We are now just under a month away from the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The much-anticipated sequel takes us back to the mysterious but majestic country of Wakanda. In addition, we will be treated to the introduction of another classic comic book character that actually predates Black Panther by 30 years, Namor – The Submariner. The plot for this new entry showcases Wakanda as a whole dealing with Namor as they grieve the passing of their king, T’Challa, played by the late, great Chadwick Boseman. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed the film’s director and co-writer, Ryan Coogler, original script plans for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever before Boseman’s untimely passing.
Coogler explains,
The script we wrote before Chadwick passed was very much rooted in T’Challa’s perspective. It was a massive movie but also simultaneously a character study that delved deeply into his psyche and situation.”
When the unthinkable happened, Lupita Nyong’o, who plays Nakia, adds, “Losing your centerpiece, everything changed. When you say the world rotated around him, it revolved around him, it did.” Coogler and Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige had ultimately decided not to recast T’Challa and had opted to rewrite the script that acknowledges the massive void in their world. It’s now more about the people of Wakanda as a whole and T’Challa’s legacy as ruler.
Nyong’o supported the decision not to recast and offered her perspective on the situation as it influenced the film, “That is not the death of the Black Panther. That’s the whole point. It’s laying to rest [T’Challa] and allowing for real life to inform the story of the movies. I know that there are all sorts of reasons why people want him to be recast, but I don’t have the patience. I don’t have the presence of mind, or I don’t have the objectivity to argue with that. I don’t. I’m very biased.”
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11.