everyone’s post about this movie and their experience with some of the actors.
What an amazing opportunity! Forest Whitaker is one of my all time favorite actors and I can’t wait to see him in action.
Such a fun interview to read with the cast from The Black Panther film. This film is really going to be amazing! I can’t wait!
Forest Whitaker is the GOAT. I remember first seeing him in The Crying Game. I truly can’t wait to see Black Panther. 3 more days!!!
Forest Whitaker is one of my favorite actors. He’s amazing. I’m so excited to see him cast in this film.
Enough with the interviews. Gosh. I can’t contain this excitement. Is it Thursday, February 15th yet? LOL! Great write-up!
I’ve always enjoy the Forest Whitaker movies. He’s a great actor in my opinion.
I love him as an actor, it had to be a treasure to meet and interview him. His character Zuri resonates in the film. He nailed it and it caused me to do a lot of reflection about myself and my culture.
I loved him in the crying game I am sure I will lo e him in this too. Need to find time to watch it.
What an awesome opportunity it was to hear form Forrest Whitaker. I just saw the movie early and I loved it!
What an amazing opportunity. I personally can’t wait to see the movie. I’m going to see it with my kids.
This is so awesome that you go to go on this trip! This movie is good I’m sure. I have not seen it yet but now I really want to!
Forest Whitaker is an amazing actor! I love a lot of his work. I have yet to see Black Panther. I hope to see it soon. This was an amazing interview.