Actress and director Michaela Coel has been cast in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever the sequel to the hit Marvel film “Black Panther.”
Variety reports Coel has joined Ryan Coogler in Atlanta to film at Pinewood Studios. The British-Ghanian actress is best known for writing, directing and starring in projects like Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You, which is nominated for three Emmy awards. Coel’s other acting credits include Black Mirror, Been So Long and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Marvel Studios has remained tightlipped about the movie’s details and it is unclear who Coel will portray in the film. Coel has not spoken about her involvement in the film.
Last month, studio head Kevin Fiege confirmed production has started and the original cast is expected return for the sequel, sans leading man Chadwick Boseman. Boseman, who portrayed King T’Challa, died last August after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. Marvel Studios has no plans to recast Boseman’s role.
“It’s clearly very emotional without Chad,” Fiege told Variety. “But everyone is also very excited to bring the world of Wakanda back to the public and back to the fans. We’re going to do it in a way that would make Chad proud.”
Winston Duke, who portrayed M’Baku in the first Black Panther movie, recently expressed excitement for the sequel but acknowledged it was an emotional experience.
“It was very emotional to read the script. It was emotional to pack to go back to set. But we’re all a bit of a family now and we grieve together, and we’re making something really special,” Duke told Collider.
Black Panther broke the internet and the box office when it hit theaters in 2018. The movie grossed a whopping $1.3 million worldwide and won three Academy Awards.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit theaters on July 8, 2022.
