Chicago

‘Wauconda Forever!!!': Chicago-Area Mayor Sees ‘Black Panther' Prank Calls as Tourism Opportunity

The film scored huge on its opening weekend with an estimated $192 million in ticket sales.

While there isn’t an embassy for Wakanda in Lake County, Illinois just yet—the mayor of Wauconda, the very real village about 50 miles north of Chicago, seems happy to field phone calls from those interested in the hyper-advanced yet fictional African nation.

Ever since the premier of Marvel’s office blockbuster “Black Panther” last week, Wauconda’s Mayor Lincoln Knight said the village has been receiving phone calls from fans.

“Yes it's true, our staff at Village Hall has been receiving fun and interesting calls recently regarding ‘Black Panther,’ he said. “It's all good, as we hope that this will bring more people to our great village.”

In the movie, Wakanda is highly advanced nation rich with a mineral known as vibranium—which some Wauconda prank callers have reportedly inquired about—that fuels the country’s extraordinary technology. It is hidden in plain sight by and seen by most of the outside world as an underdeveloped nation of farmers and herders.

The film scored huge on its opening weekend with an estimated $192 million in ticket sales.

According to the Associated Press, the only movies with a higher grossing opening weekend are "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," ''Star Wars: The Last Jedi," ''Jurassic World" and "The Avengers."

Chadwick Boseman plays superhero and African royal T'Challa (Black Panther). The super hero was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966. Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Daniel Kaluuya and Letitia Wright also star in the history-making black-ensemble cast.

The film has received wide praise—including from Knight, who hopes the interest in Wakanda translates to tourism for his village of about 13,000 people.

“Please remember,” the mayor signed off in an email. “Wauconda Forever!!!”

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