This probably not the version Marvel is planning for its own iteration of the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby-created Wakandan superhero, Black Panther. Regardless however, seeing as how warm fans are to Blur Studios’ own Deadpool test footage in the hopes that its owners at 20th Century Fox will grant the R-rated treatment the property deserves, a similar vision is worth considering.
I could be wrong though, seeing as how soft some studios have chosen delivering films with PG-13 action that “pushes the envelope” or whatever, and it does feel disconcerting. Stephen Norrington’s Blade came out sixteen years ago and opened up a proper can of full-speed, blood-soaked whoopass that laid the early groundwork that would ultimately earn Marvel its growing popularity thanks in large part to the money it is making from its kid-friendly cinematic universe.
So yeah, I get it. Making money is nice and all, sure. Nevertheless, an R-rated superhero movie is not un-doable, and it just so happens that independent filmmaker, martial artist, actor, writer, editor and action designer D.A. Jackson has a new shortfilm that makes that point, accidentally or otherwise.
Feast your eyes on the latest release of Storms of Carnage: The Black Panther UNLEASHED, with Jackson in the title role. I have no idea when this project was made, but the word is that it was done $50 bucks and a bag of trail mix.
Needless to say with its virility within the last five days, for a low-budget labor of love, Storms Of Carnage: The Black Panther UNLEASHED impresses. It hits hard, spills blood and makes no apologies for it.
More importantly though (here comes the elephant in the room again), this project also marks the latest step toward seeing a black performer carry a Marvel-based superhero character on film, and it took an independent effort to make it happen (Falcon got second-billing in The Winter Soldier, so I don’t want to hear it).
The shortfilm also includes a post-credits sequences with actress Maya Glick in a familiar role you might already know about if you follow comic book lore. She herself has her own short film based on her character following its successful crowdfunder, and it aims to kick just as much ass.
So unless you already know who it is, feel free to watch Storms of Carnage: The Black Panther UNLEASHED in the embed below, and stick all the way through to the end!
H/T: Indiewire
