Following Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing in August 2020, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever left many fans, cast, and crew wondering where the story would be headed next and if it would even continue. Now having completed filming, star Letitia Wright has shared that the upcoming Marvel Studios film is an incredible honor to Boseman.
The Black Panther sequel comes over two years after Boseman's passing due to colon cancer. While many were skeptical whether his iconic role as Black Panther would be recast (Boseman's own brother shared that the former Marvel star would've wanted his role to be recast so the character could live on through younger generations), director Ryan Coogler and many of the producers agreed that the role would not be recast and that they would work around the original script.
Attending the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of her new biographical drama, Silent Twins, Wright teased the upcoming MCU film to Variety, sharing how amidst all the setbacks and production delays, the Black Panther 2 honors Boseman in the best way possible. “It is an incredible honor for Chadwick Boseman, it’s jam packed with exciting stuff,” Wright shared. “We honored him by committing ourselves to the story that he started, the legacy that he started with this franchise, and we just committed every day to working hard, no matter what circumstances we faced — and we faced a lot of circumstances, a lot of difficult situations — but we came together as a team, and we poured everything into this movie, so I’m excited for you to see it.”
Wright, in particular, faced many setbacks, one being an on-set injury that forced production on Black Panther 2 to shut down for a couple of months. But after returning to the set in January, the star looked to continue bringing her character, Shuri, to life, as it seems she plays a much more pivotal role in the upcoming film. Along with Shuri becoming one of the main leads, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will explore more of Wakanda's ancestors and rich history, according to Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige.
With principal photography wrapping up after hectic past few months filled with set injuries and several COVID-19 cases, fans can expect more details, including a possible first teaser trailer, to surface in the coming months, perhaps ahead of Thor: Love and Thunder's release, a film that is rumored to have ties with Black Panther 2. Other returning cast members include Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, and Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi.
New additions include Michaela Coel in an undisclosed role and Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/Ironheart, a genius inventor who creates a suit that rivals Tony Stark's Iron Man armor. A series for Disney Plus titled Ironheart is in development.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is finally set to arrive in theatres on November 11th, 2022.
Source: Variety/Twitter