Fans gear up for release of Marvel's 'Black Panther'

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The newest film in the Marvel franchise, "Black Panther," opens nationwide on Friday. The superhero movie has attracted huge buzz and is expected to gross over $100 million its opening weekend.

The highly anticipated comic book adaptation stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. The Marvel film franchise is known for debuting movies at No. 1 in the box office, but expectations from fans are higher than usual for "Black Panther."

Fans point to the movie's social message, inclusion of positive women leads and for its majority black cast as reasons for its popularity.

"Black Panther" is rated PG-13 and is directed by Ryan Coogler and stars Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan and Danai Gurira.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Marvel Studios and this station.