‘Black Panther II’: Ryan Coogler Says Filming Sequel Is “Hardest Thing” Without Chadwick Boseman

What will Black Panther II be without star Chadwick Boseman? That question has been hanging over the Marvel sequel since the actor’s unfortunate death. The wise decision was made not to recast the T’Challa role with another actor, which leaves only a few options with how to write him off.

The burden of deciding on that belongs with director Ryan Coogler, and he talked with Jemele Hill about the challenges of moving forward without Boseman. Like many within the Marvel family, Coogler is struggling with the grief of losing someone who was more than just an actor, but a friend…

“You know, I’m currently going through it. One thing that I’ve learned in my short or long time on this Earth, however, you want to look at it, it’s difficult to have perspective on something while you’re going through it. This is one of the more profound things that I’ve ever gone through in my life, having to be a part of keeping this project going without this particular person. Who was like the glue that held it together.”

“That said, you have a personal life, you have a professional life, you got a private life. When you work in something that you love, those things blend, they come together right?Your life kind of becomes your work for the better part of it. So, I’m trying to find a work-life balance, so I’m working on building two things that can stand on their own. I’m not there yet. But, this is without question, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my professional life.”

There are some tough decisions that need to be made and the direction Coogler takes will go a long way in how audiences feel about the film.

 

 

 

Travis Hopson
Travis Hopson has been reviewing movies before he even knew there was such a thing. Having grown up on a combination of bad '80s movies, pro wrestling, comic books, and hip-hop, Travis is uniquely positioned to geek out on just about everything under the sun. A vampire who walks during the day and refuses to sleep, Travis is the co-creator and lead writer for Punch Drunk Critics. He is also a contributor to Good Morning Washington, WBAL Morning News, and WETA Around Town. In the five minutes a day he's not working, Travis is also a voice actor, podcaster, and Twitch gamer. Travis is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), and Late Night programmer for the Lakefront Film Festival.