Before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Marvel and the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman

Before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Marvel and the Tragic Death of Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman passed away in August 2020 at the age of 43.

Chadwick Boseman passed away in August 2020 at the age of 43.

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After Chadwick Boseman’s tragic death, the question arose: How can a sequel to “Black Panther” be created without the main actor?

The new Marvel work “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” starts in German cinemas on November 9th. Production on the sequel to Black Panther (2018) was rocked in August 2020 by the news that lead actor Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020) passed away at the age of just 43. Boseman embodied the character T’Challa/Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe from 2016 to 2019 – and received his first solo film as the title hero with “Black Panther”.

In the sequel, which Marvel had already announced in 2018, and probably in a third part, Boseman would have played the leading role again without question. Director Ryan Coogler (36) revealed “The Hollywood Reporter” in October 2022: “The screenplay we wrote before Chadwick [Boseman] died, was very much anchored in T’Challa’s perspective”. Coogler had to change this original plan after Boseman’s tragic death. He knew just as little about the serious illness of the star as those responsible at Marvel.

Chadwick Boseman’s handling of his illness

Looking back, and knowing what we know today, Boseman’s final career years seem all the more impressive. In 2016 he was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. The Hollywood star never made that public. According to “The Hollywood Reporter” knew – aside from the star’s family – just a handful of people such as his agent and trainer from Boseman’s diagnosis.

During his treatment, which consisted of multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, Boseman continued to work, completing three Marvel works, including 21 Bridges (2019), Da 5 Bloods (2020) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. (2020) onwards. Legendary director Spike Lee (65), who directed “Da 5 Bloods”, also knew nothing about Boseman’s cancer like Marvel boss Kevin Feige (49).

Boseman himself thought, according to The Hollywood Reporter until about a week before his death in late August 2020 that he would beat cancer. For the shooting of “Black Panther 2” planned for March 2021, he wanted to strengthen his weakened, thin body again and gain weight from September.

Marvel decides against a recast for “Black Panther 2”

Following Boseman’s death and a period of grief, Marvel Studios has made a decision about the future of the character Black Panther and the planned sequel, Black Panther 2. The conceivable option was quickly ruled outto have Boseman appear as a digitally generated double in the sequel. In December 2020, Marvel boss Feige explained: “[Chadwick Bosemans] T’Challa, the Black Panther’s portrayal is iconic, surpassing any version of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past. And because of that, we won’t be recasting the character.”

Like his actor, the character T’Challa in “Wakanda Forever” passed away

Marvel viewers will be treated to a rather unusual film in the superfranchise in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Because the character T’Challa is deceased in the world of film. Exactly how this happened is currently a mystery. However, the trailer for “Black Panther 2” shows the fictional African country of Wakanda in mourning. Brian Davids from The Hollywood Reporter, who has already seen the film, revealed in a tweet: “[‘Black Panther 2’] is heavy and dark in a necessary way, and leaves the characteristic tone of Marvel Studios behind as far as possible”. Instead of the usual colorful slapstick, the tragic death of the real actor Boseman is processed to a certain extent in the pop culture work.

Actress Letitia Wright (29) once again embodies T’Challa’s sister with Shuri in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” – and could even become the new Black Panther in the film. Wright told Variety: “We honor [Chadwick Boseman]by committing ourselves to the history and legacy he started with this franchise”.

Actress Lupita Nyong’o (39), who played T’Challa’s ex-girlfriend Nakia in “Black Panther” and is also back in the sequel, considers a continuation of the story to be “spiritually and emotionally correct”, as she revealed to “Yahoo! Entertainment”.. “Elle” reported Nyong’othat she had originally dreaded a conversation with director Coogler, in which he wanted to present his plans for a second part without Boseman. But then she was very relieved when the filmmaker explained his new idea. “In the face of a deep sea of ​​grief, he offered a raft,” Nyong’o said.

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