'Black Panther' sequel begins production in Atlanta: 'Very emotional without Chad'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 6/30/21

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is beginning its quest to the big screen nearly one year after Chadwick Boseman—Black Panther/T'Challa himself—passed away and one year before it is due in theaters.

According to Variety, the sequel to 2018's award-winning and record-breaking Black Panther began production at Atlanta's Pinewood Studios on Tuesday (June 29).

"It's clearly very emotional without Chad," Marvel Studios chief creative officer and president Kevin Feige told the outlet. "But everyone is also very excited to bring the world of Wakanda back to the public and back to the fans. We're going to do it in a way that would make Chad proud."

Boseman died Aug. 28, 2020, at 43 years old after a secret four-year battle with colon cancer:

pic.twitter.com/aZ2JzDf5ai
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) August 29, 2020

Fiege previously confirmed in December that Boseman's definitive role of T'Challa will not be recast for the sequel, which is scheduled for a July 8, 2022, release.

Variety added that Ryan Coogler, who directed and wrote Black Panther, is returning in the same capacity as well as "everyone from the original cast" other than Boseman:

"Plot details remain under wraps, and Feige did not say which specific actors would be returning. But Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Florence Kasumba, and Angela Bassett would all likely reprise their roles from the original film. (A representative for Marvel Studios said there was no further update.)"

Black Panther was nominated seven times at the 91st Academy Awards, including for best picture, and took home three Oscars. The film quickly became one of the all-time highest-grossing U.S. theatrical releases and raked in over $1.3 billion worldwide (h/t Box Office Mojo).

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