Filmmaker Ryan Coogler has opened up about the period of “complicated grief” he experienced following the death of actor Chadwick Boseman during the production of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. The film, released in 2022, is a superhero installment based on Marvel Comics featuring Shuri as Black Panther. As the sequel to the 2018 film ‘Black Panther’ and the 30th title in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
With Coogler at the helm, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Joe Robert Cole, the movie stars Letitia Wright as Shuri alongside other notable actors such as Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, and Angela Bassett. Coogler shared with The Hollywood Reporter that the demise of Boseman stopped the film’s production and left the crew in devastation. It was during the film’s making that Coogler realized how significant Boseman’s absence was.
Despite the immense challenge of losing Boseman, Coogler expressed that the process of working on the sequel helped mitigate some of the grief. “Sometimes it’s a relief having something to do, so you can’t sit in that terrible feeling,” Coogler reflected. However, he confessed that his heart broke even more upon the release of ‘Wakanda Forever’ in November 2022, as it reminded him of Chadwick Boseman’s irreplaceable presence.
Nate Moore, a producer involved with both Black Panther projects, spoke of the profound difficulty in continuing the film without Boseman. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Moore revealed that following Chadwick’s unexpected passing, they faced questions of how to proceed, with lingering uncertainty on whether to even continue with the movie. “It felt weird to consider a movie without him because he was so much a part of that character,” Moore stated, highlighting the integral role Boseman played within the Black Panther universe.
The tumultuous journey through ‘Wakanda Forever’s production underscores an emotional chapter for both Coogler and the team. The film’s completion marks not only a creative achievement but also an emotional tribute to Boseman, whose legacy continues to impact his colleagues deeply. The significance of moving forward after such a loss remains not just a professional hurdle but also a poignant personal testament to the resilience and determination of Ryan Coogler and his team.
