The much-anticipated follow-up to the groundbreaking film “Black Panther” might surpass the original in ticket sales, according to early indicators. Black filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s Marvel sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” is expected to have a major box office presence.
‘Black Panther’ Returns
The future of a sequel to “Black Panther” was in doubt after the untimely death of Chadwick Boseman, who played the title role.
Chadwick Boseman, who played the titular role of T’Challa/Black Panther, died from colon cancer in August 2020. Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole decided against recasting the role of T’Challa. This left many wondering how there could be a “Black Panther” film without the Black Panther character. It seems Coogler has figured out a way to make the new film work, and Hollywood execs and fans alike are excited.
Many would argue that sequel would have a lot to live up to. “Black Panther” made history when debuting at movie theaters, raking in a whopping $202 million domestically in February 2018. What was even more significant was that this was Marvel Universe’s first film to feature a predominantly Black cast. The result was a cultural phenomenon that ultimately went on to earn $1.34 billion at the worldwide box office.
The predictions for the follow-up are incredible by all accounts. The Marvel Studios and Disney flick is expected to earn at least $175 million in its opening over the Nov. 11-13 weekend in North America alone, according to sources with access to NRG tracking data, the Hollywood Reporter reported.
The “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” cast includes Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba and Martin Freeman, as well as newcomers Tenoch Huerta as Namor and Dominique Thorne as the hero Riri Williams.
Can Ryan Coogler Do It Again?
With the success of “Black Panther,” Coogler became a major player in Hollywood. The director and screenwriter, who has a net worth of $25 million, however, has a solid resume. He wrote and directed the movies “Fruitvale Station” (2013), “Creed” (2015), in addition to “Black Panther” (2018). He won 20-plus awards for “Fruitvale Station,” which was his first feature film. He was nominated for an Oscar for “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
Coogler, 36, was also the executive producer for a 2014 ESPN “30 for 30” episode titled “The Day the Series Stopped,” and he wrote and produced the 2021 films “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
In February 2021, Coogler‘s production company, Proximity Media, signed a five-year deal with Disney+. It was also revealed he would be developing a series set in the Kingdom of Wakanda.
Bank Mistook Coogler for a Bank Robber
Despite his fame and fortune, in January 2022, Coogler was detained by police in Atlanta after Bank of America employees thought he was a bank robber.
Coogler, who was even handcuffed, had gone to a Bank of America branch to make a transaction on Jan. 7. He handed the bank teller a withdrawal slip with a note written on the back that read, “I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. I’d like to be discreet,” Variety reported.
The teller thought Coogler was trying to rob the bank and alerted her boss, who called the police. When officers arrived, they detained Coogler and two of his colleagues, who were waiting for him outside the bank in a car with the engine running. After authorities verified Coogler’s identity, he and his friends were released.