When Black Panther is released in 2018 it will be the eighteenth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some may think it a nearly insurmountable challenge to keep the film from being just more of the same, but that's now how director Ryan Coogler sees it.

Speaking to ComicBook.com, Coogler listed several ways in which the film differentiates itself not just from Marvel movies but from other movies as well.

“I would say cultural aspects is a big thing,” Coogler says. “Obviously, T’Challa is an African king and there haven't really been many movies made about that at all in any genre. When you look at the movies in the Marvel universe automatically, off the bat, that’s going to make that very different.

"But I also think that this movie has a lot of weird combinations," he continues. "We’re dealing with a guy who’s royal, like Thor, but he’s from Earth, which changes things. It gives it context and grounds it in a way. Even though we’re doing a lot of fantastical elements, fantastical technology, it still kind of grounds it in a way that’s very unique. So you have these things that are working at opposite ends."

In addition to all of that, Black Panther may be the most culturally relevant of all the Marvel Studios movies.

"It also looks at a lot of things that are topical in the climate right now that you might have to stretch to apply in a science fiction film or in a film that’s a little more fantastical," Coogler explains. "For this, you kind of wear it on the surface, which is really interesting. It makes it different."

Black Panther currently has a 4.03 out of 5 ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating making it the sixth most anticipated upcoming comic book movie among ComicBook.com readers. Let us know how much you're looking forward to Black Panther by giving it your own personal ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating Below.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

Black Panther is directed by Ryan Coogler from a screenplay by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.

Black Panther opens in theaters on February 16, 2018.