Danai Gurira talks about what Chadwick Boseman brought to the first Black Panther and reveals one of the ways in which his presence was still felt on the set of Black Panther 2. Boseman was the heart of Black Panther, stepping up as a leader and collaborator with director Ryan Coogler while filming the first movie. After his tragic passing in 2020, the world was rocked, especially Boseman's friends and family. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had major script changes following his death which integrated the loss of T'Challa into the story, mirroring the real-world grief.

While Boseman was not physically present on the set of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the details revealed by the film's cast and creative team have made it clear the impact of his character and Boseman's love for the franchise will shine through. Legacy and grief became core themes of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the cast and crew pouring their own feelings into the story. Boseman continues to be a pivotal part of Black Panther not only on screen but behind the scenes as well.

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In Screen Rant's exclusive interview with Gurira, she talked about the energy that Boseman brought to filming the first Black Panther. She shared the devastation of him not being there during Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's production but also talked about how Boseman was still a presence on set. Read Gurira's full comment below:

[Chadwick] brought such a particular spirit to the set and to our energy. He had a very close friend called Jabari who plays drums. Jabari was with us, and they’d play drums, and that was a soundtrack of our process in the last film. And then beautifully, the producers brought Jabari back in this film. And so, when I was training and everything, he would be there playing drums. He's in the film a little bit as well.

And that sort of was anchoring; those are anchoring aspects of how you stay connected to this amazing person who, really, none of us would be anywhere in terms of this story without him and what he anchored in the narrative from the jump. The integrity and the authenticity and the beautiful leadership he manifested, that is what allowed Black Panther to become what it became. So, to not have him there was devastating. But there were anchoring aspects that we found to get through it.

Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther Legacy Is Strong On And Offscreen

A wall memorial of T'Challa in Black Panther Wakanda Forever

The loss of Boseman has been monumental for not only the people who knew him but everyone he touched with his work. His presence was a massive part of Black Panther and to not only lose that but be reminded of it on set every day must have been nearly impossible. However, it seems his legacy and enthusiasm continue to shine through with the anchoring points that Gurira talks about including Boseman's friend Jabari. Staying connected to Boseman in this way and continuing the story that he was passionate about is a powerful idea that will undoubtedly bleed into the movie itself.

From the very first trailer showcasing a tribute, it became clear that Boseman is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's heart. Boseman and T'Challa are a presence throughout the film with the characters grieving T'Challa as the actors grieved their friend. T'Challa's story and legacy continue through those he loved as does Boseman's in this film. Based on early reactions, the care that the entire cast and crew put into telling this story and honoring him brings even more weight to Black Panther 2.

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