Filming has reportedly resumed on Marvel Studios' highly anticipated sequelBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. Production was suspended last year after actress Letitia Wright sustained an injury on set.
It was initially reported back in August that Wright suffered minor injuries while performing a stunt on theBlack Panther 2set. However, in November, Marvel Studios revealed that Wright’s injuries were more severe than initially thought, saying that she sustained “a critical shoulder fracture and a concussion with severe side effects.” Even though her injuries did not require her to be admitted to a hospital, Wright has been recovering at home in London with support from her family and doctors, which requiredfilming onBlack Panther 2to be paused.
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According toBBC News, Wright has returned to the set after making a full recovery. Wright is expected to play a larger role in theBlack Panthersequel, in which she will be reprising her role as T’Challa’s sister, Princess Shuri. She first appeared as Shuri in 2018’sBlack Panther, and she later reprised the role inAvengers: Infinity War.Thelate Chadwick Boseman starred as T’Challa/ Black Pantherin the first film, but sadly the actor passed away in 2020 after a long battle with colon cancer. His role has not been recast, and according to Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, T’Challa will not return to the MCU without Boseman. This has led many fans to believe that Shuri will take up the mantle ofBlack Pantherin the sequel.
While Shuri quickly became a fan favorite after appearing inBlack Panther,Wright has been the subject of some controversy in the years since. In 2020, she was criticized for tweeting out a Youtube video that expressed anti-vaccine and transphobic views. It was also reported that the actress was sharing anti-vaccine sentimenton the set ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever,which she denied. Wright’s anti-vaccine stance also threatened to create further issues after she left the U.S. to recover from her injuries in London, since her status as an unvaccinated person could prevent her from re-entering the country.
In November of last year, the CDC implemented a rule requiring non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizens to be vaccinated when flying into the country. This lead many to worry that Wright might not be able to return to the U.S. once filming resumed. However, since the film is back in production, it seems this won’t be an issue after all. Whether Wright has changed her mind on vaccines or if Marvel Studios' found another way to bring her back to the U.S is unknown at this time.
With the loss of Boseman and the controversy surrounding Wright,Black Panther 2has had a troubled productionso far. Hopefully, now that filming has resumed, it will be smooth sailing for what will likely to be one of Marvel Studios' biggest films to date.
Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveris scheduled to be released in theaters on July 02, 2025.
