• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Culture

'Black Panther' stars discuss film's impact at SAG Awards as film returns to theaters for free for Black History Month

3:44
Backstage with the stars at the SAG Awards
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
ByHayley FitzPatrick
January 28, 2019, 9:06 PM

Marvel Studios' "Black Panther" had a remarkable night at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, taking home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Backstage, cast members told ABC News' Chris Connelly how much the win meant to them.

"It's pretty incredible honestly," actor Michael B. Jordan, the film's villain, Erik Killmonger, told Connelly.

"You get up every day, every morning, get a chance to do what you love to do with people that you call your family, you know?" he continued.

Related Articles

(MORE: 'Black Panther' takes home top prize at SAG Awards)

"It was a family affair -- from Ryan Coogler, to Marvel, to Chadwick and everybody else on the cast, to the wardrobe, the set designers," he added. "Honestly every day we were all involved with the process to create this -- this thing that has made such an impact on people across the world."

"It also felt like a welcome," another one of the film's stars, Danai Gurira, said. "You know what I mean? Like we were being -- we were welcomed. And when we got up there, I remember I was very moved by how everyone was standing."

"You're in a room with people you do respect and admire and you have for -- possibly all your life," she continued. "It felt like they were welcoming us into the community in a really beautiful way."

Lupita Nyong'o spoke about the meaning attached to her part in the film.

"It's been moving to be able to be someone's role model, to be someone -- an example -- for someone who may not have had very many examples -- that are my complexion, you know?" she told Connelly. "And hopefully with a film like this we get more."

Related Articles

(MORE: What 'Black Panther' means to boys and girls of all ages, races and genders)

Angela Bassett, who played Queen Ramonda, said she didn't know if she would ever see a moment like this in her lifetime.

"I never thought I'd have an opportunity to be here, to embrace one of those statues," she said.

Editor’s Picks

Angela Bassett says she's ready to 'throw down' in 'Black Panther' sequel

  • Jul 24, 2018

'Black Panther' takes home top prize at SAG Awards

  • Jan 28, 2019

What 'Black Panther' means to boys and girls of all ages, races and genders

  • Feb 15, 2018

"But it's a community. It's a community of actors. It feels like it's a family, right?" she continued. "It really is. And some of them are members whose work you admire, who you may never have an opportunity to work with, but you admire. And, as you said, they're standing there because they've been watching you as well."

During the acceptance speech for the film's big win, Chadwick Boseman delivered a powerful message about what he's taken away from the film's massive success.

"When I think of going to work every day -- and the passion, the intelligence, the resolve, the discipline that everybody has shown -- I also think of two questions that we all have received during the course of multiple publicity runs," he said. "One is, 'Did we know that this movie was going to receive this kind of response?'"

"The second question is, 'Has it changed the industry? Has it actually changed the way this industry works and how it sees us?'" he continued. "And my answer to that is to be young, gifted and black."

"To be young, gifted and black, we all know what it's like to be told that there is not a place for you to be featured ... we know what it's like to be beneath and not above, and that is what we went to work with every day because we knew ... that we had something special that we wanted to give the world," he added.

The movie will return to theaters on Feb. 1 -- for one week -- in honor of Black History Month.

Fans can see the film for free at 250 participating AMC Theaters locations.

Marvel and ABC News are both owned by parent company Disney.

Editor’s Picks

Angela Bassett says she's ready to 'throw down' in 'Black Panther' sequel

  • Jul 24, 2018

'Black Panther' takes home top prize at SAG Awards

  • Jan 28, 2019

What 'Black Panther' means to boys and girls of all ages, races and genders

  • Feb 15, 2018

Up Next in Culture—

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' reboot casts Ryan Kiera Armstrong in lead role

May 15, 2025

Gary Sinise says he's unsure about returning to acting after son's death

May 15, 2025

Smokey Robinson faces criminal investigation after sexual assault allegations

May 15, 2025

Daughtry to replace 3 Doors Down on tour amid Brad Arnold's cancer treatment

May 15, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News