Summary
Chadwick Boseman’s performance inBlack Pantherwas an iconic one that drew a lot of praise from fans and critics alike, helping to make the character one of the most popular in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He brought the perfect balance of heart and aggression to create a superhero that was both sympathetic and serious enough for people to find him a threat in fight scenes. His performance asBlack Pantherwas arguably the most memorable of his career before he passed away in 2020 from colon cancer, and that’s because of the dedication he put into it.
Ryan Coogler worked alongside Boseman for Marvel’sBlack Pantherand helped guide the actor in the titular role. However, he didn’t need to give too much in the way of direction due to how dedicated and committed Boseman was to the role. That’s something that shone throughout the performance, and Coogler has revealed just how hard Boseman worked to make that happen.
Many actors are known for being method actors who completely buy into the role they’re playing. It might not seem like it’s possible for a Marvel Studios film to be quite over-the-top and from a different universe, but Boseman managed to make thatwork inBlack Pantherto the point that Disney’s executives were shocked when they saw him work. Coogler revealed toPeople,“He was talking in an African accent,” Coogler said. “Disney execs came to see us on ‘Panther.’ It was week two, and they pulled up, and it was the T’Challa accent, and they were freaked out. I was like, ‘Don’t be freaked out. He’s working, man. He doesn’t turn it off until we wrap.'”
That performance was heavily praised asit went on to gross $1.35 billion at the box office globally, becoming the highest-grossing movie to be directed by a Black director. It was also the first ever superhero film to receive a nomination for Best Feature at the Academy Awards,with Boseman’s efforts being a significant reason for the movie’s success. This has led to the franchise continuing with a sequel andan animated series,Eyes of Wakanda,being set for release in August 2025.
While Boseman was able to reprise the role inAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame, he was unfortunately not able to continue for the sequel,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, due to his death. However, Marvel opted to make that part of the story as Boseman was honored within the film, making it one of Marvel’s most unique and emotional movies to date.A third film is also now in development, with the world of Wakanda set to continue growing moving forward, allowing Boseman’s legacy to live on.
There have been rumors in recent times that therole of T’Challa may end up being recastfor future projects, bringing someone else in to play the character. That’s a decision that has certainly divided people, as many want Boseman’s performance to be left alone and remain untouched, while others are interested in seeing what Marvel can do with the character with a new actor. However, whether Marvel recasts the role or not, nothing is going to take away from the performance that Boseman delivered in the originalBlack Panther,which is ingrained in cinematic history as one of the greatest superhero performances of all time.
