It is being reported that the Producers behind Disney/Marvel’s “Black Panther” are said to be unsure on how to move forward with the sequel following the death of Chadwick Boseman.
The Black Panther star Chad Boseman 43 was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016, and never disclosed his diagnosis publicly. Many of his fans, friends and colleagues were shocked when he died on Aug. 28 following a 4 year-long battle with the disease.
The 43-year-old star was reportedly convinced until the end of his life that his prognosis would reverse, so he could gain weight and return to his role as T’Challa, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Because neither Disney executives nor director Ryan Coogler knew about his health challenges, they, too, were confident Boseman and other stars including Michael B. Jordan, Letitia Wright and Lupita Nyong’o would be ready to shoot next March
*Producers behind Disney/Marvel’s “Black Panther” are said to be unsure on how to move forward with the sequel following the death of Chadwick Boseman.
The 43-year-old star was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016, and never disclosed his diagnosis publicly. Many of his fans, friends and colleagues were shocked when he died on Aug. 28 following a 4 year-long battle with the disease.
Neither Disney executives nor director Ryan Coogler knew about his health challenges. The cast and crew were reportedly gearing up to begin filming the sequel next month.
Kevin Feige, Marvel’s chief officer, was reportedly notified about Boseman’s failing health in an email house before he died.
Now, Disney is faced with two options on how to proceed with the “Black Panther” franchise. Hire a new actor and risk pissing off the fandom or allow Leticia Wright, who plays Black Panther’s sister Shuri, to take over the role (which actually occurs in one of comic series).
Wright shared a poem on Instagram Tuesday, in which she refers to Boseman as “my brother, an angel on Earth.”
“I messaged you a couple times, but I thought you were just busy,” Wright continued. “I didn’t know you were dealing with so much. But against all the odds, you remained focused on fulfilling your purpose with the time handed to you.”
She also recalled the day she met Boseman. “God told me that you are my brother and that I am to love you as such. And I always did, and I always will.”
“But now, my heart is broken, searching for old message of exchange, cards filled with your handwriting and memories of you holding my hand as if it was for eternity,” she said. “I thought we had more time, and many more years to come, for more laughter and for more moments of me picking on you on set,” she added.
Neither Disney executives nor director Ryan Coogler knew about his health challenges. The cast and crew were reportedly gearing up to begin filming the sequel next month.
Kevin Feige, Marvel’s chief officer, was reportedly notified about Boseman’s failing health in an email house before he died.
Now, Disney is faced with two options on how to proceed with the “Black Panther” franchise. Hire a new actor and risk pissing off the fandom or allow Leticia Wright, who plays Black Panther’s sister Shuri, to take over the role (which actually occurs in one of comic series).
Wright shared a poem on Instagram Tuesday, in which she refers to Boseman as “my brother, an angel on Earth.”
According to Boseman’s agent, Michael Greene, it was the actor’s mother Carolyn who inspired the decision to keep his illness on the low.
“[She] always taught him not to have people fuss over him,” Greene told The Hollywood Reporter.
“He also felt in this business that people trip out about things, and he was a very, very private person.”
Greene said Boseman was in “hard-core pain” during the filming of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” for Netflix, However, he “felt that being able to be with [co-star] Denzel [Washington] and to launch this cycle of [playwright] August Wilson at Netflix was so exciting to him.”
“I remember him and Tessa [Thompson] were offered a movie, it was about two slaves, and he was like, ‘I do not want to perpetuate slavery,’” Greene explained. “It was like, ‘We’re not going to keep perpetuating the stereotypes,’ and that’s why he wanted to show men of strength and of character.”
Boseman died at home, with his wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, and family by his side.
