Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stars sparkle at European premiereon November 4, 2022 at 9:29 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Stars of the sequel including Michaela Coel, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira walk the red carpet.

Lupita Nyong'oImage source, Getty Images

The cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have attended the film’s European premiere in London.

Stars including Michaela Coel, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’o walked the red carpet for the hugely anticipated sequel to the superhero film.

Coel told the BBC: “The feeling it gives me, as a woman of colour, to see my story reflected back still gives me a rush of exhilaration to be seen.

“This cast give me a lot of confidence, I feel proud to be among them.”

Michaela Coel

Image source, Getty Images

Danai Gurira

Image source, Getty Images

The 2018 release of Black Panther is one of the most profitable movies of all time. The Marvel Studios production made more than £1bn at the box office.

It was the first superhero film to receive an Oscar nomination for best picture. In total it was nominated seven times, winning three for original score, costume design and production design.

The franchise has been praised for its strong portrayal of black characters.

Letitia Wright attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Image source, PA Media

Florence Kasumba attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Image source, PA Media

Returning actress Danai Gurira, who plays Okoye, said she hoped Black Panther “paves the way” for other franchisees to cast strong black female leads.

She described filming as an “intense process” following the death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 from colon cancer.

Director Ryan Coogler came up with a plot that could reflect the 43-year-old’s death which Lupita Nyong’o said would “really resonate with people”.

Zinzi Evans and Ryan Coogler attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Image source, PA Media

Khaby Lame wears a shirt with a picture of Chadwick Boseman as he attends the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Image source, PA Media

“Respecting Chadwick and what he started us off is the way forward,” Nyong’o told BBC News. “Ryan was so smart to embrace the loss and make this film about what we do when we lose somebody because we all experience it at one point.

“The honesty with it will surprise people and the fact you can do that without compromising on the fun, and the spectacle, is a feat and I’m really proud.”

The first film starred Boseman as the crime-fighting ruler of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with the most advanced technology on earth.

More than 170 million viewers watched the trailer for its follow-up, Wakanda Forever, in the first 24 hours after its release.

Stormzy attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Image source, PA Media

Cynthia Erivo attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Image source, PA Media

Last week Rihanna released her first single in six years which is taken from the soundtrack of the new film.

Coogler said Rihanna’s involvement in the project was to honour Boseman.

“Honestly, I think it was Chad,” he said. “A lot of improbable things needed to happen for it to come through and Rihanna was very clear that she did that for him.”

Other celebrities at the premiere included Stormzy, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Maya Jama.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

MPs reject Christmas parties on expenseson November 22, 2022 at 3:56 pm

Parliament's expenses watchdog told MPs they could claim for the cost of a festive get-together.Image source, PA MediaParliament's expenses watchdog is facing a backlash...

Whitlock fires Team GB gold medal tally to 10on August 1, 2021 at 2:58 pm

Charlotte Worthington wins a dramatic BMX park freestyle Olympic gold as Max Whitlock retains pommel horse title.Dates: 23 July-8 August Time in Tokyo: BST...

Covid-19: Tests for overseas travel and sports back ‘vaccine passports’on April 9, 2021 at 6:45 am

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Friday morning.Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic...

Boris Johnson: Conservative MPs face dilemma on damning Partygate voteon June 16, 2023 at 6:50 am

It is unclear whether Rishi Sunak will join the Commons vote on a report condemning Boris Johnson.Image source, EPABy Damian Grammaticas, Ione Wells &...

Euro 2020: What lessons can England and Gareth Southgate learn from final defeat?on July 12, 2021 at 9:46 am

BBC Sport pundits Rio Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Frank Lampard analyse Gareth Southgate's tactics in the wake of their penalty shootout defeat by Italy...