Black Panther was next level.
It was the highest grossing film in 2018 at the US domestic Box Office and grossed more than $US1.3 billion worldwide.
It was the first feature film from Marvel Studios to receive a best picture nomination and the first Marvel movie to win an Academy Award. It took home three Oscars – for costume design, production design and original score.
The global hit, set in the fictional African country of Wakanda, was lauded for the way it celebrated black excellence.
Next week, the highly anticipated sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will open in cinemas and at last the veil of mystery surrounding the film will be lifted.
But Black Panther's lead Chadwick Boseman, who played King T'Challa, died of colon cancer in 2020, aged 43. Boseman kept his four-year battle with the illness private – his tragic death shocking and saddening fans.
Danai Gurira who reprises the role of Okoye, head of a team of women who serve as special forces in Wakanda – the Dora Milaje, told ABC News the whole purpose of the sequel was to honour Boseman.
"We never knew when the grief would hit harder, depending on what scene you were doing, what particular set you were on, you just never knew when grief would hit," Gurira said.
"But the beauty of it was, we knew our purpose was to honour him.
"And that's really what guided us through the entire process and got us through it."
She said with that objective in mind, there was little room to dwell on the feverish hype surrounding the follow-up to such a monumentally successful film.
"So, the idea of doing this without him was kind of the key thing in our minds, how do we do this? And how do we do this right?
"And I think that overshadowed any concerns about hype.
"There was a larger thing at stake at that point once it was about Chadwick's legacy."
The loss has been incorporated into the story, which is about the Wakandans fighting to protect their country from a new threat and intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death.
Barbados-born pop superstar Rihanna features on the soundtrack with the emotional ballad Lift Me Up, written in tribute to Boseman. It's her first solo track in six years.
Screening events being held across Australia
In Perth, a private screening is being held by Sisters Healing Space, which is an online directory and mental health platform for women from minority and marginalised groups.
Victorian-based filmmaker and youth worker, Ez Eldin Deng will be going to a screening in Melbourne held by event curator Fivedots.
Deng was also at their 2018 screening of Black Panther.
"My heart was beating [faster] basically," Deng said.
"And I'm sure everybody else there's heart was beating [faster].
"And a lot of people were cheering."
This year, the dress code is Angelic Stardust, and is designed to pay tribute to Boseman. People who have lost loved ones recently will also be given the opportunity to honour them.
In Sydney, hosts of the Fufu & Tibs podcast will hold an advance screening in Parramatta in the city's west.
Local artist Agum will perform beforehand.
"It's pretty much a chance to see such a culturally significant film in a culturally safe space," said Fufu & Tibs co-host Rebka Bayou.
Co-host Vanessa Ocansey said it was an opportunity to bring the community together.
"We just saw it as a way to really celebrate black excellence," she said.
"People with the first movie had their own little watch parties, so we just wanted to centralise the experience and make it more impactful."
Gurira said it's vitally important to tell stories from the African diaspora.
"We are an important component of the world, and we've been marginalised," she said.
"And our stories must be told from our perspective.
"And that representation is crucial and vital and always has been, and really, at this point, there should be less resistance to that happening.
"But you'll find that there still is some.
"And so, I'm thankful to be a part of a franchise this large that is telling a black story, because I think it does have impact.
"But we still have a long way to go."
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in cinemas from November 10
