Lupita Nyong’o: Black Panther 2 rewrite is “spiritually and emotionally correct”

Black Panther 2 is supposed to begin production this July for a summer 2022 release. While this is cause for celebration as we get to revisit the technologically advanced world of Wakanda, people are still mourning the death of star Chadwick Boseman, who passed away last August after a battle with colon cancer. The head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, assured fans that the role of King T’Challa will not be recast out of respect to Boseman and his legacy. That’s not to say someone won’t eventually take on the role of Black Panther, like King T’Challa’s sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), but there will not be another King T’Challa.

After Boseman’s death, writer/director Ryan Coogler did a rewrite of the script of the upcoming Black Panther 2, and now we’re hearing what the cast members think of it.

How will Black Panther 2 be different without Chadwick Boseman?

Lupita Nyong’o, who played Nakia in the original Black Panther movie, talked about the rewritten script to Yahoo! Entertainment. “I feel like I’m in a very pensive and meditative state when it comes to Black Panther 2,” she said. “His passing is still extremely raw for me. And I can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like to step on set and not have him there.”

However difficult that will be, Nyong’o did say that Coogler’s rewrite is a homage to Boseman and King T’Challa. “[Ryan Coogler’s] idea, the way which he has reshaped the second movie is so respectful of the loss we’ve all experienced as a cast and as a world. So it feels spiritually and emotionally correct to do this. And hopefully, what I do look forward to, is getting back together and honoring what he started with us and holding his light through it. Because he left us a lot of light that we’re still going to be bathing in. I know that for sure.”

In addition to Nyong’o, Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Martin Freeman (Agent Everett K. Ross) and Angela Bassett (Ramonda) are all set to reprise their roles for the sequel.

Boseman’s passing was a loss for the entire world, and even these many months later, he continues to live on in our hearts. He will forever be our King T’Challa and will be missed greatly as the cast and crew embark on the next chapter of the Black Panther saga.

Black Panther 2 is set to come out on July 8, 2022.

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h/t SYFY Wire