With the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on the horizon, the absence of Chadwick Boseman is striking. The decision not to recast Boseman’s T’Challa after the actor’s untimely passing in 2020 and instead writing his death into the sequel’s script has been applauded by the cast for honoring his memory in a way that allows space for their real-life grief.
Letitia Wright, who plays T’Challa’s younger sister Shuri, says that the decision also was important to the genuine growth of her character—almost certainly the next person to don the Black Panther suit.
Speaking at a press event ahead of Wakanda Forever’s premiere, Wright says she had a “heart-to-heart” with director Ryan Coogler about how to move forward while trying to honor Boseman’s legacy every step of the way.
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Part of the conversation, Wright says, was figuring out how the young, “protected” Shuri would handle the heartbreak of grieving her older brother.
Wright Hopes Wakanda Forever Will Resonate with Grieving Fans
Marvel Studios
Once Wright and Coogler figured out what was next for Shuri, the actress says she felt she was able to give her character a truthful, “full arc.”
“I think it was just Ryan’s guidance on how do we create a full arc of this human being; of this young woman going through something alongside her fellow family members in general, and Wakandans.
I think the way it was written, and the delicacy and gentleness of how we approached it, [showed that] we always communicated at every step of the way. We were able to bring something that felt real; that felt truthful, and I was able to really give my heart to it and give Shuri a full arc.”
Ultimately, Wright says that she hopes the sequel will bring some healing to the fans that are grieving Boseman alongside his loved ones.
“Hopefully, people can really resonate with that and find some healing alongside us with it,” she said.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on November 11.
This story comes to us from ScreenRant.
