Ryan Coogler Black Panther 2 plans have been revealed by the director, who shared details about a completed 180-page script he wrote prior to Chadwick Boseman’s passing. Coogler spoke about the process during a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, shedding light on what the film might have become and reflecting on the late actor’s impact on the Marvel franchise.
Ryan Coogler, best known for directing The Sinners and Marvel’s original Black Panther, confirmed that the sequel’s first draft was finished before Boseman lost his battle with colon cancer in 2020. At the time, Boseman was too unwell to review the script himself.
Honestly, what happened was, I finished it and he was too sick to read it, bro,
– Ryan Coogler, Director
That was kind of how that timing was. He was at a place where it wasn’t gonna happen.
– Ryan Coogler, Director
The Abandoned Script’s Narrative Focus
The untimely loss of Chadwick Boseman forced Coogler and Marvel Studios to rethink the entire direction of the Black Panther sequel, ultimately leading to the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. Despite this, Coogler emphasized his deep attachment to his initial version, which aimed to place Boseman’s performance at its heart.
I put so much into that version of the movie because I felt like I had gotten to know Chadwick as a performer,
– Ryan Coogler, Director
I threw a lot at Chad in the first Panther, but I realized I was just scratching the surface. It was like a dump truck on him.
– Ryan Coogler, Director
The scrapped screenplay focused on a father-son relationship, featuring T’Challa (played by Boseman) and his child, a storyline later hinted at in Wakanda Forever with Divine Love Konadu-Sun portraying the young prince. The central plot device was a ritual called the “Ritual of 8,” which would have seen an eight-year-old prince spending eight days isolated in the bush with his father, T’Challa.
The “Ritual of 8” and Namor’s Role in the Unmade Story
The big thing about the script was a thing called the Ritual of 8 where, when a prince is eight years old, he has to go spend eight days in the bush with his father,
– Ryan Coogler, Director
Amongst those eight days, they have to go into the bush without any tools, and the prince has to listen and do everything that’s asked of him by his father, but the rule is for those eight days, the prince can ask the father any question and the father has to answer.
– Ryan Coogler, Director
During this pivotal time, Namor, played in the released film by Tenoch Huerta, would have carried out an attack. The script provided a different perspective on Namor, highlighting the tension the prince and king would have faced together, unable to separate for the entire duration.
It was a different version of Namor in that script,
– Ryan Coogler, Director
[T’Challa] had to deal with someone who’s insanely dangerous but, because of this ritual, his son had to be joined at his hip the whole time while he was engaged in negotiations, fights, and s—. His son had to be right there or they’d violate this ritual that had never been broken.
– Ryan Coogler, Director
So that was what the movie was. It was insane. And Chad was going to kill it, but life goes as it goes.
– Ryan Coogler, Director
This dramatic father-son dynamic, set against the backdrop of mounting external threats, would have allowed Boseman and his on-screen son to be together in every critical moment, bound by the ritual’s unbreakable rules.
Looking Ahead at Black Panther’s Future
Ryan Coogler also addressed what comes next for Marvel’s Black Panther series. Speaking frankly about his current mindset, Coogler expressed that he is now focused on telling the stories that drive him, rather than proving anything further to audiences or critics.
I’m telling stories that I want to tell, that I’m obsessed with, that I feel a burning desire to do,
– Ryan Coogler, Director
It’s a movie that I’m incredibly excited about, so that’s really the truth of it.
– Ryan Coogler, Director
He reflected on his close relationship with Chadwick Boseman, recently honoring the late actor at his Hollywood Walk of Fame posthumous ceremony. Coogler was candid about the emotional impact of learning more about Boseman after his death.
He meant a lot of me, but I found out after his passing from his family and his friends about how much I meant to him, which f—ed me up pretty good,
– Ryan Coogler, Director
I wonder if he knew how much he meant to me. I did wonder.
– Ryan Coogler, Director
The Lasting Impact of a Lost Story
Ryan Coogler’s revelations give Marvel fans a glimpse into a Black Panther 2 that could have showcased the deep bond between T’Challa and his son, as well as an alternative portrayal of Namor. While the final sequel took a different direction following Boseman’s passing, the original script stands as a testament to Coogler’s admiration for Boseman as both a performer and a friend. As the director looks ahead to a third installment, his storytelling remains inspired by personal connection and creative passion, ensuring the Black Panther series continues to honor its profound legacy.
