Black Panther 2 takes & Lupita Nyong’o Tells Why It’s So ‘Hard’ To Continue Without Chadwick Boseman
Black Panther 2 takes & Lupita Nyong’o Tells Why It’s So ‘Hard’ To Continue Without Chadwick Boseman
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a massively popular franchise, but certain properties have risen above the rest as fan favorites. Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is definitely in that category, as the 2018 film was an Award Season favorite that broke new ground for the genre. Chadwick Boseman played T’Challa in four installments of the MCU, becoming a real-life hero to many before his unexpected death last summer. A Black Panther sequel is currently in development, and actress Lupita Nyong’o has explained why its so difficult to move on without Boseman.
At the time of his death, Chadwick Boseman’s career seemed limitless. He’d already been an acclaimed actor, balancing the platform of Black Panther with pedigree films like Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Now Ryan Coogler must try to continue the story of Wakanda while properly honouring the late actor. Nakia actress Lupita Nyong’o recently spoke to this emotionally arduous task, saying:
“It’s still so hard for me to come to terms with his passing. His leadership. He led the movie with such compassion and just presence. When Chadwick came on set, he was present and he brought his entire being to that movie. And he was just so humble as well. That leadership will be missed.”
Since Chadwick Boseman’s death, seemingly endless tributes to the actor’s character have poured in. Many Black Panther cast/crew members have echoed this statement: that Boseman led the blockbuster’s cast by example. Wakanda forever, indeed.
Lupita Nyong’o addressed the difficulty of Black Panther 2 while appearing in The Ellen Degeneres Show. The long-running talk show host turned the subject to Nyong’o’s role in the MCU, and specifically what it’s like mourning Chadwick Boseman. Those involved in the franchise are keeping their creative cards close to the chest, while continually reflecting on Boseman’s legacy.
Marvel fans can re-watch Chadwick Boseman’s tenure on Disney+.
Later in the interview, Lupita Nyong’o went on to explain exactly how she’s feeling about Chadwick Boseman’s passing. While grief is ever-changing, the Oscar wining actress was generous enough to share her feelings, saying:
“He was my friend. So it’s hard to think of him in the past. I do know for certain he would want us to do this, and I feel what Ryan Coogler has planned very much honors him and his legacy. So I feel good about going back.”
Everyone involved in Black Panther 2 seems committed to honoring Chadwick Boseman in the upcoming Marvel sequel. Exactly what Ryan Coogler is planning remains a mystery, but it’s sure to make for an emotional experience for the cast and crew. And with so many fans looking up to the late actor as a real-life hero, the importance of Black Panther’s sequel is clear.
One of the biggest questions surrounding Black Panther 2 is which character will take on the Wakandan mantle. There are a number of prime candidates, including Shuri, Okoye, and M’Baku. What’s clear is that Ryan Coogler won’t be recasting T’Challa or bringing Chadwick Boseman back digitally throughout the course of the sequel.
Here’s What We Know
Black Panther 2 will have to crown a new king … or perhaps a queen. The sequel to Marvel’s 2018 blockbuster movie is still moving forward, despite losing star Chadwick Boseman to colon cancer last year. Director Ryan Coogler recently said, “I know Chad wouldn’t have wanted us to stop.”
While the movie will not recast Boseman’s T’Challa, someone else will have to step into the lead. All eyes are on Shuri, played by Letitia Wright. She is T’Challa’s sister, princess of Wakanda and has served as the Black Panther in the comics. Oh, and she’s one of the badass women in STEM in movies.
Whether Wright becomes the new Black Panther is unclear, but Shuri will reportedly take on a bigger role in the sequel. Also expected to return are Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke and Martin Freeman.
The story details around Black Panther 2 are being kept tightly under wraps by Coogler and Marvel (no surprise). All Disney had to say during its Investor Day in December was that the movie would “continue to explore the incomparable world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.”
Black Panther 2 release date
Marvel has slated Black Panther 2 for release on July 8, 2022.
The movie will almost certainly open in theaters and there is very little chance it will stream at the same time on Disney Plus. Marvel is doing a concurrent release with Black Widow this summer, but only because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. With vaccines rolling out and more theaters opening, the summer of 2022 looks to return to the “normal” moviegoing experience.
Black Panther 2 will be one of four Marvel movies opening next year, along with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (March 25, 2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (May 6, 2022) and Captain Marvel 2 (November 11, 2022).
Black Panther 2 cast
Boseman’s untimely passing has left a huge hole in the center of Black Panther 2. Coogler and Marvel have kept quiet about how they plan to address the absence of T’Challa, aka the Black Panther. However, they have adamantly stated that the role will not be recast nor will CGI be used to bring back Boseman.
Fans have speculated Letitia Wright may step up in her role as Princess Shuri. Perhaps the sequel will be more of an ensemble; after all, Disney did emphasize all “the rich and varied characters” to be further explored.
Besides Wright, the cast members expected to return for Black Panther 2 are:
- Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, a War Dog (undercover spy) from the River Tribe
- Angela Bassett as Ramonda, the Queen Mother of Wakanda and T’Challa and Shuri’s mother
- Winston Duke as M’Baku, leader of the Jabari mountain tribe
- Danai Gurira as Okoye, general of the Dora Milaje special forces
- Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, head of security for the Border Tribe
- Forest Whitaker as Zuri, an elder statesman
- Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, a CIA agent
- Florence Kasumba as Ayo, a Dora Milaje warrior
It’s also possible that some events from the Marvel Disney Plus series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier lead into Black Panther 2. Ayo and several Dora Milaje members appear in the show. They are hell-bent on capturing Baron Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) and enacting justice for killing former King T’Chaka. The Winter Soldier himself, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), known as the White Wolf in Wakanda, may also make a return trip.
Some new faces will also join the cast of Black Panther 2. Tenoch Huerta (Narcos: Mexico) will reportedly play one of the villains.
Black Panther 2 plot
Almost nothing is known about the story or plot of Black Panther 2. Coogler may still be writing the script. According to The Hollywood Reporter, filming on the sequel doesn’t start until July.
Feige has dropped some tidbits that seem more like musings than hints. For instance, he hinted that future projects could explore Wakanda’s past.
“There’s that moment where all of the ancestors come behind T’Chaka,” he recalled to Entertainment Weekly. “We would joke and go, ‘I want to see… what’s their story? What’s that story? Who was Bashenga, the first king of Wakanda? Who’s that third to the left, behind T’Chaka? What was their story in Wakanda in 1938? That would be cool’.”
Then again, that could be the era explored in the Wakanda TV series that Disney Plus is developing.
For now, we don’t know much, but stay tuned as more details slowly filter out in the coming months.
The next instalment in the MCU is Black Widow on July 9th.
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