“Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever”: who stars in the film after the death of Chadwick Boseman?

After the success of “Black Panther” in 2018, its sequel is ready to bring the story back, although at the beginning of this film the kingdom of Wakanda is reeling. Beloved King T’Challa dies at the opening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” a script change forced by actor Chadwick Boseman’s death from cancer in 2020, just before filming began.

Marvel Studios, owned by Walt Disney Co., decided not to hire another actor for the role of T’Challa. Instead, writer-director Ryan Coogler created a new movie that put the female characters at the forefront. “T’Challa surrounded himself with powerful women,” said actress Letitia Wright in an interview ahead of the film’s release on November 10 in Latin America. “In this film we see how these women move to another level of leadership together.”

A blockbuster is expected

“Black Panther” became the first superhero movie with a predominantly black cast. The film grossed $1.3 billion worldwide and became the only superhero movie nominated for best picture at the Oscars.

Experts expect “Wakanda Forever” to draw crowds to theaters. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, said the film will benefit from “massive fan anticipation, positive early reactions to the screening, and the goodwill and excitement generated by the first film.”

The film could break the current record for a November release, now held by the 2013 film “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” Dergarabedian said. That production debuted with $158.1 million at the box office in the United States and Canada.

Chadwick’s absence

Wright plays Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and a talented scientist who “would rather stay in her lab and bury her pain in technology,” he said. An impulse from Queen Ramona (Angela Bassett) and the appearance of an outside threat propel Shuri into action.

Warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira) and super-spy Nakia, played by Lupita N’yongo, help Wakanda navigate through mourning and disruption.

“Women have equality with men (in Wakanda). They hold power effortlessly,” N’yongo said. “I think it’s a good example for the world we live in, that it shouldn’t be extraordinary that women are in charge. They are very capable.”

The film features an underwater civilization called the Talokan that is descended from an ancient Mayan community. Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta plays Namor, the winged-footed leader of the Talokan.

Marvel worked with Mesoamerican culture consultants to develop its world, costumes, and stories. Huerta learned to speak Mayan for the role.

“They taught us to be ashamed of our roots, of who we are, of our indigenous heritage for a long time,” Huerta said. “We are finally accepting them.”

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