Exclusive: Director Ryan Coogler talks Black Panther: Wakanda Forever & the process of change
Hitting theaters worldwide on November 11 from Marvel Studios is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to the billion dollars grossing 2018 film Black Panther.
Once again directed by Ryan Coogler from a script he co-wrote with Joe Robert Cole, the returning cast members include Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Winston Duke as M’Baku, and Florence Kasumba as Ayo.
This is the first film without Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa aka Black Panther and passed away from cancer in 2020.
New additions to the cast include Tenoch Huerta as the film’s antagonist, Namor, Dominique Thorne as Ironheart and I May Destroy You creator-star Michaela Coel as Aneka.
Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje, fight to protect their nation of Wakanda from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
For Coogler, to film the sequel following the death of Boseman was a daunting challenge. But along with the cast and crew, they crafted together a storyline to preserve his legacy in the Marvel world while introducing a new storyline and characters.
Blackfilmandtv.com correspondent Sidnee Michelle spoke with Coogler on the process of change.