It’s been years since I was overly excited about a movie coming out. The last time I counted down the days for a movie premiere, I couldn’t wait to see if the lead character chose a werewolf or a vampire as her forever partner. Yup, it’s been that long! Black Panther has changed all of that. From the moment I saw the first trailer months ago, I was ready. I held my breath and didn’t exhale until it was over. A longer trailer almost made me pass out with excitement. I seriously can not wait for the movie to come out on February 16, 2018!

Here are 4 basic facts about the Black Panther movie that you need to know.

What is Black Panther about?

From the studio: Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

When does Black Panther come out?

Black Panther opens on February 16, 2018.

Who stars in Black Panther?

• Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther: The king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda.
• Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger: A Wakandan exile who seeks to overthrow T’Challa.
• Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia: T’Challa’s former lover and an undercover operative of the Dora Milaje, the all-female special forces of Wakanda who serve as T’Challa’s bodyguards.
• Danai Gurira as Okoye: An “extremely proud” Wakandan and traditionalist from the Border Tribe, who is the head of the Dora Milaje.
• Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross: A member of the CIA’s Joint Counter Terrorism Center.
• Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi: A confidant to T’Challa and his best friend, who is the head of security for the Border Tribe, serving as the first line of defense for Wakanda.
• Letitia Wright as Shuri: T’Challa’s sister and the princess of Wakanda who designs new technology for the country.
• Winston Duke as M’Baku: A powerful, ruthless warrior who is the leader of Wakanda’s mountain tribe, the Jabari, who are in protest to T’Challa being the new king.
• Angela Bassett as Ramonda: T’Challa’s mother and Queen Mother of Wakanda.
• Forest Whitaker as Zuri: An elder statesman in Wakanda, and the keeper of the Heart-Shaped Herb.
• Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue: A black-market arms dealer, smuggler and gangster working out of South Africa.

What is the Black Panther movie based on?

Black Panther the movie is based off of the Marvel comic by the same name. The comic was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It is the first depiction of an African superhero in American comics.