Lupita Nyong’o praises Black Panther sequel for empowering Black women on screen

Lupita Nyong’o has posed on the cover of the November issue of Elle UK alongside Black Panther: Wakanda Forever co-stars Letita Wright and Danai Gurira

(Picture: Shaniqwa Jarvis/ELLE UK)

Lupita Nyong’o says she is excited for people to finally see the upcoming Black Panther sequel which shines a light on Black womanhood, something she says has been rarely seen on-screen until now.

The premise for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had to be changed following the death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 following a private battle with colon cancer.

Boseman played King T'Challa along with the titular comic book hero and rather than recast his character, director Ryan Coogler decided to write his death into the flick and shift the focus to the female cast.

A risky move some might say, but Oscar-winning Nyong’o feels it was the right one given the circumstances.

Appearing on the cover of the November issue of Elle UK alongside co-stars Letita Wright and Danai Gurira, she told the publication: “Ryan had already walked me through what the film was going to be before Chadwick’s passing.

The November issue of Elle UK will be available to buy from October 6 (Shaniqwa Jarvis/ELLE UK)

“When he called me months later to talk me through the new idea, taking into account the gravity of what we’d all gone through, I remember dreading the conversation.

“But then I felt a breath of relief when I heard what he had in store. He offered a raft out of a deep sea of grief.”

On what Marvel fans can expect from these characters when they watch the next instalment, she said: “We get to see them be fully human. That’s something that, as Black women, we are often not afforded on-screen. And there are so many female characters.

“All too often in these movies, there’s a token one or two. Here, you’re seeing a community.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released in UK cinemas from November 11.

Lupita Nyong’o said the new directon for the Marvel sequel made sense following Chadwick Boseman’s death (Shaniqwa Jarvis/ELLE UK)

An official synopsis for the film reads: “Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.

“As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom.”