Ryan Coogler nearly quit filmmaking after Chadwick Boseman's death

Martin Macdonald - 10 October 2022, 16:55 Modified: 10 October 2022, 16:56 Share

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has revealed that he nearly quick filmmaking after the death of Chadwick Boseman.

Coogler and Boseman worked together to enormous success on the first Black Panther movie, which became the first superhero feature to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

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A sequel within the Marvel Cinematic Universe became inevitable, but tragedy would lead to doubts over the future of the franchise after Boseman passed away after losing his battle with cancer.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a sequel, has indeed been produced, but Marvel decided against recasting Boseman's role as King T'Challa.

Coogler believes it was important for him to continue the story despite the absence of his leading man.

"I was at a point when I was like, 'I'm walking away from this business.'" he told Entertainment Weekly.

"I didn't know if I could make another movie period, (let alone) another 'Black Panther' movie, because it hurt a lot. I was like, 'Man, how could I open myself up to feeling like this again?'

"I was poring over a lot of our conversations that we had, towards when I realised was the end of his life... I decided that it made more sense to keep going.

"It's my job as a filmmaker to do things that I have personal integrity with.I f I don't believe in what I'm doing, I'm going to have a hard time getting other people to do their best work. For them to do their best work, they have to believe in it.

"At the end of the day, the choices we make have to feel truthful to me. When filmmakers make things that don't feel truthful to them, you can feel it. And I will argue that those projects don't have a shot at working."

The official premise for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever reads:

'The leaders of the kingdom of Wakanda fight to protect their nation from invading forces in the wake of King T'Challa's death'

It will focus on supporting characters from the first movie, including Shuri, who, judging by the latest trailer, has taken up the Black Panther mantle from her brother.