Black Panther 2's Script Has Very Odd Parts, Says Martin Freeman

Martin Freeman has heard Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's full story, and he admits it has some odd parts. As the sequel to 2018's Black Panther, which was the first Marvel movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, Wakanda Forever was already going to be hit with high expectations. However, there's an extra layer of poignancy surrounding the 2022 film because of franchise star Chadwick Boseman's passing last August. Boseman was set to return for Black Panther 2, but now the movie will be positioned as the ultimate tribute to his legacy.

Writer-director Ryan Coogler has reshaped the story for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in order to respect Boseman's loss. The specific plot details for the film are still being kept under wraps, though a general synopsis said Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will further explore the titular country and the many characters introduced in the first movie. That so far seems to include Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Ramonda (Angela Bassett), M'Baku (Winston Duke), and Everett K. Ross (Freeman).

Tuesday night, Freeman appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden and had an interesting tease to share about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. As per usual with Marvel productions, Freeman couldn't say anything specific about the film's plot. However, he did reveal he knows the story after speaking to Coogler, and that he actually found parts of it to be rather strange. Freeman said:

"I had a Zoom call with Ryan Coogler, the director and co-writer, about seven or eight weeks ago, I suppose, and he took me through... he sort of meticulously took me through all of my character's beats in the film. He took me through the film, but incorporating my character's beats. And some of it was really [laughs], some of it was very odd. And I think he could see by the reaction on my face, some of the things he was saying... He kept sort of stopping and going, 'Stay with me, but this is going to work.' People are in for a real [treat]. I mean we've not done it yet. Who knows? We might make it awful. But no, I'm hoping we won't, and I hope people are going to be in for a treat."

Freeman's surprised reaction to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's story shows just how little people can predict about this film. Already, the script had to be changed drastically following Boseman's passing, and in the interview Freeman reiterated he initially believed Black Panther 2 wouldn't actually happen. Changing the story in light of losing Boseman could not have been a simple task, but Coogler appears to have something truly unique up his sleeve.

Freeman describing the story as odd might throw some fans off. It sounds as though Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has a lot of twists and turns in store, which could perhaps be a good thing. Superhero movies frequently get criticized for following the same plot beats over and over, but that might not be the case this time. Coogler is a talented storyteller, and it will be interesting to see what he has in store for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Freeman is still on board despite his initial surprise, so that has to bode well for what lies ahead. Hopefully, Marvel will see fit to share more about the plot soon.

More: Why The Most Important Event in Black Panther 2 May Have Already Happened

Source: The Late Late Show with James Corden