Chad’s death shocked everybody ... it kind of bonded people more
THE BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER CAST DISCUSS LIFE AFTER CHADWICK BOSEMAN AND THEIR DETERMINATION TO BUILD ON HIS ICONIC MARVEL CHARACTER’S LEGACY. BY DANIELLE DE WOLFE
FOR fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was always set to be the ultimate tribute.
A tribute to a character who embodied black empowerment and helped transform the franchise into a cultural phenomenon. A tribute to an actor whose untimely death from colon cancer at the age of 43 sent shockwaves across the film industry – and beyond.
The question of recasting King T’challa following the death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 was never on the cards.
“The shock turned into what do we do? What should we do? Should we do anything?” admits Black Panther producer Kevin Feige, 49.
“And I think relatively soon, it was determined that this amazing ensemble of characters and this world that had been created on screen needed to continue.”
Describing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as “a celebration” of both the nation of Wakanda and Chadwick’s character, the highlyanticipated sequel sees the UN urging the country to share rights to the precious metal vibranium.
A flying immortal Mayan merman called Namor comes to the surface from his hidden underwater kingdom. His civilisation has also been built on vibranium and he fears the ‘surface world’ will colonise his people, just as the Spanish conquistadors did with his ancestors. He offers T’challa’s mother and sister, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and Shuri (Letitia Wright), an ultimatum – join him in waging war against the world or become his enemies.
Martin Freeman returns as Everett Ross, a former CIA operative and deputy task force commander for the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre.
“This is the third film I’ve played Everett [in] and I like the way he fits in,” says Martin, 51, known for his roles in Fargo and The Hobbit.
“You’re not sure if he’s going to be a friend or foe – and he turns out to be a sort of a friend, but I don’t know, like a good friend who is not all warm and cuddly but kind of straight. And I like that.”
As is the case with his fellow cast and crew members, the Emmy and Bafta-winning British actor notes the distinctive Boseman-shaped hole that was clearly visible behind-the-scenes.
“Chad’s death really shocked everybody. I mean, I wasn’t just affected by sadness, it was a real shock,” says Martin.
Describing the way in which the production had “lost an absolutely pivotal member of the team”, he recalls how the gap between the actor’s death and filming restarting for the second instalment allowed for the sorrow to “settle a little bit”.
“The truth is, you can’t start the day, every day, thinking about this terrible tragedy that has happened,” says The Office and Sherlock star.
“It was no question that was permeating what was going on ... it was strange, but I think that kind of bonded people more actually.”
Martin’s character has, in the past, been labelled a “coloniser” by Shuri, played by Small Axe star Letitia. But after the young genius saved his life during the first Black Panther movie, Everett went on to aid T’challa as an owed favour.
Wakanda Forever is an impassioned film that sees contrasting reactions to grief. Some characters turn it into anger while others channel their loss into aiding the greater good. For Shuri, sharing the land of Wakanda’s vibranium wealth – a rare and powerful natural metallic ore – with the rest of their world becomes the priority.
“I love Shuri in the first one because there was no limit to her,” says the 29-year-old Emmy-nominee.
“We meet her in the first film and she is that ray of sunshine. She’s so clothed and protected in royalty and love. And proud of her big brother taking the step, following on his father’s legacy.”
Describing her character Shuri as T’challa’s “protection”, “his armour”, Letitia says her character’s “genius” was allowed to thrive thanks to the
The shock turned into what do we do? ... Should we do anything? Producer Kevin Feige
encouragement of her on-screen family.
“We follow on from that. What does that look like, when your heart is broken?” says Letitia, nodding to the loss of T’challa.
“Hopefully, people can really resonate with that and find some healing, you know, alongside us, with it.”
With the first Black Panther film grossing more than £1.3 billion worldwide, the follow-up is certainly under pressure to compete.
Investigating ties to race and heritage, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduces a new set of characters to cinema audiences this time around.
London-born Michaela Coel, writer and star of I May Destroy You, appears as Dora Milaje warrior Aneka, while Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta takes on the role of Namor, the mutant leader of a kingdom based on Mayan and Aztec influences.
“It is tricky, when you have a character like this, because you are the antagonist,” smiles The Forever Purge star, 41.
“A lot of people feel identification with Wakanda – and I include myself in Wakanda, and the narrative and representation and everything. So, now I have to play the bad guy who destroys, or tries to destroy, that legacy.”
■ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in cinemas now