Marvel blockbuster might be up for a 'strange' nomination at the Oscars 2019

The movie which upon its release has been adjudged as both a box office and critical success, seems like the likely candidate to emerge winner of the category for 'Popular Film', a new category added to the Oscars earlier in the month.

The academy has historically shunned superhero movies for the prestigious ''Best Picture'' honours and with the introduction of the new category, critics are already predicting a likely reoccurence.

Marvel is howver refusing to accept what they term ''second-rate popular nonsense''.

According to a Los Angeles Times report, for the first time ever, Marvel has hired a veteran Oscars strategist to lead Black Panther’s campaign for Best Picture success.

Additionally, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is giving the film a “significant” awards season budget to spend before the February ceremony.

“Right now, I think [academy Chief Executive] would crawl in a hole if Black Panther gets snubbed for best picture and winds up landing in the popular film category,” one anonymous Oscars consultant, told the Times.

Feige is also quoted as saying, “I think it would be wonderful, the people behind the camera, the people on screen that acted in the movie, any of them being recognized would bring us great joy because they did tremendous work. And it’s always nice when tremendous work is recognized.''

Black Panther has broken several records since its release, taking the world by storm and surpassing expectations.

In the United States, Black Panther is the third most profitable movie of all time. It has awakened important debates on racism, the repercussions of slavery and the portrayal of ethnic minorities on the big screen.

Globally, the film is ranked in the top ten most profitable films in Hollywood history with a total of $1.3 billion in revenue and boasts of having the best reviews a Marvel film has ever received.