On Wednesday night, the legacy of actor Chadwick Boseman was present on the red carpet for the long-awaited premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

At the world premiere in Hollywood, California, the cast and crew not only celebrated the screening of the sequel but honored late actor Chadwick Boseman, who played the role of King T’Challa in the original 2018 groundbreaking movie Black Panther. During red-carpet interviews with the director Ryan Coogler and actress Letitia Wright (who plays Princess Shuri), it was evident there was great emotion behind the missing presence of Boseman.

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' cast and crew
Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Disney

When Black Panther was released four years ago, it magnificently empowered the Black community because there had never been a Marvel film centering Black people as powerful superheroes. Excited audiences showed up to movie theaters with their “Wakanda” attire, and the movie earned $1.3 billion at the box office.

So, when Coogler — who wore a necklace with a picture of Boseman to the Wankanda Forever premiere — was asked if he thought the original movie would be as compelling as it was, he honestly didn’t think so.

“We were just trying to make the best movie we could,” he said, in a clip posted on Twitter. “What was interesting about it is that Chad knew. You know, he knew. He would talk about how well it would do and how people would respond to it.”

He continued, “He had so much confidence that what we were making was going to matter in a real way.”

When Boseman lost his battle with colorectal cancer in August 2020, the world was speechless. His passing affected the film in a major way, as there would have to be someone new who would fulfill King T’Challa’s role. Many wondered how Marvel would continue without the “king” himself. Rumors swirled that it would be Princess Shuri.

During a brief interview with Variety, Wright, who showed up in a female version of the suit Boseman wore at the original premiere, shared she was trying hard to not let her emotions get the best of her throughout the night, now without her onscreen “big brother.”

“I’m bracing it. I’ve seen some members of Chad’s team. When we lock eyes, we know how this feels,” the 28-year-old said. “We have to take a step away … I don’t want to ruin my beautiful makeup, you know what I mean? It’s emotional man, but we’re trying to hold it together.”

The talented crew and actors picked up the pieces to continue carrying the torch for their forever king, T’Challa. Fans can see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever when it hits theaters nationwide on November 11.

black PantherChadwick-BosemanLetitia WrightMarvelryan cooglerwakanda forever