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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marks the conclusion of Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase IV and serves as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, the first star to portray Black Panther on the big screen.
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje must defend Wakanda after the departure of King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). The group of heroes, with the help of Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), seeks a new path for the kingdom. The situation becomes more complicated when Namor (Tenoch Huerta), the ruler of the underwater nation, and his army emerge.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had its late October premiere in the U.S., receiving early positive reviews. Many renowned critics praised it as Marvel Studios' most emotionally rich film. The film excelled in script development, creating a grand world on screen alongside impressive performances. Wakanda Forever fully pays tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.
On the early release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in theaters starting from 9/11, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, director Ryan Coogler, and the main cast held a press conference with the participation of numerous international media outlets. During the event, the stars shared about the void left by Chadwick Boseman's sudden departure and how they collectively overcame and incorporated those experiences into the film.
The film shares the sense of loss with those left behind
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever comes to life four years after the first film. The extended gap, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was further prolonged by the sudden passing of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman on August 28, 2020. Losing the lead actor led to a temporary halt in the entire production plan for the sequel.
During the press conference, President Kevin Feige was questioned about the challenges the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever team faced after Boseman's death and the abrupt loss of the film's male lead. Feige shared, “Our shock and grief very quickly turned to what are we going to do and how are we going to do it next. Very quickly, we realized that these amazing characters and the world that had been created on screen needed to be continued.”
“Ryan spent a year writing the script – the initial version featuring T’Challa. It could be seen as the crystallization of the experiences he gained from producing the first Black Panther . But then we lost Chad. That loss is, of course, also reflected in the movie. This is a work that honors Wakanda, praises pioneering individuals, and alongside that, conveys mourning,” the President continued.
Producer Nate Moore added, “We wanted to be as honest as we could with the characters' emotions after T’Challa's departure. It's not just grief. Sometimes it's jubilation, other times it's humor; an amalgamation of emotions that everyone feels when experiencing profound loss. We're not just talking about the people of Wakanda – a community profoundly soaked in palpable pain – but also the loss of Namor and Talokan as their homelands are no more.”
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , the central role of the story is handed to female characters. This stirred concerns that the brand had 'lost its essence' as Black Panther originally revolved around the Black Panther - a man donning the Panther suit to protect his people. However, from the creators' perspective, both Moore and director Ryan Coogler opposed this line of thinking.
Nate Moore shared, “We sought characters suitable for our storyline. The female characters in this film are profoundly impacted by T’Challa's death. The story isn't about placing women at the forefront or pushing men to the background. The focus of the matter is telling a naturally unfolding story. I know there are people out there wanting to bring this issue up for debate. But we're just telling a good story.”
From my perspective, director Ryan Coogler describes T'Challa's departure as a catastrophic emotional tsunami: “The sudden departure of a beloved person is like a tidal wave of emotions crashing down on us. At that moment, those closest will be the most severely affected victims. Wakanda Forever is the exploration of the story of those people - a character group whose identities are almost entirely built around T'Challa.”
He analyzes: “Take Shuri, for example. She lived her entire life with a brother by her side. When her brother passed away, she lost the concept of who she is. That's something we realized while crafting the script, and successfully brought to the screen.
You know, Shuri identifies herself as T’Challa's sister, the one who protects and watches over him. So when her brother is no more, she's like a kite without a string. Everyone goes through death, but when it happens to you, the loved ones left behind fall into a state of panic, feeling lost. That's the aspect we want to focus on illuminating rather than the women in power narrative.”
The loss connects everything
During the press conference, actress Letitia Wright shared that before the film went into production, she and director Ryan Coogler had many heartfelt discussions about how to move the Black Panther film brand forward. Both were cautious because, in their conversations, emotions couldn't be concealed.
“Ryan was almost monologuing, introducing to me how the characters would be different and how the world in the work would expand a bit. But at the same time, he also talked about how we would evolve,” said Wright.
The actress describes the changes in Shuri's personality: “Each of us will choose different paths in life, and Shuri is no exception. She appeared sweet and vibrant like morning sunshine in the first film, surrounded by love and royalty. Shuri takes pride in her brother, proud when he becomes the heir to the legacy left by their king. Her passion is creativity. I loved Shuri in the first film because, for her, limits seemed not to exist.”
Wright continues to pose the question: “She's the kind of person a brother would turn to for protection, I mean, the Panther suit. And he encourages his sister to do so. Shuri's family encourages her to become a genius inventor with loyalty and talent. The film continues to develop the character from this model. How will she be when her heart shatters?”
The actress describes her character as a young girl dealing with countless storms. “I think Shuri's story has been delicately and gently written. We always talk, exchange ideas in every stage of the production process, and the result is a truthful, persuasive work. I was given the opportunity to devote myself to Shuri and her story, from start to finish. I hope the audience will find empathy with the story and feel healed themselves,” concludes Wright.
In Black Panther (2018), the screen time of the warrior Nakia is not much, but every scene is memorable. She is introduced as T'Challa's lover, with actions subtly revealing her mission to fight against evil. In Wakanda Forever , Nakia's reaction to the departure of Wakanda's king is also a factor that audiences are eagerly anticipating.
Sharing about the role, Lupita Nyong'o says: “I feel pain and want to express that emotion on screen. But the character Nakia seems to still be confused. Ryan described Nakia as T’Challa's anchor. I really resonate with this. So when reading the script and thinking about how Nakia is doing and how, I realized that now is the opportunity for the warrior to dedicate the same devotion she once gave to T’Challa to Shuri. This makes sense in the story's structure.”
“When we talk about exploring the pain of loss, having someone who is both a companion and an audience witnessing the changes of the characters is crucial - not only for the story but also for the audience. The fact that Nakia was once seen as T’Challa's love, I guess, will make the audience feel that everything will be okay,” she adds.
“Embarking on the role of Nakia is like a psychological therapy for me. The character forces me to look beyond regrets, pitfalls that Chadwick's departure caused, and learn to overcome them through Nakia. She seems to be experiencing to draw lessons for herself,” the actress shares.
Okoye is a beloved female general. She always stands side by side with T'Challa on the battlefield, once shouldering the diplomatic responsibility with the Avengers when Black Panther disappeared after Thanos' snap. Returning to the role in Wakanda Forever , actress Danai Gurira shares that she always remembers Chadwick Boseman.
“I resonate with the idea that characters have the opportunity to explore many different aspects within themselves. This film is like a kaleidoscope about the humanity of each character, and the world needs to see them. Because the situation is unique, the characters' reactions are also something we rarely encounter,” she says.
“I feel a bit lost inside, and I think that emotion is a connection to what the character I play is going through. I think it also has a bit to do with the experience of losing a close friend. This film connects with all those emotions. It's the red thread running through the story. So, the key that helps me open the door leading into this work, keeping me tightly bound to it, is the destination honoring life as well as what Chadwick loved,” she concludes.
The character Namor played by Tenoch Huerta is an interesting addition to Wakanda Forever. He is a prince, ruling the mysterious underwater kingdom of Atlantis. In the comics, the diplomatic history between Atlantis and Wakanda is marked by many conflicts. And now seems to be the time for Namor and his army to knock on Wakanda's door to settle old debts. According to screenwriter Nate Moore, Namor and his people also experience the sense of loss and mourning when their homeland is no more.
Speaking about his entry into the superhero film genre, Tenoch Huerta shares: “It's an honor for me. However, the role also brings many challenges because you are playing the antagonist. You will be destructive, not just in the plot of the film, but also in the hearts of the audience.”
“Many find themselves in Wakanda, and I'm no exception, from the storytelling to the cultural diversity, the ethnic richness that the film embodies. Yet here I am, playing the villain who will destroy everything, or at least, disrupt that heritage. But at the same time, I think Ryan has found a way to tell the story with humanity, delving deep into why people act the way they do,” he said.
Huerta talks about the ideological content of Wakanda Forever : “The issue is no longer about right or wrong, but about true or false. What we will see is not justification, but the reason, an explanation of why things unfold as you have seen; why, in the face of the departure of an extraordinary individual, people still have a myriad of different ways to express grief. Life, in the end, is also a vast stage, but it is beautiful because of the warmth of humanity,” he adds.
He also points out the similarities in the circumstances of Namor and Shuri: “We have two characters, with different reactions to grief and threats. But at the same time, they also share a common type of emotional wound, such as bearing the responsibility of representing their culture. However, as individuals, they share the same emotional wounds. How they deal with that issue reflects their personality and the life storms they have gone through. It's a delicate balance, a beautiful layer that a superhero film can achieve,” he expresses.
Photo: Disney
