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Eyes of Wakanda is an upcoming American animated television miniseries developed by Ryan Coogler for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics location Wakanda. It is intended to be one of the television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios Animation, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. It follows Wakandan warriors who retrieved vibranium artifacts throughout history and T'Challa's ancestors. The series is also produced by Proximity Media.

In February 2021, Coogler's overall deal between Disney and Proximity Media was announced. An animated series was revealed to be in development in March 2023, and was officially announced as Eyes of Wakanda in December 2023.

Eyes of Wakanda is scheduled to debut on Disney+ in 2024.

Premise

Eyes of Wakanda follows Wakandan warriors who have traveled the world to retrieve dangerous vibranium artifacts throughout history and T'Challa's ancestors passing down the mantle of Black Panther.^[1][2]

Production

Development

In February 2021, Ryan Coogler, writer and director of the Marvel Studios films Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), announced a five-year television deal between his company Proximity Media and Walt Disney Television. The deal included development of a drama series for Disney+ based in the fictional country of Wakanda, the setting of the Black Panther films. Coogler was set to develop the series alongside Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, and Victoria Alonso.^[3][4] Richard Newby at The Hollywood Reporter opined that the series could expand the mythos of Wakanda in a meaningful way while also being a continuing tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed T'Challa / Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) until his death in August 2020. Newby said the series could potentially explore Winston Duke's M'Baku and the Jabari Tribe, given Duke was one of Black Panther's breakout performers; Erik "Killmonger" Stevens' past as a mercenary; T'Challa's father T'Chaka and his time as Black Panther preventing the colonization of Wakanda; or the Dora Milaje, Wakanda's all-female fighters. Newby also noted new comic book characters that the series could introduce to the MCU, such as Bashenga, the first Black Panther; Queen Divine Justice, an American teenage-activist who joins the Dora Milaje; or Kasper Cole, an NYPD officer who becomes the White Tiger.^[5]

By November 2022, Proximity Media was already developing several series set in Wakanda.^[6] In March 2023, Jeff Sneider reported that Coogler and Disney had discussed developing an animated series with the tentative title The Golden City, a reference to the Wakandan capital city Birnin Zana.^[7][8] At this time, a production listing gave the Wakanda series' working title as Golden City.^[9][8] The following month, Moore said Marvel Studios had discussed multiple ideas for which Black Panther characters could feature in Disney+ series, which they did not want to detract from the "cinematic experience" of the MCU.^[10] In December, Marvel Studios Animation head Brad Winderbaum officially announced the animated series as Eyes of Wakanda, as part of a sizzle reel of the studio's 2024 series.^[1] Eyes of Wakanda explores Wakanda across different time periods, focusing on T'Challa's ancestors, past Black Panthers, and Wakandan warriors.^[1][2] Coogler and Proximity Media were confirmed to be involved in the animated series,^[11][12] and a showrunner had been involved by then.^{[13][third-party source needed]} Deadline Hollywood noted the potential for Eyes of Wakanda to focus on the Dora Milaje and Okoye,^[14] while IGN and ComicBook.com believed Eyes of Wakanda could be the Okoye-led series,^[15][16] but it was unclear if they were the same series.^[17][18] Stephanie Holland at The Root compared the series' premise to the animated Star Wars series Tales of the Jedi, which similarly follows that franchise's characters through its prequel trilogy with different perspectives, believing Eyes of Wakanda could explore younger versions of pre-established characters, such as Okoye's rise to becoming a general and her private relationship with W'Kabi, and the history between T'Challa's parents Ramonda and T'Chaka, as well as Wakanda's involvement in world conflicts at different time periods or its depiction in a period piece.^[19] In January 2024, Todd Harris was revealed to have pitched the series to Marvel Studios and Coogler. He previously served as a storyboard artist at Marvel Studios.^{[12][additional citation(s) needed]}

Writing

Eyes of Wakanda follows the Wakandan warriors who, throughout history, have traveled the world to retrieve dangerous vibranium artifacts,^[1] and it is centered on the legacy of T'Challa, focusing on his ancestors passing down the mantle of Black Panther over generations.^[2] Marc Bernardin, who previously served as a writer on the untitled Captain America–Black Panther video game, wrote two episodes for the series by the time of its announcement in December 2023, having worked on them for nine months during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[20]

Animation

Early work on the animatics, along with character designs, had occurred by the series' announcement in December 2023.^{[13][third-party source needed]}

Release

Eyes of Wakanda is scheduled to debut on Disney+ in 2024.^[21]