Director Ryan Coogler disclosed that Chadwick Boseman, due to serious illness, never had a chance to read the full script of the original Ryan Coogler Black Panther sequel before his passing in 2020. Coogler shared this insight while speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, expressing deep regret about the timing and how Boseman’s deteriorating health prevented meaningful collaboration on the project.
“I finished it, and I hit him up to read it, and he was too sick to read, bro. That was kind of how the timing was,”
Ryan Coogler said.
“He was at a place where it wasn’t going to happen.”
– Ryan Coogler, Black Panther Director
Boseman died in August 2020 following a private struggle with colon cancer, a loss that affected both Hollywood and the close-knit Black Panther creative team. Boseman’s death forced a fundamental shift in the film’s direction, ultimately leading Coogler and Marvel to rewrite the sequel entirely.
Original Story Featured T’Challa and His Son
Before Boseman’s death, the early draft for the Black Panther sequel centered on T’Challa, portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, embarking on a significant journey with his eight-year-old son. The narrative followed the two characters as they underwent a traditional Wakandan ritual called the Ritual of Eight, where father and son would spend eight days surviving in the wild without tools. During this rite of passage, they would face an unexpected attack from an alternate version of Namor, who later became the main antagonist in the released film.
“It was insane, and Chadwick was going to kill it, but life goes as it goes,”
Ryan Coogler said.
“I loved that script. I put so much into that version of the movie because I felt like I had gotten to know Chadwick as a performer… I threw a lot at Chad in the first Panther, but I realised I was just scratching the surface.”
– Ryan Coogler, Black Panther Director
Wakanda Forever Shifted Focus After Boseman’s Passing
In the wake of Boseman’s loss, Coogler and his team decided to center Black Panther: Wakanda Forever around Shuri, T’Challa’s sister, played by Letitia Wright. The movie, released in 2022, depicts her journey through grief and responsibility as she seeks to honor her brother’s legacy in Wakanda. Coogler shared that reworking the story to highlight the women of Wakanda became both a challenge and a new source of meaning after Boseman’s death.
“We made a movie about women, and we made that movie while I was nursing a broken heart,”
Ryan Coogler said.
Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter
Ryan Coogler confirmed that another return to Wakanda is underway, with a third Black Panther film in development. Coogler emphasized that the project remains deeply personal to him as a storyteller. Expressing his commitment to the new chapter, he said the motivation and connection to the story continue to drive him despite any outside doubts.
“I got this movie on my heart,”
Ryan Coogler said.
“And yeah, from the outside looking in, you might say, ‘Man, why this f**king dude making another one of those?’ But that’s totally fine, that question makes sense. And it’s my job as a filmmaker to show why.”
– Ryan Coogler, Black Panther Director
So far, Denzel Washington is the only actor officially announced for Black Panther 3, yet details about his character remain unknown. A release date for the anticipated sequel has not yet been provided.
The Lasting Influence of Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman’s legacy continues to shape the trajectory of the Black Panther franchise, as both audiences and creators reflect on his impact. As Ryan Coogler moves forward with new stories set in Wakanda, the series looks to honor Boseman’s memory and adapt to changes brought by his untimely death, keeping the spirit of both T’Challa and Wakanda alive for future films.
