Michaela Coel, a real life superhero, is entering the Marvel Universe, which is good news for absolutely everyone. Yesterday, Variety reported that the mastermind behind and star of I May Destroy You has joined the cast of Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to his overwhelmingly successful 2018 superhero movie.
While the character details are locked up, Variety has reported that insiders say Coel has joined director Ryan Coogler at Atlanta’s Pinewood Studios, where production began last month. We may not know exactly how she will be involved in the story yet, but please let it be more than the three words she muttered for her role as a resistance monitor in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In fact, if Coogler casts her as some kind of powerful, wise, royal figure, that would be appreciated - and only correct!
Additional cast members have not yet been confirmed, however Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Florence Kasumba and Angela Bassett will likely reprise their roles from the original film.
“It’s clearly very emotional without Chad,” Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios chief told Variety in late June, referring to Chadwick Boseman, who died in August 2020 after battling colon cancer, and played the lead role in the first Black Panther film. “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.” You better, Feige!
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set for wide release on July 8, 2022. Stay tuned here for emerging updates, and of course the hope that an image of Coel dripping in gold and/or holding a vibranium spear will surface before too long.
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