Ryan Coogler, who directed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has said that Chadwick Boseman was enthusiastic about bringing Namor into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tenoch-Huerta-as-Namor-in-Black-Panther-Wakanda-Forever-1
Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has said that late franchise star Chadwick Boseman was excited about the inclusion of the kingdom of Talokan.
In 2016, Captain America: Civil War marked Boseman's first appearance as T'Challa/the Black Panther.
The 2018 standalone film he headlined, Black Panther, was a smashing success that established Boseman as a major player in the MCU and landed it at the sixth slot in the domestic box office's all-time list.
Boseman tragically passes suddenly in 2020 from colon cancer, and the focus of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has switched to be on mourning the loss of the actor and the character.
When Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and his people find themselves at conflict with Wakanda in the sequel, they become a new franchise character.
Coogler shared Boseman's reaction to the Talokanil people's entrance in Black Panther 2 during an interview with Entertainment Weekly's Around the Table video series.
The filmmaker claims that Boseman knew about the plans to incorporate Namor and his realm into the MCU and that he was "blown up about" the opportunity for Indigenous representation.
You can read what Coogler had to say about it down below:
"I had already talked to Chad [Boseman], and he was quite enthusiastic about that part of the screenplay [introducing Talokan].
To put it mildly, he became excited about it.
The first time we discussed include Native Americans in the movie, we were at a restaurant in Los Feliz.
He beamed broadly, as if to say, "They have no idea what hit them.
I can only describe it as "amazing.""
Each film in Phases 1 and 2 of the MCU has been led by a white hero, and the few characters of color who have appeared have been used mostly as supporting cast.
Along with this, the storyline of Captain America: Civil War relied on the suffering of Black individuals and communities (T'Chaka's death, Rhodey's paralysis, the Lagos bombing) which is a worn and problematic cliché.
That's why the release of Black Panther was such a game-changer for the series.
Black Panther achieved a lot of things well: it had a largely Black cast with a lot of ability, it showed off Wakanda's technological accomplishments, it broke stereotypes left and right, and it showed that the Black community is not a homogenous whole.
Since then, the MCU has made great steps in redressing past wrongs, giving more characters of color starring roles and promoting earlier supporting characters to the forefront.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier featured Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as Captain America, whereas Armor Wars will focus on the life of Rhodey (Don Cheadle).
With the exception of Disney+, the audience for MCU features has shifted substantially with the release of Black Panther.
America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) made her MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced the first Asian superhero to the fold with Simu Liu's eponymous character.
To that end, the MCU has made significant progress with its diverse representation, and it certainly intends to continue that in the next films and shows.
Boseman's dedication to continuing that legacy by supporting the introduction of historically overlooked indigenous cultures in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is remarkable, as is the likelihood that any of these uplifting stories would have been feasible without the popularity of Black Panther.
Tenoch-Huerta-as-Namor-in-Black-Panther-Wakanda-Forever-1
Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has said that late franchise star Chadwick Boseman was excited about the inclusion of the kingdom of Talokan.
In 2016, Captain America: Civil War marked Boseman's first appearance as T'Challa/the Black Panther.
The 2018 standalone film he headlined, Black Panther, was a smashing success that established Boseman as a major player in the MCU and landed it at the sixth slot in the domestic box office's all-time list.
Boseman tragically passes suddenly in 2020 from colon cancer, and the focus of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has switched to be on mourning the loss of the actor and the character.
When Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and his people find themselves at conflict with Wakanda in the sequel, they become a new franchise character.
Coogler shared Boseman's reaction to the Talokanil people's entrance in Black Panther 2 during an interview with Entertainment Weekly's Around the Table video series.
The filmmaker claims that Boseman knew about the plans to incorporate Namor and his realm into the MCU and that he was "blown up about" the opportunity for Indigenous representation.
You can read what Coogler had to say about it down below:
"I had already talked to Chad [Boseman], and he was quite enthusiastic about that part of the screenplay [introducing Talokan].
To put it mildly, he became excited about it.
The first time we discussed include Native Americans in the movie, we were at a restaurant in Los Feliz.
He beamed broadly, as if to say, "They have no idea what hit them.
I can only describe it as "amazing.""
Each film in Phases 1 and 2 of the MCU has been led by a white hero, and the few characters of color who have appeared have been used mostly as supporting cast.
Along with this, the storyline of Captain America: Civil War relied on the suffering of Black individuals and communities (T'Chaka's death, Rhodey's paralysis, the Lagos bombing) which is a worn and problematic cliché.
That's why the release of Black Panther was such a game-changer for the series.
Black Panther achieved a lot of things well: it had a largely Black cast with a lot of ability, it showed off Wakanda's technological accomplishments, it broke stereotypes left and right, and it showed that the Black community is not a homogenous whole.
Since then, the MCU has made great steps in redressing past wrongs, giving more characters of color starring roles and promoting earlier supporting characters to the forefront.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier featured Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as Captain America, whereas Armor Wars will focus on the life of Rhodey (Don Cheadle).
With the exception of Disney+, the audience for MCU features has shifted substantially with the release of Black Panther.
America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) made her MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced the first Asian superhero to the fold with Simu Liu's eponymous character.
To that end, the MCU has made significant progress with its diverse representation, and it certainly intends to continue that in the next films and shows.
Boseman's dedication to continuing that legacy by supporting the introduction of historically overlooked indigenous cultures in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is remarkable, as is the likelihood that any of these uplifting stories would have been feasible without the popularity of Black Panther.
