CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Pack your bags, everyone!
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is now offering flights to Wakanda, the fictional home of Black Panther.
The movie “Black Panther," much of which was filmed in metro Atlanta, is the blockbuster everyone expected it to be and more: it brought in $192 million at the box office.
Its ties to the area are a big deal. Every blockbuster filmed here puts to work thousands of actors, carpenters, stage designers and others who rely on movie creation for income. The more Georgia is seen as the place where big movies are made, the better the chances more films will be shot here, according to state officials and economic experts.
Four things to know about the movie’s ties to metro Atlanta:
Location, location, location: Location means everything in real estate, but it's also crucial in the movie business. Several locations around metro Atlanta were home to "Black Panther" settings, including the rock quarry at the Vulcan Materials Co. in Stockbridge.
A leader of the Henry County city says several scenes of Wakanda, the fictional home of Black Panther, were shot at the quarry, a source of pride for the south metro community.
Economic muscle: Almost $84 million of "Black Panther's" reported $200 million budget was spent in Georgia. That money was spread throughout the state's entertainment community, but at least $10.8 million went to rental equipment and grips; $9.4 million was spent on lumber, hardware and supplies; $5.6 million on lodging and $2 million on transportation, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Working actors, florists, technicians, etc: A total of 3,100 people working in Georgia's film industry were employed during the shoot, which began in August 2016 and wrapped in November of the following year, the state economic development department said.
Special screenings: It's not unusual for fans to attend special screenings for a much-anticipated film, but dozens were created for "Black Panther" in metro Atlanta because of the region's diversity and the movie's focus on a highly developed African nation. Black Atlantans packed theaters across the metro area in previews and special screenings — often wearing African-inspired clothing — putting thousands into theater coffers and area stores with African attire.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this article.