When Marvel released the trailer for the sequelBlack Panther: Wakanda ForeverIn July, it had 172 million views in its first 24 hours.That is almost double Audience ratings for the original 2017 “Black Panther” teaser. A lot has changed in the meantime. Director Ryan Coogler’s first film shattered not only box office records, but also expectations and stereotypes about whether international audiences would watch movies with a predominantly black cast. Also “Black Panther” first superhero movie Nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
At the same time, King T’Challa of Wakanda, brilliantly inhabited by Chadwick Boseman, and his alter ego, the Black Panther, became fan favorites in their fight against Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). Boseman’s discreet, charismatic yet playful acting idiosyncrasies helped shape the legacy of ‘Black Panther’, making the role and actor almost synonymous, and millions of children around the world. to see his hero figure as a black super.
But still I thought you were my biggest rival T’Challa’s throne was not Killmonger, but Dora Milaje, a female warrior who loyally defended the country’s leader. Played by the wonderful Danai Gurira, Okoye was the chief military strategist of the richest country on earth. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s teaser, Dora and her Mirage, including Ayo (replayed by Florence Kasumba) and Aneka (Michaela Koel joins the cast), will take on even more prominent roles and face new foes. . Submariner Namor played by Tenoch Huerta. Also featured is his cousin and mutant his hybrid Namora, played by Huerta’s fellow Mexican actor Mabel Cadena.
But in addition to defending Wakanda, Dora Mirage must secure the throne without T’Challa. After Boseman died in 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced that the character would not be recast, telling him that the character was T’Challa’s sister, Heir presumptive and Wakanda’s chief scientist.It seems that he thought so until the trailer arrived, and the hashtag #recastTChalla Goes viral, followed by Change.org Petition with over 60,000 signatures “If Marvel Studios were to fire T’Challa, it would be at the expense of the audience (especially black boys and men) who saw themselves in him.
The risk lost in this debate is Wakanda’s powerful women. Of course, not just Okoye and Shuri, but also spy Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o, and queen Ramonda (the legendary Angela Bassett). The trailer shows them to be warriors, mourners, healers, mothers, mentors, sisters, defenders of T’Challa’s (and Boseman, for that matter) legacy. understand. They may also expand the meaning of Black Panther’s superhero imagery beyond a single man or moment.
Ahead of the sequel’s Nov. 11 release, we spoke with several of the women of “Wakanda Forever,” including Bassett, Cadena, Gurira, Kasumba, Nyong’o, and Wright, while the plot was yet to be revealed. Although they went through quite different experiences from each other during the making of the film, they grieved together, overcame injuries (Wright suffered a severe shoulder fracture and a severe concussion), and shared a reality that reflected the feminist ethos. found a way to build the beginning of a sisterhood relationship. fictional Wakanda.
These are edited excerpts from our conversation.
Were you surprised that ‘Black Panther’ was a big hit in 2018?
Angela Bassett I was very pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of love for stories, actors, expressions, and all things entertainment. I was hoping that someone who likes the Marvel Universe would show up, as it’s not a cartoonist to join this project. However, it was surprising that the rest of humanity showed up in droves.
Danai Gurira It managed to create a very well-rounded character that broke many stereotypes about what superheroes and heroism look like. Everyone has a story, but what jumped at me was when this 11-year-old white boy wouldn’t let go of my hand. But the whole experience shattered the larger idea of, “Oh, the only way you can resonate is as a white male in these types of roles.”
Leticia light It’s really great to see so many young people inspired. I’m always really proud when someone says that Shuri has broadened the way they think about themselves.
Given the success of the past, how did you prepare for this sequel in terms of a loyal fanbase and the loss of Chadwick Boseman?
Lupita Nyong’o let me speak for myself. There has been a lot of stillness, reflection, prayer and meditation to strengthen me emotionally, mentally and spiritually as much as possible. There was a lot to look forward to when there was a sophomore movie. But with the loss of Chadwick, I think all of that is lost. I realized that I had to fundamentally accept that this was going to be different and that it was important to show up as openly as possible.
light Besides what Lupita said was perfect, the preparation process to get back to this was definitely mental.when i got to atlanta [where filming took place], we went for a walk in the park, sat with each other, and processed what it meant to reopen and what it would do. The great thing I found was that I am not alone. I felt like I was back in the world of Wakanda and had an understanding family.
Gurira As an artist, there’s a way I try to have some control over what I’m stepping into. And for me, a lot of it is training as Dora Mirage. But it was also clear that there was another journey we had to go on, and I remember sitting there with Ryan. He helped me understand the difference this time. So grief was mixed into our process. There were things I wasn’t prepared for, like walking into the throne room and remembering the last time I was there and it really hit me. And, just like Leticia said, I snuggled up.
Florence Kasumba I still had to learn that I wasn’t ready to talk to everyone about everything. I didn’t know when it would activate. But even if that happened, I knew there was someone I could talk to openly about. Coming to work felt like coming home. Also, we had to be very focused, so training helped a lot. It was a combination of losing ourselves, but also making sure we moved together again after a long time. did.
Mabel, you are the newest member of this cast. What was it like to be part of this “Black Panther community”?
Mabel Cadena It was unbelievable. At first, I couldn’t speak the language, and practicing martial arts was tough. I was very tired at times, but I was inspired by these women every day. I would say, “If these kids can do it, I can do more someday.” Then I spoke with Ryan, who gave me the opportunity to build my character as a Mexican woman. So I was able to face my fears, but at the same time, I felt completely safe and grateful to these women.
How intense was the training for the fight scenes?
Kasumba You have to be very sharp physically and mentally. We started training for this role in May 2021. This is because mentally you have to understand that your body has to work for about a year. Also, we’re dealing with weapons and we could hurt ourselves, so we had to be confident enough to carry out our attacks while keeping our co-workers out of harm’s way. I have a lot of memory, so the training for the first movie helped me.
Gurira Literal training relies heavily on the stories we are telling. In the first movie, there were certain enemies and certain reactions. Now that we’re on a different story, there’s some very specific training to bring us together. I had some injuries during this match and had to contend with them. But in the end it grounds the world and I love it.
Letitia, you got seriously injured on set, right?
light My experience was different. There were a lot of physical challenges I faced, but I was really proud that I was able to bounce back in the face of adversity and give my character that extra life and power. think. She gets inspired every day when she sees everyone giving her 110%. The journey hasn’t been painless, but she can stand on top of a mountain and say she did it, and hopefully that’s reflected in the film, and people walk away feeling ecstatic and empowered.
Such a powerful image. Do you think people are more receptive to black women as superheroes?
basset I don’t think you’ve seen that yet. ‘Wakanda Forever’ looks like the next movie that really gets a lot of people excited. Hopefully over $1 billion people will go to the movies. And who will they see besides our faces? Black woman’s face. i love to see it In this day and age, you don’t have to wait for a few people in a few offices on the top floors of some buildings to make it happen. Our voices are so compelling that they must be heard.
Gurira [The first] The movie allowed us to be even more complex as female characters. And while it’s important that it’s not a fleeting moment, you can see black and colored women growing up and having more dimensions.
light A girl said to me today.
Gurira If placing these characters in heroic spaces promotes a sense of self-ownership and what you can do with your potential as young women and girls of color, then that’s all.
light There are so many heroic and amazing women out there that it should become the norm.
“Black Panther” gave us a utopia that wasn’t necessarily real. What excites you most about the sisterhood of the actresses in Wakanda Forever, and the female bond the characters had for each other?
Cadena [It’s been said that] We all blossom when women speak up. These words are really inspiring to me and I think this is the legacy of the first film. , has completely changed the way I think about my life and career. Now, I have new dreams and new hopes for creating female characters.
basset Having a bit more experience in my career and having them do the same great job all worked out. But it’s not just the work we do. It’s also about how we work with each other. Locking the arm makes it a stronger piece.
Nyong’o Gender underrepresentation of women does not exist in Wakanda. I saw it in the first movie, so it resonated. This new film continues the assumption that they are worlds that don’t exist. But the issue we’re dealing with isn’t their femininity. Hopefully, the world as we know it, despite itself, sees it and is empowered by it.
What I love about the Wakanda story is that it gives us a version of the world we strive to reach.