Pop Culture

Black Panther Sequel Pauses Production Following Letitia Wright Injury

Director Ryan Coogler and company have shot everything they can without Shuri.

Production on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will take a hiatus, starting the week of Thanksgiving, until “early 2022,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. One of the film’s stars, Letitia Wright, is still recovering from an injury she suffered while shooting in Boston this August.

She has been convalescing in London while director Ryan Coogler and the rest of the team continued production at Marvel’s home base in Atlanta. THR writes that they now “have shot all footage that his crew is able to without Wright.”

At the time, Wright’s stunt-related injury was believed to have been minor. Her hospitalization was short and representatives said the incident would not “impact the film’s current production schedule.” Since then, however, the anticipated sequel’s release date has changed from July 8, 2022, to November 11, 2022.

After Chadwick Boseman’s death last year, Marvel chief Kevin Feige announced that they would not recast his role of T’Challa and instead focus on other characters introduced in the first film. While the new movie’s plot has been heavily guarded, Wright’s breakout role of Shuri, T’Challa’s younger sister, is believed to have a prominent place.

Late last year, Wright caused some controversy when she shared a video on Twitter from Tomi Arayomi that offered skepticism of the coronavirus vaccine and also comments some deemed to be transphobic. (Her Marvel co-star Don Cheadle tweeted that the video was “hot garbage.”) All of these tweets have since been deleted. More recently, Wright denied allegations reported in THR that she had shared anti-vaccine views while on set. 

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair

— Playing Princess Diana Was Kristen Stewart’s Fairy Tale
Remembering Halyna Hutchins, Rust Cinematographer Killed in Tragic Shooting
— How Edie Falco Protected Hillary Clinton on Impeachment
— The Five Goopiest Moments in Gwyneth Paltrow’s New Show
— Review: There’s No Life in Chloé Zhao’s Eternals
— The Ending of Army of Thieves (and Its Origin) Explained
— A First Look at Harry Connick Jr. in Annie Live!
— From the Archive: Excavating the Private Saga of the Clintons’ Very Public Marriage
— Want to obsess over the best of television? Sign up here to receive text messages from the Still Watching hosts or text (213) 652-6731.
— Sign up for the “HWD Daily” newsletter for must-read industry and awards coverage—plus a special weekly edition of “Awards Insider.”

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

The Horror Show Finally Covers the Original ‘Halloween’ [Podcast]
King Charles Is Still Ignoring Prince Harry: Report
Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans & Robert Downey Jr. & More Marvel Stars Endorse Kamala Harris Against Donald Trump
FP Movement Pippa Packable Pullover Jacket Review
‘Phasmophobia’ Now in Early Access on PlayStation and Xbox; “Crimson Eye” Halloween Event on Now [Trailer]