There’s a Chadwick Boseman-sized hole on the set of “Black Panther 2.”
Boseman is best remembered for his iconic role as King T’Challa within the 2018 theatrical debut of the primary black superhero. Following his premature death in August 2020, fans have campaigned for his character to not be recast within the sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Without end,” out later this 12 months.
“Black Panther” forged member Martin Freeman, who will reprise his role because the superhero’s government agency ally Everett K. Ross, discussed what it was prefer to film the second film without the “Marshall” star.
In a recent interview, Freeman, 50, told Collider that coming back to the set “was strange.”
“On the one hand, you’re making the film that you simply’re there to make, and there are scores and scores of individuals on set, joined on this endeavor to make the film,” the “Love, Actually” star added. “But there’s also absolute confidence that, at the guts of it, there’s quite a niche now, and also you felt it.”
Martin Freeman portrayed agent Everett K. Ross within the 2018 debut of “Black Panther.”Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
He continued, “With full respect to Ryan Coogler and everybody else, who’s sweating and bleeding to get this thing done properly, it was fun. It was enjoyable. I used to be out and in of it quite quickly.”
Freeman expressed gratitude for the “fun character” he played, then digressed, “Nevertheless it was odd. In fact, it was odd with Chadwick [Boseman] not being there.”
In “Black Panther,” Freeman’s Ross teams with the King of Wakanda and warrior Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) to combat his spiteful cousin, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan).
The “Sherlock” actor continued, “There’s no way around that. I believe everyone would find it pretty strange and sad, but at the identical time, life things don’t just end.”
“Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer in August 2020. He was 43.Getty Images for Disney
“When he passed, I assumed, ‘OK, well possibly there just won’t be one other one.’ But there are still other stories to inform inside that world and other great characters. I believe, and I hope, that we’ve made film. I trust Ryan Coogler loads,” he concluded.
Alongside Nyong’o and Freeman, Angela Bassett (Queen Mother, Ramonda), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Daniel Kaluuya (W’Kabi), Winston Duke (M’Baku) and Letitia Wright (Shuri) may also be returning for the sequel.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Without end” is ready to premiere Nov. 11.
