Black Panther 2 Movie Actress Shares How Shuri’s Journey Helped Her Mourn The Passing Of Chadwick Boseman

Letitia Wright, who plays Black Panther’s sister, Shuri, in MCU’s Black Panther 2 movie, shares how her character’s journey helped her cope with Chadwick Boseman’s passing.

The death of a hero: Chadwick Boseman’s passing

In 2016, Chadwick Boseman debuted his first Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance in Captain America: Civil War as the legendary Marvel Comics superhero Black Panther, popularly known as T’Challa. The character is Wakanda’s King T’Chaka (John Kani) and Queen Ramonda’s (Angela Bassett) eldest child. After the untimely demise of his father, he inherits the title of becoming “Black Panther” and is the new leader and protector of Wakanda. The country is the most technologically advanced nation on Earth with its rich elements of vibranium. 

Chadwick Boseman’s first MCY standalone film was a total hit in 2018. The film acted as fans’ main entry point in discovering the culture and traditions of Wakanda. In a snap, fans praised the movie for generating a massive cultural impact and showcasing heroes of color. This includes Letitia Wright’s genius character and head of Wakandan Design Team, Shuri. Lupita Nyong’o’s War Dog Spy Nakia and Danai Gurira’s Okoye were also crowd-favorite characters in the film.   

Fans were already expecting Marvel’s announcements for the making of Black Panther 2, but a tragedy happened instead. In 2020, the actor behind Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, suddenly passed away due to colon cancer. And after two years since his passing, the movie’s sequel will finally hit the theatres in November.

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Letitia Wright talks about Shuri’s journey in Black Panther 2 movie

Ahead of Shuri’s comeback in Black Panther 2, Letitia Wright talks about how her character’s journey affected her personal life. In previous interviews, Wright already mentioned that Wakanda Forever is dedicated to Boseman’s legacy. For her, the sequel is a love letter to him. 

In a recent interview with Empire, the actress revealed that she was able to channel her grief into Shuri’s journey. She say’s that Shuri’s journey now that her brother is gone allowed her “to grieve, to cry, to laugh, and to gain strength” all over again. You can read her full statement below:

“Shuri’s journey has allowed me to grieve, to cry, to laugh, and to gain strength that I never thought I could ever have. Trials and tribulations make you who you are. You either fold or you get up and go again. I feel like Shuri kept looking at me every day, asking me if I was gonna fold or go again. And I just kept going until healing started to happen for me.” 

The emotional trailer for Black Panther 2 movie already sets the tone for the rest of the film. It was moving and explosive. Now that Wakanda’s king is gone, new characters step up to protect Wakanda against the forces that try to invade it.

The trailer also gave us a sneak peek at the introduction of MCU’s newcomer Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne). She’s working together in the lab with Shuri, building some prototypes. Fans quickly speculated that they might be making a new Black Panther armor. Riri William’s appearance in Black Panther 2 movie is a prelude to her upcoming Disney+ series Ironheart. 

Now that T’Chaka has passed, the sequel will definitely give us the new Black Panther. In the comics, Shuri also became the Black Panther under dif. Plot details about the movie are still in the dark, so we’re still unsure if the feature film will follow this same trope.  

Ryan Cooler wrote and directed the sequel. New cast members such as Dominique Throne (Riri Williams/Ironheart), Tenoch Huerta (Namor), and Michaela Coel (Aneka) joining the upcoming movie.

The must-awaited Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be screening on November 11, 2022.

Paul is many things. He's a fan of anime, superheroes, and everything in between. He dedicates his downtime to annoying the heck out of his cats and dog.