| Eyes of Wakanda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Todd Harris |
| Based on | Wakanda by |
| Developed by | Ryan Coogler |
| Showrunner | Todd Harris |
| Directed by | Todd Harris |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney+ |
| Related | |
| Marvel Cinematic Universe television series | |
Eyes of Wakanda is an upcoming American animated television miniseries created by Todd Harris for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics location Wakanda. It is intended to be the 15th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from Marvel Studios and is produced by Marvel Studios Animation with Proximity Media. The series shares continuity with the films of the MCU. It follows the Hatut Zaraze, Wakandan warriors who carry out dangerous missions throughout history. Harris served as showrunner and director.
The series stars Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint, and Anika Noni Rose. In February 2021, an overall deal between Disney and Ryan Coogler's Proximity Media was announced. An animated series about Wakanda was in development by March 2023, and was officially announced as Eyes of Wakanda that December. Harris's involvement was revealed in March 2024. Unlike Marvel Animation's other series to that point, Eyes of Wakanda is set in the MCU's "Sacred Timeline" and has greater connections with the franchise's films.
Eyes of Wakanda is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on August 6, 2025, and will consist of four episodes. It will be the first series of Phase Six of the MCU.
Premise
The Hatut Zaraze, Wakandan warriors, carry out dangerous missions around the world to retrieve vibranium artifacts throughout history.
Cast and characters
- Winnie Harlow
- Cress Williams as the Lion
- Patricia Belcher
- Larry Herron
- Adam Gold
- Lynn Whitfield
- Jacques Colimon
- Jona Xiao
- Isaac Robinson-Smith
- Gary Anthony Williams
- Zeke Alton
- Steve Toussaint
- Anika Noni Rose
The Wakandan fighter Noni will appear, along with an Iron Fist, a warrior with a "glowing fist".
Production
Development
In February 2021, Ryan Coogler—writer and director of the Marvel Studios films Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)—announced a five-year television deal between his company Proximity Media and Walt Disney Television. The deal included development of a drama series for the streaming service Disney+ based on the fictional country of Wakanda, the setting of the Black Panther films. Coogler was developing the series with Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, and Victoria Alonso. Richard Newby at The Hollywood Reporter said the series could expand the mythos of Wakanda while also paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed T'Challa / Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) until his death in August 2020. Newby suggested that the series could further explore the character M'Baku and the Jabari Tribe; N'Jadaka / Erik "Killmonger" Stevens's mercenary past; T'Challa's father T'Chaka and his time as Black Panther; or the Dora Milaje, Wakanda's all-female special forces. Newby also noted several comic book characters that the series could introduce to the MCU: Bashenga, the first Black Panther; teenage-activist Queen Divine Justice who joins the Dora Milaje; or NYPD officer Kasper Cole / White Tiger, who also takes on the mantle of Black Panther.
Proximity Media was developing several series set in Wakanda by November 2022. In March 2023, journalist Jeff Sneider reported that Coogler and Disney were developing an animated series with the tentative title The Golden City, referring to the Wakandan capital city Birnin Zana; a production listing gave Golden City as the working title for the initial Wakanda-set drama series. The following month, Marvel Studios executive Nate Moore said they had discussed multiple ideas for featuring Black Panther characters in Disney+ series but they were wary about detracting from the "cinematic experience" of the franchise. In December, Marvel Studios Animation head Brad Winderbaum officially announced the animated series Eyes of Wakanda as part of a sizzle reel of the studio's upcoming series. It was revealed to focus on the stories of different Wakandan warriors throughout history. Coogler and Proximity Media were confirmed to be involved, and a showrunner was working on the series by then. Commentators discussed whether it was the same as a previously-reported series focused on the Dora Milaje character Okoye. Stephanie Holland at The Root compared the series' premise to the animated Star Wars series Tales of the Jedi (2022), which similarly follows different characters at different times.
Former Marvel Studios storyboard artist Todd Harris was revealed in January 2024 to have pitched the series to Marvel and Coogler. Ideas for it began during the filming of Black Panther. Later in 2024, Winderbaum said Harris created and directed the series, and he was confirmed to be the showrunner in January 2025. Harris was also an executive producer alongside Coogler, Winderbaum, Feige, D'Esposito, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Kalia King, and Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt. Marvel Studios reportedly spent nearly $20 million between June 2022 and June 2023 on an animated series that was believed to be Eyes of Wakanda.
Writing
Eyes of Wakanda follows the Hatut Zaraze, Wakandan warriors who travel the world throughout history to retrieve dangerous vibranium artifacts. It is centered on the legacy of the Black Panther as that mantle is passed down over generations, and on the idea that Wakanda is "untethered by expansion" and hidden from the rest of the world. Harris said the Hatut Zaraze were "Wakanda's CIA" whose loyalty is tested on their missions. The series is set in the MCU's "Sacred Timeline" along with the films and live-action series, differentiating it from Marvel Animation's earlier series which are set in alternate universes from the main MCU. The creative team worked back from the "existing framework" of the films when developing the series' stories. Marc Bernardin, who worked as a writer on the video game Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra (2025), wrote two episodes by December 2023. He worked on them for nine months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Matthew Chauncey also wrote for the series after doing so for the Marvel Studios series What If...? (2021–2024) and Ms. Marvel (2022).
Casting and voice recording
Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint, and Anika Noni Rose were revealed to have been cast in the series in November 2024. Cress voices a character called the Lion.
Animation
Eyes of Wakanda features a hand-painted animation style inspired by contemporary African-American artists such as Ernie Barnes, as well as illustrator Dean Cornwell. Work on character designs and animatics occurred by the series' announcement in December 2023. Harris said the ambitious series could only be made with animation due to the locations and time periods depicted, explaining that in animation "Egypt costs just as much as New York City, and the Moon costs just as much as Ohio".
Marketing
Eyes of Wakanda was promoted by Coogler and Harris during Marvel Studios Animation's panel at the D23 convention in August 2024, where footage was shown. Footage from the series was included in a video that was released by Disney+ in October, announcing the release schedule for Marvel Television and Marvel Animation projects through the end of 2025.
Release
Eyes of Wakanda is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on August 6, 2025, and will consist of four episodes. It was previously scheduled to be released in 2024. It will be the first series of Phase Six of the MCU.
References
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- Commentary on the series' announcement and relation to the previously reported Okoye series:
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