Lupita Nyong’o reflects on making Wakanda Forever after losing Chadwick Boseman
"He was with us," Nyong'o says of making the Black Panther sequel following Boseman's death
Aux News Chadwick Boseman
Marvel’s slate of major announcements at San Diego Comic-Con made a huge buzz, but the teaser for the highly anticipated Black Panther sequel might be the most exciting of all. Still, the new Wakanda Forever footage is somewhat bittersweet given that T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) looms so large over the story.
“It’s been a doozy of a few years for everybody,” Lupita Nyong’o tells The Hollywood Reporter. “For us as a cast, having lost our king, Chadwick Boseman, that was a lot to process, and in many ways, we’re still processing it. When you lose someone, I don’t know when you stop missing them. And of course, we felt it so much, making this film without him.”
The actor, who plays T’Challa’s love interest Nakia, continues, “To make this film against all odds is a powerful statement unto itself, and I am very proud that we did it. It was very therapeutic. It restored a sense of hope for me in making it, and I think we’ve expanded the world of Wakanda in ways that will blow people’s minds—not just Wakanda, but the Black Panther world. It’s gonna blow people’s minds, and I just cannot wait until it’s not a secret anymore.”
The question on everyone’s minds: Who is the new Black Panther, seen briefly at the end of the teaser? Of course, Marvel will keep that info safely locked down until the film premieres in November. But Nyong’o told MTV News on the SDCC red carpet that the production honored the original Black Panther both on screen and behind the scenes.
“Our call sheets didn’t have a #1. That was reserved for Chadwick. He was with us,” she said. “This script… when you take your pain and make something beautiful out of it, it resonates. And I think that’s what people were feeling in Hall H today, and I hope that’s what people will continue to feel as they see a little bit more and finally get to see the movie.”
15 Comments
STOP OPENING SEPARATE TABS
I’d bet it probably because it creates inflated viewing numbers.
She’s gotta be the new Black Panther, right?
Either her or Shuri seems the most likely to me. I can see an argument for both. I’ve even seen the argument that it will literally be both, perhaps with others getting suits too.
I like the idea of Black Panthers, but that sorta dilutes the Dora Milaje, i think.
I HOPE the movie doesn’t end with the reveal of the new Black Panther: a multiverse version of Killgore. But seeing as how this ends Phase 4, it doesn’t seem out of the question that they’d do that leading into the Multiverse Saga.
Look, I’m as onboard with making Nakia the next Black Panther as the next fellow, but if there’s even a chance to bring Kilgore Trout into the MCU, I think we’ve got to take it.
Whoops! So it goes…
i’m hoping it’s Michella Cole’s character, since im a big fan of hers. but if they follow the comics, then it will be Shuri or maybe there will be more than one, like a collective.
She’s playing Aneka, she’s wearing midnight angel armor in the trailer, and it looks like there’s a quick shot of Ayo (Florence Kasumba) in armor, too.
I doubt they’ll go with Shuri, if the stories about Wright’s anti-vax stance delaying production on this one are true.
Why not Killmonger?
I certainly hope so.
Yeah, it better be Lupita.That would certainly make the most sense for Marvel from a business standpoint. She’s also probably the best actor out of the choices available.
You know how everyone was making fun of A-Train in the latest season of The Boys because he was so over-the-top GO AFRICA with his goofy costume and the fact that he was using it all as a marketing ploy? Wakanda Forever is 10X worse.
What if Black Panther dies at the beginning, and we just see T’CHalla in the CG suit dying… and so that’s who we see in the trailer… and then there is no Black Panther for the rest of the movie…