The MCU’s 15th television series, Eyes of Wakanda, is set to release on Disney+ in August this year. The animated anthology takes place before the rise of the Black Panther and is directed by Todd Harris, who previously worked as a storyboard artist on both Black Panther and Wakanda Forever. The story is part of Marvel’s Phase Six.
While fans will have to wait a little longer to watch Eyes of Wakanda, the first episode premiered this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and there are plenty of details to pore over. Major plot details are still under wraps, but there’s new information about the Wakandan warriors at the center of the series and the tone of the show itself.
10 Eyes of Wakanda Begins in Ancient Crete
Eyes of the Wakanda Will Explore Different Settings and Eras Over the Course of the Series
Eyes of Wakanda tells the story of Wakanda through four-part segments. The first part explores how Wakandans mastered Vibranium, leading to impressive feats of art and weaponry. It will begin in Crete 3,000 years ago, but will feature several time jumps, allowing the series to offer an in-depth look at Wakanda’s growth and evolution.
Each installment of Eyes of Wakanda will likely focus on a different era, offering a broader look at Wakandan history. The first episode, titled «Into the Lion’s Den,» is set in 1260 B.C., with later segments shifting to other time periods. Throughout the story, it maintains its focus on two key elements: the foundation of the Black Panther and the hunt for missing Vibranium.
9 Eyes of Wakanda Had to Be an Animated Series
Eyes of Wakanda Blends 2D and 3D Animation
There’s a reason Eyes of Wakanda is an animated series rather than a live-action one. Showrunner Todd Harris has said that animation was the only way to bring the show’s centuries-spanning story to life. «Animation is the ultimate equalizer of locations,» he explained. «That freedom allowed us to reimagine an idealized version of an era that’s unaffected by human history.»
Not only is the show animated, but it features a unique visual style that blends 2D and 3D elements. Eyes of Wakanda’s opening sequence is hand-drawn, but most of the show has 3D visuals, with some 2D effects. This mixture is an intentional choice, designed to make the character designs appear more exaggerated. According to the showrunner, it was a deliberate stylistic decision. The ultimate goal was to create something unique and evocative, reflecting the people behind the stories.
8 Eyes of Wakanda Takes Inspiration from Real History
The Black Panther Prequel Show Has a Range of Historical Influences
Wakanda may be fictional, but many of the inspirations behind the Black Panther prequel series are very real. The imagery in Eyes of Wakanda draws from a range of historical cultures and regions, including the Fertile Crescent and the Mediterranean. North and East Africa have also been cited as a major influence on the show’s design, as has contemporary international art.
Since Eyes of Wakanda is described as a globe-trotting adventure, viewers can expect to see many more cultural influences throughout its four episodes. So far, the only confirmed locations are Wakanda and Crete, but it’s likely the series will explore several other parts of the world.
7 The Eyes of Wakanda Showrunner Has Compared It to Star Trek, James Bond, and King Arthur
The Black Panther Prequel Show Promises to Deliver Something Truly Unique
Eyes of Wakanda draws heavily from history, but it also takes inspiration from pop culture. Showrunner Todd Harris has described Wakanda as what would happen if «Star Trek got dropped in the middle of Africa,» and has even called the show «Wakanda-grade James Bond.» He’s even used an unlikely reference to describe Eyes of Wakanda‘s setting: King Arthur.
Harris has explained that Eyes of Wakanda will tell a continuous narrative, but will be a collection of short stories set in different time periods. To explain this, he’s said that watching the series is like visiting Britain during the time of King Arthur and then returning to the country during the industrial age. «As we make our touchstones through time, we get to see that kind of evolution,» he explained.
6 Eyes of Wakanda Will Introduce Brand-New Characters
The Marvel Series Has an Expansive Cast That Includes Some Familiar Faces
Viewers are still waiting for more details about the cast of characters in Eyes of Wakanda, but a few key pieces have been revealed. Winnie Harlow is set to play Noni, a former member of the Dora Milaje. Though she may seem disgraced on the surface, Noni is secretly carrying out a black ops mission for Wakanda. Cress Williams plays the Lion, a former Wakandan general who has gone rogue. His new goal isn’t to serve Wakanda but to establish his own kingdom, the Lion Kingdom. Noni must track him down and bring him back.
Other cast members have been announced, though their roles haven’t been revealed yet. Steve Toussaint, who plays Lord Corlys Velaryon on House of the Dragon, will voice a jaded agent. Also joining the cast are Jacques Colimon, who played Will LeClair in Netflix’s The Society, and Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.
5 The Black Panther Prequel Isn't About T'Challa's Ancestors
We'll See Some of T'Challa's Forefathers, But They Won't Be the Show's Focus
When Eyes of Wakanda was first announced, many assumed it would center on T’Challa’s distant ancestors. However, while some of the forebearers of the future Black Panther will appear, they won’t be the main focus. Instead, the show will explore the principles of Wakanda and what it means to live within such a secretive and isolated society.
Wakandan society has flourished thanks to its access to Vibranium, but those resources have come at a cost. Long ago, the people of Wakanda chose to conceal Vibranium from the world and have gone to great lengths to keep it and its artifacts a secret. Eyes of Wakanda will explore how that secrecy was maintained and how the people resisted the temptation to expand beyond their borders.
4 Eyes of Black Panther Will Follow the Hatut Zeraze
Hatut Zaraze Is Wakandan for Dogs of War
While many plot details of Eyes of Wakanda are still under wraps, it’s been confirmed that the heroes of the show will be the Hatut Zaraze, a tribe that head of Marvel television Brad Winderbaum describes as «like Wakanda’s CIA.» This tribe is tasked with recovering stolen Vibranium and Wakandan artifacts. «The Hatut Zaraze are challenged in different ways to stay loyal to Wakanda as they discover the rest of the world around them,» explains Winderbaum.
The Hatut Zaraze are challenged in different ways to stay loyal to Wakanda.
MCU fans were first introduced to the Hatut Zaraze in 2018’s Black Panther, where they were referred to as War Dogs. They first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1998 and have been known by several other names over the years, such as the Wakandan Security Forces and Dogs of War.
3 Eyes of Wakanda Will Be a High-Stakes Spy Story
Espionage Will Be a Big Part of Eyes of Wakanda
While Eyes of Wakanda will explore Wakandan history, it won’t be a dry retelling of the nation’s past. The showrunner has described it as a «giant spy-espionage story» and confirmed that Eyes of Wakanda‘s first episode, «Into the Lion’s Den,» will center on a character named Noni, who is pursuing a man that stole Wakandan tech to start his own kingdom.
Though the story will span centuries, recovering stolen Wakandan technology will be a key plot point in every episode. It sounds like Eyes of Wakanda may channel some of the best scenes from the 2018 Black Panther film, including the high-octane car chase and the casino fight.
2 Eyes of Wakanda Will Include Pirates
A Former Wakandan Guard Will Form His Own Band of Pirates
Another major character in Eyes of Wakanda‘s first episode is the Lion, a former Wakandan guard and general who knows a dangerous amount about how the country operates. This sets the stage for his fracture and rebellion. After leaving Wakanda, he forms his own band of pirates, using the stolen technology he took with him.
Since Lion will have an entire band of pirates at his disposal, recovering the Wakandan technology he’s stolen won’t be easy. Even worse, it appears that Lion is a ruthless fighter who isn’t afraid to ransack towns or threaten the lives of innocents. Lion and his pirates have captured at least one town since he escaped Wakanda, and they might be willing to do even worse.
1 Iron Fist Will Appear in Eyes of Wakanda
This Version of Iron Fist Isn't Danny Rand
Eyes of Wakanda is set to include a familiar Marvel character: Iron Fist. However, the version appearing in the series likely won’t be Danny Rand, who was portrayed by Finn Jones in the Iron Fist Netflix series and The Defenders. During a Q&A session, showrunner Todd Harris confirmed, “There will be an Iron Fist in here, and not the Iron Fist you expect.”
In the comics, the Iron Fist mantle has also been held by a character named Lin Lie, but the version that will appear in Eyes of Wakanda may be a brand-new character. Both versions of Iron Fist get their powers from a mystical force, so it stands to reason that another character could have access to the same abilities. Marvel’s Iron Fist series was poorly received, so a fresh version of the character might be exactly what the MCU needs.
