Key Takeaways
- Ryan Coogler completed a full script for Black Panther 2 before Chadwick Boseman’s death.
- The original story focused on T’Challa as a father reconnecting with his son after the Blip.
- A central plot involved a powerful Wakandan ritual and an early version of Namor as the antagonist.
- Boseman’s death deeply affected Coogler, leading to a complete rewrite and the creation of Wakanda Forever.
Ryan Coogler has opened up about the original version of Black Panther 2, revealing how deeply personal the story was — and how much was lost following the death of star Chadwick Boseman.
Boseman died in August 2020 at the age of 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer. His passing not only devastated fans around the world but also profoundly changed the direction of the Black Panther franchise.
Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler shared that he had already completed a 180-page draft of Black Panther 2 and asked Boseman to read it. Tragically, the actor was too ill to review the script.
A Story About Fatherhood and Legacy
The original sequel was set after the events of Avengers: Endgame and followed T’Challa as he returned from the Blip after a five-year absence. At the heart of the story was his relationship with his son, Toussaint, who had grown up without knowing his father — or that his father was the Black Panther.
The film would have opened with an animated sequence featuring Nakia (played by Lupita Nyong’o) speaking with Toussaint. Through their conversation, audiences would learn that the child had never met T’Challa and was unaware of his royal and heroic legacy.
The story then shifted to the moment when everyone returns from the Blip, showing T’Challa meeting his son for the first time. From there, the film jumped forward several years, focusing on T’Challa navigating co-parenting while reclaiming his role as king and protector.
“Our codename for the movie was Summer Break,” Coogler explained. “It was about a summer that the kid spends with his dad.”
The Ritual of Eight and a Different Version of Namor
A major plot element involved an ancient Wakandan tradition known as the Ritual of Eight. When a prince turns eight years old, he must spend eight days in the wilderness with his father, surviving without tools. During this time, the child can ask any question, and the father must answer honestly.
While the ritual was underway, an early version of Namor would launch an attack on Wakanda. Because the ritual could not be broken, T’Challa would be forced to confront global threats while keeping his son by his side — even during negotiations and battles.
“That was the movie,” Coogler said. “It was insane, and Chad was going to kill it.”
A Profound Loss and a Complete Rewrite
Boseman’s death fundamentally altered the future of the franchise. Coogler ultimately rewrote the film to focus on grief, legacy, and resilience, centering Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Shuri (Letitia Wright) and the collective mourning of Wakanda.
The director spoke candidly about his close bond with Boseman and how protective the actor was of him on set.
“He protected me from a lot,” Coogler said. “He would tell me, ‘I would never let them fire you.’ Looking back, he was always protecting me.”
Learning how much Coogler meant to Boseman — only after his passing — was deeply painful for the filmmaker.
“To know one of the strongest people I knew was having his strength taken by this disease — it damaged me,” he admitted.
Looking Ahead to Black Panther 3
Despite the heartbreak, Coogler remains committed to the Black Panther story. He is signed on to direct Black Panther 3, which is confirmed to be in development and will feature Denzel Washington in an undisclosed role.
Coogler emphasized that he isn’t driven by proving anything.
“I’m telling stories I’m obsessed with,” he said. “That I have in my heart.”
While the next chapter of Wakanda is still some time away, Coogler’s reflections make clear just how much of the franchise’s soul was shaped by Chadwick Boseman — both on screen and behind the scenes.
