'Black Panther 2' gets long-awaited release date

Director Ryan Coogler has announced the release date of the highly anticipated sequel to his hit superhero flick Black Panther.

Speaking at Disney's D23 expo in California on Saturday, Coogler announced Black Panther 2 will release on May 6, 2022.

That will mark four years since the first film released in February, 2018.

Coogler said of the lengthy delay: "We're taking our time, we're really trying to get it right."

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige said Coogler had delivered a treatment, complete with a new villain and new title, though details are being kept firmly under wraps.

The 2022 release makes Black Panther 2's release Marvel's furthest away announce yet.

It comes in well after Taika Waititi's Thor: Love and Thunder (November 5, 2021) but just ahead of an unannounced and untitled film slated for July 2022.

Other upcoming Phase 4 Marvel films include Black Widow (May, 2020); The Eternals (Nov, 2020); Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Feb, 2021); and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May, 2021).

The first Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Danai Gurira and more, grossed $1.3 billion worldwide, becoming the second-highest-grossing Marvel movie of all time, behind Avengers: Endgame.

It was also scored seven Oscar nominations, including one for best picture - which was a first for any Marvel superhero movie - and won three.

As well as that, the film made film history with its nearly all African-American cast and crew.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission