Ryan Coogler never quite got to tell the Wakandan story that he wanted to.
When Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hit cinemas in November, it was naturally a success at the box office. The enthusiasm was much to do with the original film that came out in 2018 and starred Chadwick Boseman in the titular role.
The sequel focuses on King T’Challa’s younger sister, Shuri, who takes on the Black Panther mantle following his death. Yet, this was not the story that was originally planned for the Marvel movie.
Screenwriters Joe Robert Cole and Coogler (who also directed both blockbusters) have revealed that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was meant to explore the impact of the five-year period between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame when T’Challa disappeared.
“It was going to be a father-son story from the perspective of a father, because the first movie had been a father-son story from the perspective of the sons,” Coogler shared, noting that it was nothing like what was eventually made. It would also be revealed that T’Challa and Nakia had a son together called Toussaint who was sent to Haiti to be raised away from the crown.
Coogler and Cole began writing the script before Boseman’s untimely passing from colon cancer in August 2020. In the wake of his death, and the outpouring of love from fans, it was decided not to re-cast the role of T’Challa, but to rather have Shuri become the new Black Panther.
