“Black Panther” is a bonafide smash hit movie and Disney’s latest super-valuable Marvel franchise. The titular character is also generating insane lines at Disneyland, and Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa alter-ego doesn’t even have a ride there — yet.
“Bob Chapek, who runs Parks & Resorts for us, is here today,” Disney Chairman Bob Iger said Monday during his stage time at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. “He was telling me on the plane flying up here this morning that the line to meet the Black Panther character at Disneyland is an hour long.”
The moderator then clarified that there is no “Black Panther” ride at Disneyland.
“No, we haven’t had a chance to build a ride,” Iger answered, “though I’m sure there are people working on it.”
And why wouldn’t they be? With a Marvel Cinematic Universe record $108 million second weekend, “Black Panther” is already up to $400 million in revenue at the domestic box office.
That $108 million is the No. 2 pre-summer second weekend in box office history, behind only “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which hauled in $149.2 million in its frame following its premiere. That’s pretty good company to be in.
Worldwide, “Black Panther” now has a total of $704 million in ticket sales, keeping its overseas drop to 42 percent with $83.8 million grossed in 49 markets.
Cut to: Disneyland breaking ground on “Black Panther” Habitat by sundown.