Even for Marvel Studios, which has become the film industry’s 800-pound gorilla in the past decade, the release ofBlack Pantherin 2018 was something special. There was a palpable feeling when the film hit theaters. Almost like in the aftermath of an election. A national sigh of relief that after a century of degrading stereotypes, token characters, and underrepresentation in film and television, Hollywood finally invested in a massive blockbuster with a predominantly African American cast and crew. They even threw in a couple of token white characters played by Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis.
With a budget of $200 million,Black Pantherwas backed by the kind of money that, before, had been exclusively reserved for films with predominantly white casts and crews; franchises likeHarry Potter,Pirates of the Caribbean, and even the MCU’sAvengers. That investment paid off big time.Black Panthergrossed $1.3 billion and receiveduniversal praisefrom film critics, a rarity among comic book adaptations. Most importantly,Black Pantherproved the assumption long-held by Hollywood executives and producers, “audiences aren’t interested in Black movies,” incorrect.
In many ways,Black Pantherwas more than just a successful film. It was a bona fide pop culture phenomenon, like the 1977 release of the originalStar Warsfilm on a slightly smaller scale.
Then the cultural elation fromBlack Panthercame crashing down when it was announced in August 2020 that, only two years after the film’s release, its starChadwick Bosemanhad died at 43 due to colon cancer. The announcement led to a widespread outpouring of grief and shock at the untimely death of the actor who received acclaim (along with the entirePanthercast) for his portrayal of King T’Challa. And it put a pause on pre-production for the sequel,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Director Ryan Coogler Rewrote His Initial Script For Wakanda Forever
Among the bereaved wasBlack Pantherdirector Ryan Coogler, who might directAvengers: Secret Wars. After learning of Chadwick Boseman’s passing,Coogler almost quitfilmmaking altogether. Forget about the sequel script he had already begun writing with lines of dialogue for T’Challa that Boseman would never say.
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Speaking toEntertainment Weekly, Coogler said:
“I was at a point when I was like, ‘I’m walking away from this business. I didn’t know if I could make another movie period, [let alone] another Black Panther movie, because it hurt a lot. I was like, ‘Man, how could I open myself up to feeling like this again?'”
Fortunately for fans ofBlack Panther, Coogler ultimately decided to return to his work on the sequel. But he knew it wouldn’t be the same film that he had originally set out to make. It couldn’t be, as Coogler and Kevin Feige were not interested in resurrecting Boseman’s likeness with CGI as LucasFilm had with Carrie Fisher inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker(2019) and Peter Cushing inRogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016).
Not only did Coogler elect to respect Boseman by not bringing his on-screen ghost back to life with modern technology, but he also chose to fully embrace the late actor’s absenceand “channel” Bosemaninstead. And if the official trailer forBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreveris any indication, it looks like Coogler has succeeded in channeling Boseman. By allowing the shadow of the King T’Challa character to loom over the fictional characters just like Chadwick Boseman’s shadow loomed over the real-life cast, Coogler appears to have written an even more compelling story and, hopefully, directed an even better film than the firstBlack Panther.
It is easy these days to feel jaded by Oscar-baiting one-liners in movie trailers designed to grab your attention, as well as the Academy’s. But only the most hardened viewers can deny the grief radiating from Angela Basset’s performance (as Ramonda in the film) when she says in the official trailer, “I am Queen of the most powerful nation in the world! And my entire family is gone! Have I not given everything?”
Clearly, the weight of Boseman’s loss has strengthened all the central performances inWakanda Forever. And how could it not? Speaking to EW,Wakanda Foreverproducer Nate Moore said:
“The movie is very much about how you move forward while dealing with a tragic loss.”
Black Panther’s Female Characters Have Become Central to Wakanda Forever
The phrase, “necessity is the mother of invention” is often thrown around by filmmakers to describe how limited resources and time during production can force them into making creative decisions that wind up making a shot, scene, or even an entire film better than it would have been if they had more time and a larger budget. It appears that Coogler and the entire cast have bottled up all the real-life pain they felt from the terrible loss of the star ofBlack Pantherand unleashed it intoWakanda Forever. They have turned a crutch into a source of strength.
Related:Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Review: A Powerfully Emotional Sequel Transforms the Franchise
A great deal of this strength lies in the female performances, which have become central in the sequel. Speaking on the subject of the female-centric story at a press event for the film, whichScreen Rantreported on, producer Nate Moore said:
“It was just the right story to tell. These were the characters who were most affected by T’Challa’s passing, so we focused on the people who were appropriate. It’s not about pushing women forward or holding men back; it’s about telling the story that is organic. I think sometimes, maybe from the outside, there’s a thought that there are agendas at play.But it’s just telling good stories, and we are blessed with an amazing cast who breathes life into these characters and makes you want to see what’s happening with Shuri or what’s happening with Okoye or what’s happening with Lupita or what’s happened with Ramonda. To not highlight them would have been a disservice to the story, and so I think the movie’s better for it.”
No doubt, Coogler’s initial concept for aBlack Panthersequel, which would have starred Chadwick Boseman, would have been every bit as action-packed and epic as the first film. Probably more so. But it is difficult to imagine how that unmade sequel could possibly have carried the emotional weight from such a deep and real-life loss thatWakanda Forevercarries.
To weigh the sequel against the first film and to honor Chadwick Boseman’s film legacy, come and seeBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverin cinemas this November 11th.
