Chadwick Boseman Was Too Sick to Read Original ‘Black Panther 2’ Script, Reveals Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler recently shared new details about the original version of Black Panther 2 and the late Chadwick Boseman’s involvement in it.

In an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler revealed that he sent Boseman the script, but the actor was too sick to read it due to his battle with colon cancer. “I finished it, and I hit him up to read it, and he was too sick to read, bro. That was kind of how the timing was,” Coogler said.

The director explained that the first version of the movie included a storyline called the Ritual of 8. “The big thing about the script was a thing called the Ritual of 8 where, [when] a prince is 8 years old, he has to go spend 8 days in the bush with his father,” he said. During these days, the prince could ask his father any question and receive an answer, all while facing a dangerous attack led by a different version of Namor.

Coogler noted that this storyline would have been intense and that Boseman was prepared to bring it to life. “It was insane, and Chadwick was going to kill it, but life goes as it goes,” he said.

Coogler added that he put a lot of effort into the original script because he had grown to understand Boseman as a performer. “I loved that script. I put so much into that version of the movie because I felt like I had gotten to know Chadwick as a performer. I threw a lot at Chad in the first Panther, but I realized I was just scratching the surface,” he shared.

The director also addressed the future of the Black Panther franchise. With a third installment in the works, there has been speculation about whether T’Challa would be recast. Coogler emphasized that his focus is on telling the story with care and heart.

“I’m in it for my heart. I got this movie on my heart. And yeah, from the outside looking in, you might say, ‘Man, why this f**** dude making another one of those?’ But that’s totally fine, that question makes sense. And it’s my job as a filmmaker to show why,” he said.

Coogler’s comments give fans insight into what might have been for Black Panther 2 and show his commitment to honoring Boseman’s legacy while continuing the story. It’s clear that he wants to handle the franchise with respect and thoughtfulness.

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