It has been 2 years since the late actor Chadwick Boseman died due to colon cancer back in 2020. Lupita Nyong’o, who starred alongside his Black Panther recalls the traumatic experience when she found out about her dear friend’s demise.
Chadwick Boseman was known for portraying the role of King T’Challa in the MCU and Lupita Nyong’o played his love interest Nakia in the Black Panther franchise.
When Lupita Nyong’o Lost Her Black Panther Co-Star
When the lockdown was in full effect, Chadwick Boseman was fighting his 4th year battle with colon cancer. The actor had been diagnosed in 2016 and yet, had told no one of his condition. The duo of Lupita Nyong’o and Chadwick Boseman starred together in Black Panther (2018) wherein they played love interests of each other.
Since the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, people have been missing the late actor more frequently. Lupita Nyong’o revealed in an interview the moment of sadness she heard that her dear friend had passed due to cancer.
Talking to news.com.au, the actress revealed that it felt as if her world had shattered following the news.
“When he died, my world shattered for a while. He was a dear friend. It was surreal. It was hard. It was helpful to be with the main cast who had gone through the same thing. We had all been on the first Black Panther film together and we were all dealing with his loss together on this film.”
Lupita Nyong’o said that coming back to set every day was healing in a way for all of them. The cast missed him and mourned his loss every day while on set.
“Coming to set was surreal but it was also therapeutic. When he passed, we were in covid lockdown and many of us were isolated when we found out. I was all by myself when I found out. So we never really had the chance to commiserate and grieve together.”
The actress further talked about how the lockdown had also affected her mental health during these tumultuous times and the necessity of funerals that she understands now.
“The experience really taught me why funerals are so important and why that period of gathering to mourn someone’s death is so important. It’s one of the ways you process loss,”
The actress revealed that there was no one to mourn with as the lockdown was in its full effects. 10 months after the death of the actor, Lupita Nyong’o returned on the sets of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to reprise her role as Nakia in the franchise.
Why Lupita Nyong’o Came Back For Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
Related: Black Panther Star Lupita Nyong’o Cast in A Quiet Place Spin-off ‘Day One’
During the same interview, Lupita Nyong’o revealed why she returned to the sets of Wakanda Forever, 10 months after the actor’s passing. The actress revealed her reasons to return to the franchise and how she paid tribute and respect to Chadwick Boseman in her way.
“For us, to get back to ‘Wakanda’, even though it was a delayed venue to be going through our grief, it was the right venue because that was the place where we had formed these bonds with him, so we could come back together in that space and process what we had lost, celebrate the life we got to meet and enjoy,”
Therefore, Lupita Nyong’o returned to the franchise to pay her respects to the late actor and was the only place where the people around her could feel her pain as they all were in the same boat. Chadwick Boseman died on 28th August 2020 fighting fiercely with colon cancer until the end.
It was also recently revealed that the end-credit scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever pays the ultimate tribute to Chadwick Boseman. With fans pouring their eyes and heart out, the film has managed to gain high numbers on the Rotten Tomatoes score.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently running in theaters for the world to see.
Source: Geo News
