Earlier this month, it has been reported that production on Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was temporarily shutdown due to Letitia Wright’s critical shoulder fracture and concussion which she sustained during its Boston filming last August. Now, studio executives Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and Nate Moore have officially sent a joint statement to the cast and crew, addressing the highly-anticipated project’s filming shutdown.
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In the note obtained by Deadline, Feige, D’Esposito, and Moore have confirmed that the studio is currently planning to resume the production of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sometime in January 2022. They also went to express their gratitude to the cast and crew’s hard work and dedication on the sequel, while also acknowledging Wright for her commitment to the role despite her injuries and how hard she’s working to recover as quickly as she can to get back on set.
“We’ve adjusted our production schedule so [Letitia] has the time she needs to heal, but there’s only so much we can do without Shuri!” said the note from Feige, D’Esposito, and Moore. “We also want to thank Letitia for everything she’s doing to get back to the set – we know how much she loves this role, how tough it’s been for her to be away, and how hard she’s working to recover as quickly as she safely can. We are eagerly awaiting her return and we know we will all come back stronger together.
“Please be on the lookout for more information on your specific return-to-work date. As of now, we’re on schedule to resume filming – with Letitia – in January 2022. We are all focused on finishing the movie with excellence, honoring the memory of our dear brother Chadwick in the process. We are thrilled to share Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the world, confident that the challenges that we have overcome together as a team will make the film even more impactful. Please take care of yourselves and enjoy the holidays.”
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is once again being directed by Ryan Coogler from a screenplay he is co-writing with Joe Robert Cole. It will see the return of most of its original main cast including Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, Letitia Wright as Shuri, and Winston Duke as M’Baku.
In addition, Tenoch Huerta (Narcos: Mexico) has reportedly been cast as the upcoming film’s antagonist, with some fans and outlets speculating that he might be playing the role of Namor. I May Destroy You creator-star Michaela Coel has also reportedly signed on for an undisclosed role.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently slated to hit theaters on November 11, 2022, over two years following the untimely passing of titular star and acclaimed actor Chadwick Boseman, who died at the age of 43 after his four-year-long private battle with colon cancer.
