Ryan Coogler Reveals Chadwick Boseman Was Too Sick To Read Original Black Panther 2 Script

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Director Ryan Coogler shared that he wanted Chadwick Boseman to review the script for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but Boseman was too ill at the time. Following the massive success of the first Black Panther film – it earned $1.35 billion worldwide – a sequel was planned. Sadly, Boseman passed away in 2020 after a battle with colon cancer; he was only 43 years old.

According to an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Ryan Coogler finished the script for Wakanda Forever and sent it to Chadwick Boseman before he passed away. Unfortunately, Boseman was too ill to read it and his condition meant he wouldn’t be able to.

Coogler openly shared that Boseman’s death deeply affected him, particularly after learning how much the actor meant to those close to him. Boseman was equally important to Coogler, who recounted a story of how the Black Panther star once looked out for him.

During the making of Black Panther, director Ryan Coogler often worried he’d be fired, and he expressed this fear repeatedly. Eventually, Chadwick Boseman pulled him aside and told him to stop voicing those concerns.

Even after the director confessed his genuine feelings, the actor met his gaze and firmly stated, “I would never allow that to happen to you. I won’t let that happen to you.”

Coogler shared with Horowitz that Boseman’s death probably affected him deeply and permanently. He explained that seeing someone so incredibly strong—someone he considered one of the strongest people he knew—lose his battle with cancer was particularly devastating.

I finished the project and sent it to him for review, but he was too ill to read it at the time. He was in a difficult place, and I really valued his opinion.

Learning from his family and friends how much I mattered to him after he died was incredibly difficult. It made me realize I often wondered if he understood how much he meant to me. He shielded me from a lot of hardship.

During the most stressful days on the set of Panther, I genuinely believed I was about to lose my job, and I often said so. If the actors were slow leaving makeup, I’d practically beg them to hurry up, fearing I’d be fired because of the delays.

One day, he pulled me aside and told me to stop saying something I’d been repeating. I explained that I genuinely felt that way, but he reassured me he would never allow that situation to happen to me. While I appreciated him saying that, we still needed to get back to work.

Learning that someone so strong was being weakened by this illness really hurt me, and I suspect the damage will be lasting.

Black Panther was among the last films Chadwick Boseman completed, along with Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, 21 Bridges, and Da 5 Bloods. His performances in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and the series What If…? were released after his passing.

It was incredibly moving to see how Marvel handled Chadwick Boseman’s passing. Instead of recasting T’Challa, they made the powerful decision to have Letitia Wright’s Shuri step into the role of Black Panther. And honestly, even though Chadwick wasn’t on set for the sequel, Wanda Forever, his spirit was absolutely palpable throughout the entire film – you could feel it as an actor and as an audience member. It was a beautiful tribute.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned $859.2 million at the box office with a budget of over $200 million. It received positive reviews, earning a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an 84% approval score. Angela Bassett’s performance as Ramonda, T’Challa’s mother, was highly acclaimed, winning her both a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award.

Since directing Wanda Forever, Ryan Coogler has released only one film. That film, Sinners, became a major box office success in 2025, grossing $368 million and earning a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The highly-regarded director is returning to Marvel to direct Black Panther 3, and Denzel Washington has joined the cast in a significant role. While there’s no confirmed release date yet, audiences can anticipate the sequel to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hitting theaters around 2028.

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2025-12-29 20:42