Lupita Nyong’o is here for the gender equality in Black Panther

Black Panther is clearly going to be many things – politically charged, racially woke, and yes, a film where gender equality just is.

And that’s something that star Lupta Nyong’o is over the moon about.

‘It’s not overstated, it’s just the way things are in Wakanda. That’s a very powerful image, where it’s not about the effort to realise equality, it’s just a state,’ said Lupita.

‘It’s very powerful and that agenda isn’t being pushed, it’s just the way it is.’

Speaking to Popsugar Australia, the Kenyan-Mexican actress revealed that the joy of Wakanda – the fictional African nation where Black Panther is set – is that ‘we see women alongside men, and they’re powerful in their own right, but them assuming their power in no way diminishes the males in their lives’.

‘That’s quite an idyllic situation and one that I hope is inspiring to people and encourages them not to be so afraid of gender equality,’ she added.

Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther – also known as King T’challa – has returned to his technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader, but trouble ensues when two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda.

Black Panther is out in the UK on 13 February 2018.