Lupita Nyong’o is a powerful performer. The Kenyan-Mexican actress has been a part of several acclaimed films like ‘12 Years a Slave’, ‘Black Panther’ and its sequel as well as ‘Us’. She has also won an Academy Award, a Daytime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
In an interview, the 39-year-old actress recently talked about the superhero sequel and her late co-star Chadwick Boseman. Lupita said that she was really hurt after the sudden death of the beloved actor. Let’s find out what exactly the actress said about him.
Lupita Nyong’o Talks About Chadwick Boseman’s Death
Nyong’o played the role of Nakia (the love interest of King T’Challa and a spy) in the 2018 superhero flick ‘Black Panther.’ Now she is gearing up for its sequel, ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’
In a cover story interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the ‘Eclipsed’ actress talked about the impact of Chadwick Boseman’s death on her. “I couldn’t believe it,” Nyong’o said.
“I was paralyzed,” she added. “He had an aura. He was the leader, and we were all good with it.” “There were moments when Chadwick said no to me, and I was not happy with him.” She recalled a time when the two had to go to South Africa to promote their film but Chadwick said no.
“I fought tooth and nail to change his mind, and he would ever so quietly be like, ‘I know, but no,’ with love. Now I understand he was battling cancer and probably had medical reasons. He affected how I move in the world,” Nyong’o continued. “But that’s the thing about Chadwick. Chadwick wasn’t trying to have everyone be like him. What he inspired was you to be your best self. So how I’m going to lead a set is nowhere near — I’m not that person. I’m not Chadwick at all. I’ll never be.”
Boseman’s Death Made The Franchise’s Future Unclear
The actress also talked about how his death impacted the franchise that meant so much to the black community. “That is not the death of the Black Panther, that’s the whole point,” Nyong’o said.
“It’s laying to rest [T’Challa] and allowing for real life to inform the story of the movies. I know that there are all sorts of reasons why people want him to be recast, but I don’t have the patience. I don’t have the presence of mind, or I don’t have the objectivity to argue with that. I don’t. I’m very biased,” she explained.
Ryan Coogler and his writer rewrote the script that was originally centered around the King. “Every time I thought about what the next ‘Black Panther’ could be, my imagination fell short,” Nyong’o stated. “Even just talking about ‘Black Panther’ in the midst of still grieving Chadwick, it was really complicated emotionally to do.”
She has said that the film honors the memory of Boseman. ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ is slated to release in the United States on November 11.
