Ryan Coogler has opened up about what Black Panther 2 was originally meant to be before the death of Chadwick Boseman forced Marvel Studios to rethink the entire story.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the filmmaker revealed that the sequel was designed to continue T’Challa’s personal journey, with a strong focus on his role as a father and the legacy he would pass on as king of Wakanda.
Boseman, who brought the character of T’Challa to life in 2018’s Black Panther, died of colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 43, a loss that deeply affected both Coogler and the wider Marvel community.
A story that had only just begun
Coogler admitted that the first Black Panther film only scratched the surface of what he wanted to explore with the character.
“I threw a lot at Chad in the first Panther,” Coogler told podcast host Josh Horowitz. “But I realised I was just scratching the surface. I was just like a dump truck on him.”
The sequel, he said, was meant to slow things down emotionally and focus on T’Challa’s growth beyond the throne.
The Ritual of Eight and fatherhood
Central to the original script was a Wakandan tradition known as the Ritual of Eight. The story would have followed T’Challa and his young son during a defining moment in the child’s life.
“When a prince is eight years old, he has to go spend eight days in the bush with his father,” Coogler explained. The two would be sent away without tools, relying on wisdom, discipline, and trust.
During those eight days, the child would be allowed to ask his father any question, with the rule being that the father must answer honestly. The ritual was designed to explore leadership, vulnerability, and the weight of inheritance.
The narrative would have taken a dramatic turn when Namor, who ultimately appears in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, launched an attack during the ritual.
“That was what the movie was,” Coogler said.
A script Boseman never read
Coogler revealed that the script for the original sequel was completed, but Boseman never had the chance to read it.
“I finished it,” he said, “but he was too sick to read it.”
After Boseman’s death, Coogler and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made the decision not to recast T’Challa, choosing instead to acknowledge his passing within the story of Wakanda Forever.
A personal loss for the director
The loss of Boseman was not only professional but deeply personal for Coogler. He recalled a moment during the filming of the first Black Panther when he confided in the actor about his fears of being fired.
“One day, he took me to the side and he was like, ‘Yo, stop saying that,’” Coogler said. When he insisted he truly felt that way, Boseman reassured him.
“Look at me, bro. I would never let that happen to you.”
A legacy beyond the screen
While audiences will never see the original version of Black Panther 2, Coogler’s reflections highlight how much more story was planned for T’Challa — and how Boseman’s influence extended far beyond his performances.
The sequel that ultimately reached cinemas took a different path, but its emotional weight remains tied to the legacy of an actor and character whose story ended far too soon.
