By Julian
Daniel Kaluuya in both Black Panther and Nope (Photo credit: Marvel Studios, Universal Studios)
As Nope is coming to theaters next week, British actor Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther, Widows) , has revealed that will not be reprising his role as W’Kabi, the former head of security of Wakanda’s Border Tribe and T’Challa’s best friend, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
He was asked to return to the role for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Instead, he opted out due to scheduling conflicts in his role in the new Jordan Peele alien invasion horror movie releasing next Friday. Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes, got the scoop.
BREAKING NEWS: Fresh from my NOPE interview with Daniel Kaluuya he did not reprise his role in #BlackPanther2 due to his schedule conflicts w/ #NOPE!
— 🍅Jacqueline🍅 (@THATJacqueline) July 13, 2022
It's official he's not in #BlackPantherWakandaForever
As we know, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finished production and will be coming to theaters Nov. 11. As reported by People’s Giovanna Gelhorn (via Variety), the film began filming at Atlanta’s Pinewood Studios. Marvel’s Kevin Feige said how Chadwick Boseman’s death from colon cancer had an emotional impact during production. However, Feige still sounded excited about the film.
“[E]veryone is also very excited to bring the world of Wakanda back to the public and back to the fans,” he said during a Black Widow global fan event in Los Angeles. “We’re going to do it in a way that would make Chad proud.”
Gelhorn also reported on how this film’s story will take shape, writing that during Disney’s Investor Day last December, Feige announced T’Challa, played by Boseman, wouldn’t be recast. Instead, the film will focus on “the world of Wakanda and the rich characters introduced in the first film.”
Boseman’s co-star Lupita Nyong’o talked about the new film and how emotional it will be for the cast and for director Ryan Coogler.
“I’m in a very pensive and meditative state when it comes to Black Panther 2,” said Nyong’o, according to Gelhorn. “[Chadwick’s] passing is still extremely raw for me. And I can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like to step on set and not have him there. At the same time, we have a leader in Ryan, who feels very much like we do, who feels the loss in a very, very real way as well. The way which he has reshaped the second movie is so respectful of the loss we’ve all experienced as a cast and as a world.”
By November, audiences and Marvel aficionados will return to Wakanda in Black Panther: Wakanda: Forever. But for now, moviegoers are excited to see Jordan Peele’s Nope starring Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun coming to theaters July 22.
