‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Production Halted As Lupita Nyong’o And Others Hit By COVID

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is having a tough time getting off the blocks. Maybe it needs more vibranium? Obviously, the loss of star Chadwick Boseman was nearly insurmountable. Issues with star Letitia Wright and her anti-vaccine beliefs caused further issues, followed by a freak stunt injury that halted production until just last week. And now just as things are getting going again in Georgia, filming has stopped once again.

According to THR, COVID-19 has affected Black Panther: Wakanda Forever once again, with “several cast and crew members including Lupita Nyong’o tested positive for the virus.” The good news is that production is expected to resume later this week, suggesting the cases are mild. We’re certainly glad to hear that nobody is being seriously affected by the virus.

Disney is requiring all cast and crew to be vaccinated, and we see the benefit such a mandate can have. And while Wright had been fighting against it, rumors are she has agreed to the vaccine, as well. Hopefully, this means no more problems, shooting can proceed smoothly, and everyone will remain safe.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens on November 11th.

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.