How to continue a saga after the death of the actor who embodies the main character? Despite the disappearance of Chadwick Boseman in August 2020 from cancer at the age of 43, the tounarge of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever by Ryan Coogler continued. Not as if nothing had happened, of course, we had to adapt.
“Ryan had the good idea to integrate the death of his character into the story, explains Lupita Nyong’o to 20 minutes. Which makes it come in a natural way for the characters in the film and which made things less hard for the actors. »
Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett and Dominique Thorne carve out the lion’s share in a distribution where we also find Daniel Kaluuya, Michael B. Jordan and Winston Duke without counting Tenoch Huerta as a disturbing sovereign who threatens Wakanda. What create many spectacular sequences despite the grief that shook the film crew. “At the start of filming, I felt empty as Chadwick’s absence was felt so intensely, remembers Lupita Nyong’o. Ryan Coogler gave us time when the pain overwhelmed us. He encouraged us not to muzzle our feelings. »
What Chadwick would have felt
On the screen, the actor who disappeared appears during an opening sequence which pays homage to him at the same time as to his character. Then the action resumes its rights. Lupita Nyong’o, as the fearless Nakia, isn’t the last to show off her fighting skills. “Do not believe the filming was only sad, she insists. Sometimes we were happy, if only to imagine how Chadwick would have felt if he were still with us. »
This is exactly what the spectator feels in front of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever : a lot of emotion and beautiful discharges of adrenaline. A good way to salute the deceased actor, and King T’challa who finds a brilliant and respectful successor here. “The increased presence of women has of course increased due to the death of King T’challa, insists Lupita Nyong’o. In Wakanda, it is normal for women to occupy leading positions. They were the king’s close guard and it is therefore obvious that they are now at the center of power as well as intrigue. »