The death of Chadwick Boseman at the age of 42 from cancer is a tragic loss for the entertainment world. It’s remarkable that a man who played such historically significant figures as Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and Thurgood Marshall may have found his greatest and most resonant role in a fictional character: King T’Challa of Wakanda, Marvel’s Black Panther. Ryan Coogler, who directed and co-wrote the screenplay for 2018’s Black Panther movie, has penned a touching eulogy for Boseman.
We’ve chosen some poignant excerpts, in which the director explains just how instrumental Boseman was in creating the character of T’Challa for the screen. But you should absolutely read Coogler’s full statement on Boseman’s passing on Marvel.com, which is far more than just a director trying to capture a generational talent in words, and instead a picture of a generous, thoughtful man who made an impression on those he worked with.
On watching Boseman perform as T’Challa for the first time on the set of Captain America: Civil War…
On Boseman’s insistence that T’Challa speak like an African king…
Coogler describes his first impressions of Boseman when they finally got a chance to speak:
You should absolutely go read Coogler’s full statement here.
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