Unlike many of her other “Black Panther” alums, Lupita Nyong’o has yet to appear in another MCU film other than the original 2018 Oscar-nominated feature. But that said, she’s going to return to the franchise for “Black Panther 2,” though the experience is going to be very different with the loss of the lead actor, Chadwick Boseman. But Nyong’o believes what writer-director Ryan Coogler has in mind for the sequel is the “correct” way to do it.
Speaking to Yahoo, Nyong’o was asked about what it’s going to feel like to return to the MCU for “Black Panther 2.” And though she knows it’s going to be difficult, she thinks Coogler has figured out a way to honor Boseman through the film and to continue the legacy of the franchise.
“People will ask me, ‘Are you excited to go back?’ Excitement isn’t the word. I feel like I’m in a very pensive and meditative state when it comes to ‘Black Panther 2.’ His passing is still extremely raw for me,” Nyong’o said. “And I can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like to step on set and not have him there.”
She added, “But at the same time we have a leader in Ryan, who feels very much like we do, who feels the loss in a very, very real way as well. And his 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.”
We already know that Marvel Studios isn’t going to recast Boseman’s T’Challa character. And the studio has said that digital trickery won’t be used to bring him back in any way. So, it’s unclear what “Black Panther 2” is going to look like with the lead actor on board. That said, from what we’ve heard from Nyong’o, combined with other comments from people involved, it sounds as if Coogler is figuring out how to navigate this anticipated sequel.
“Black Panther 2” is expected to begin production this summer and currently has a July 8, 2022 release date.
