'Black Panther' Director on Sabotage Plan: I Welcome All Fans

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“Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler has responded to an Anti-Disney, Anti-Marvel, alt-right-leaning group that was angling to sabotage the upcoming superhero flick’s Rotten Tomatoes audience score.

“For me, I’m looking forward to everybody seeing the film,” Coogler said in an interview with the Huffington Post. “I’m really looking forward to sharing the film with audiences regardless of what their political views are … that’s kind of where I [stand on that].”

When Coogler was asked about his thoughts on Rotten Tomatoes ratings in general, he added, “It … can be an oversimplification of what critics are saying about a movie. It’s quicker to look at the consensus than it is to read the articles. But I’m a person who definitely respects film criticism and draws on it in the filmmaking process.”

Facebook has removed the anti-“Black Panther” page for violating its “community standards” on Friday, a move that occurred after Coogler’s HuffPo interview.

Also Read: Facebook Boots Anti-'Black Panther' Group for Violating Community Standards

Facebook did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on whether the banishment is permanent or on the exact details of the violation.

The group, dubbed “Down With Disney’s Treatment of Franchises and its Fanboys,” had set up an event — “Give Black Panther a Rotten Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes” — with nearly 4,000 members ready to trash “Black Panther” sight unseen.

Wrote the event creator: “Given the massive success of the audience review rigging on the Rotten Tomatoes site for ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi,’ and due to the sudden rise in those disgruntled with Disney business practices among other factors especially due to the corporate manipulations which created falsified bad press for the DCEU, I feel that it’s time to strike back at all those under Disney and bring down the house of mouse’s actions for paying off the critics that hurt DC Comics on film and for other parties affected by them.”

Also Read: 'Black Panther' Rotten Tomatoes Score Sabotage? Anti-Disney Fan Group Takes Aim

A spokesperson for Rotten Tomatoes told TheWrap on Thursday: “We at Rotten Tomatoes are proud to have become a platform for passionate fans to debate and discuss entertainment and we take that responsibility seriously. While we respect our fans’ diverse opinions, we do not condone hate speech. Our team of security, network and social experts continue to closely monitor our platforms and any users who engage in such activities will be blocked from our site and their comments removed as quickly as possible.”

The Ryan Coogler film, reuniting the director with “Creed” star Michael B. Jordan, is set to hit theaters on Feb. 16.

Marvel's 'Black Panther': 15 Things We Know So Far (Photos)

We're still far off from the release of Marvel's "Black Panther," but here's what we know about the film starring Chadwick Boseman so far.
Marvel
"Black Panther" will be about T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who must ascend to the throne of Wakanda when his father is assassinated. The movie picks up after the events in "Captain America: Civil War," in which Boseman made his first appearance as Black Panther.
Marvel
"Black Panther" will be released on February 16, 2018. Ryan Coogler is directing.
Marvel
Zuri (played by Forest Whitaker) is a warrior ally of T'Challa's and was a trusted advisor to the king before he was assassinated.
Marvel
Also returning to Marvel Cinematic Universe is Everett Ross, played by Martin Freeman. Ross had a role in "Captain America: Civil War." He's a the CIA director who worked to get the Avengers to sign onto the Sokovia Accords to limit their actions. At the end of that movie, he took custody of the villain Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl) after the Black Panther stopped him from killing himself.
Marvel
Wakanda is also pretty technologically advanced, despite what the world thinks of it. For one thing, it's the only place on Earth where Vibranium is found -- the indestructible stuff that Captain America's shield is made of, and gives Black Panther's suit its bulletproof properties.
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Michael B. Jordan plays Erik Killmonger -- who became a dissident and then an exile -- in the film. According to Entertainment Weekly, Jordan's character is one of the antagonists of the film.
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Angela Bassett plays Ramonda, queen of Wakanda and T'Challa's mother.
Entertainment Weekly
Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba and Lupita Nyong'o are part of the Dora Milaje, a combination of Special Forces and the Secret Service, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Entertainment Weekly
According to Entertainment Weekly, there will be a big action scene between Nyong'o, Boseman, Gurira and Serkis in a super high-end underground casino in South Korea, reminiscent of "Casino Royale."
Entertainment Weekly
Executive producer Nate Moore told EW that the film pays tribute to two cinematic classics: James Bond and "The Godfather."

“A big, operatic family drama centered on a world of international espionage," he said. "So hopefully we’re getting the best of both worlds.”
Marvel
EW reported that Nyong'o is not only Wakanda's undercover operative Nakia, but also a former lover of T'Challa's.
Marvel
"Get Out" star Daniel Kaluuya plays T'Challa's best friend, who is the head of security for the Border Tribe, executive producer Nate Moore told EW.
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Black Panther's skills include enhanced speed, strength, night vision and healing ability. He has incredible martial arts skills and also has sharp retractable claws.
Marvel
Winston Duke plays M'Baku, also known as Man-Ape, one of the villains T'Challa will most probably fight in the film.
Marvel