As the team behind Black Panther 2 gears up for its summer production schedule, actor Lupita Nyong'o is opening up about returning to the Marvel franchise in the wake of Chadwick Boseman’s passing.
In an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Lupita revealed that she’s frequently asked if she’s “excited” to go back, which is a tough question to answer as she and her costars are still coping with their loss. “Excitement isn't the word,” the actor explained. “I feel like I'm in a very pensive and meditative state when it comes to Black Panther 2. Chadwick’s 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.”
Despite the intense emotions surrounding the film, Lupita explained that director and screenwriter Ryan Coogler has worked hard to keep Chadwick’s memory alive — because he’s dealing with the same grief as the cast. “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,” she explained. “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.”
Chadwick Boseman passed away in August of last year after a four-year battle with colon cancer. Since his passing, his memory has continued to be honored in Hollywood, through sentimental and thoughtful tributes from his fellow stars as well as several posthumous awards for his acting work.
Black Panther 2 is set to start filming in Atlanta, Georgia later this year. In a recent essay for Deadline, Ryan discussed the importance of keeping the filming location in the state, despite ongoing boycotts from other corporations and in response to Georgia’s restrictive voting laws.