Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Danai Guria shares and elaborates on how the film’s newest cast members participated in helping the returning cast members mourn and pay homage to the late Chadwick Boseman.
Quickly following its epic 2018 release, Black Panther became an instant classic and success amongst critics and fans alike. Black Panther introduced the fictional African nation of Wakanda to audiences, along with shining a spotlight on Boseman's titular character. The very first Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer was just released during Marvel Studios' San Diego Comic-Con panel this past weekend. This short preview finally gave fans a first look at what the highly anticipated sequel will be like without the beloved star. Although the trailer is careful to not give away too many spoilers, it does mark the return of Danai Guria, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong'o, and Angela Basset, who are all set to reprise their iconic roles.
However, the clip is also intentional about welcoming and ushering in new characters played by Dominique Thorne and Michaela Coel into the world of Wakanda. The release of this trailer signals the end of a very long, difficult road to getting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever made. Not only did the film experience many unforeseen tragedies such as Boseman's unexpected death, but the COVID-19 pandemic also brought in its fair share of obstacles and shutdowns when it came to production matters. Now, in a brand-new interview with Variety, Gurira breaks down how it really felt to return to set without Boseman, reiterating that the loss of Boseman affected every single person on set completely differently, right down to the camera crew. She went on to share that newcomers Thorne and Coel did play a very important role in bringing support and building up the spirits of returning cast members during particularly triggering days on set.
“We didn’t know when and how it was going to hit us, it hit us in various ways and at various moments. Sometimes just walking onto the stage and hearing Ryan [Coogler] talk before that, we were getting hit, like, watching it, and there are various moments where you’re just being hit by that," Gurira said. "It was beautifully said by Dominique [Thorne] and by Michaela [Coel] that they really were supportive of us. There was a really hard day that I had on set, and she was there for me." Gurira continued by noting that the new cast members ultimately became members of their Black Panther family, saying, "You just never knew when it was going to be a really hard day, and so they were really amazing, our new family. They understood they were in a place where grief was happening, and they really held us up. We got a great new family."
Boseman's sudden and tragic death gripped the nation and shocked millions of fans worldwide due to him keeping his cancer diagnosis completely hidden from the public. He was not known to reveal much of his personal life, but when it came to the roles he portrayed throughout his career, it’s obvious Boseman put every ounce of heart, dedication, and passion he had within him into any role he took on. With his legacy leaving such an imprint on not only fans but also the Hollywood stars he had worked with or connected with throughout his journey, many were perplexed as to how Marvel Studios would carry out a sequel without his presence.
The new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer does hint at how the movie plans to tackle and deal with Boseman's death, showcasing a huge mural on the wall of a building that pays tribute to Wakanda's legendary hero. It’s clear that all of the new stars who were stepping onto the set knew exactly the amount of grief and pain the entire cast, crew, and fan base were still undergoing - knowing intuitively that it’s a long, nonlinear process. Without a doubt, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be an emotional, heart-tugging film, just for the simple fact that Boseman's irreplaceable presence will be greatly missed.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is scheduled to release in theaters on November 11, 2022.
Source: Variety