‘Black Panther’: Ryan Coogler Almost Quit Directing After Chadwick Boseman’s Death

Ryan Coogler, the Black Panther screenwriter and director, almost quit filmmaking after the death of Chadwick Boseman.

“I was at a point when I was like, ‘I’m walking away from this business,'” Coogler told Entertainment Weekly in an interview. “I didn’t know if I could make another movie period, [let alone] another Black Panther movie, because it hurt a lot. I was like, ‘Man, how could I open myself up to feeling like this again?'”

More from Deadline

• Marvel's Don Cheadle Series 'Armor Wars' To Be Turned Into Feature Film

• Kevin Feige Reveals Why Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa Was Not Recast In 'Wakanda Forever': "It Was Much Too Soon"

• 'Fantastic Four': Jeff Kaplan & Ian Springer To Write New Film For Marvel Studios

Following Boseman’s death in August 2020, Coogler recalled all the moments he shared with Boseman and how much the Marvel character meant to him.

“I was poring over a lot of our conversations that we had, towards what I realized was the end of his life,” Coogler added. “I decided that it made more sense to keep going.”

Now, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a reality and the film was made in honor of Boseman’s legacy with the director mentioning that they never thought about recasting T’Challa.

“It’s my job as a filmmaker to do things that I have personal integrity with,” Coogler said. “If I don’t believe in what I’m doing, I’m going to have a hard time getting other people to do their best work. For them to do their best work, they have to believe in it. At the end of the day, the choices we make have to feel truthful to me. When filmmakers make things that don’t feel truthful to them, you can feel it. And I will argue that those projects don’t have a shot at working.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens in theaters on November 11.

Best of Deadline

• James Bond Movies In Order: Filmography, Bond Women & Iconic Villains

• The Royals And Politicians Of 'The Crown' And The Actors Who Play Them — Photo Gallery

• Deadline's 50 Classic Halloween Movies Gallery

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.