Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster Black Panther premiered last Wednesday in Hollywood, United States, to rave reviews.
“Coogler delivers a soulful, wondrous sequel that packs an emotional punch & effectively explores relevant world themes,” wrote film critic Fico Cangiano. “A beautiful tribute to Boseman’s legacy. Letitia & Tenoch are great, & the mid-credits scene is really moving.”
Another critic, Tessa Smith wrote on Twitter that Wakanda Forever “feels like a war movie,” commending Tenoch Huerta’s performance as the villain Namor. “It’s emotional, heavy, intense & phenomenal. Namor is an incredible & powerful villain,” she stated. “#WakandaForever focuses on grief, loss, & vengeance. You aren’t ready for the Marvel logo & mid credit. It honours Chadwick perfectly.”
In the 68-member cast, the stars are: Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Freeman, and Guyanese Letitia Wright, reprising her role as T’Challa’s sister, Shuri.
According to Marvel, the 2 hour and 41 minutes film features the returning cast’s “fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.”
Letitia who co-starred with Boseman, King T’Challa in the first movie, is the new Black Panther in the sequel. According to Marvel, “The daughter of T’Chaka and half-sister of T’Challa, Shuri spent much of her life living in the shadows of men. However, after working to stop an invasion of Wakanda and helping her brother recover after Doctor Doom nearly killed him, Shuri stepped into the spotlight and became the Black Panther herself.”
At the premier Letitia paid homage to the late Boseman by replicating his iconic pose and outfit he wore at the 2018 Academy Awards. Boseman died in November 2020, at age 43, after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
She told PEOPLE Magazine: “”I will always have moments on set of doubt, and I’ll be like, ‘Oh man, I don’t know if I can do this.’ I could just hear [Boseman] be like, ‘Sister, you’re great. You got this. I’m proud of you.’ That really just kept me moving forward.”
29-year-old Guyana-born Letitia, who has been in theatre from childhood, at age seven (7) migrated from Guyana with her parents and family to Britain where she was raised in Tottenham, North London. And though she says she “will always be a North London girl,” she told Ebony magazine she is proud to be Guyanese and put Guyana on the map in the movie industry.
Rihanna Fenty, whose mother is Guyanese from Berbice, was born in Barbados. The 34-year-old nine-Grammy Award singer, beauty magnate, and billionaire has not produced a new song in six years. She came out of hiatus to produce new music for the sequel. The lead song on her soundtrack “Lift Me Up” pays homage to Boseman.
Take a listen here:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx_OexsUI2M
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released in the United States November 11.
With the rave reviews from the premier the sequel is expected to do well. At the International Box Office Black Panther raked in US$1,336,494,320
Both young ladies continue to hold their own and distinguish themselves on the international stage. They epitomise the spirit and tenacity that ‘Yes We Can!’
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Rihanna – Lift Me Up
Rihanna – Lift Me Up
