As Marvel's next film from their superhero franchise, Black Panther, gears up for release on February 16, the director of the film Ryan Coogler opens up about the close connection between Black Panther and Captain America in the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU). 

In 2016, the MCU welcomed T'Challa/Black Panther and introduced him to the world through the film Captain America: Civil War. 

Coogler feels that Black Panther's appearance in Captain America: Civil War was "a great jumping off point."

"I would say that Cap's universe and Black Panther's universe are closely related. Some writers in the past hinted at that more than others," Coogler said in a statement. 

"You have the visible vibranium connection and you have the super soldier connection in the movies. Captain America tends to be a character who's easily defined. For Cap it is black and white; there's right and there's wrong. He's a soldier. Whereas Black Panther exists in the gray area. In addition to being a soldier, he has a more important job; being a politician. He's constantly making these choices in the fog of politics and in the fog of war," he added.

Set shortly after Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther will see T'Challa returning home to the isolated, technologically-advanced African nation of Wakanda to become the king.